Humanities Major

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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Humanities

With an annual tuition of just $17,000, our B.A. in Humanities delivers outstanding value.

Merrimack is committed to advancing academic innovation, affordability and student access. Designed by our exceptional liberal arts faculty, this new, cost-effective program reinvents traditional liberal arts education while still offering access to Merrimack’s outstanding academic amenities and student life experiences.

What You'll Study

Career Outlook

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Humanities Degree at a Glance

Program Type

Major

Mode of Study

On Campus

Co-op

Guaranteed

Est. Time

4 Years

Start Terms

Fall, Spring

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Affordable Investment. Lifelong Returns.

Our new, path-breaking Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Humanities redefines the liberal arts degree by aligning an interdisciplinary humanities curriculum with durable and enduring skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability. This program not only appeals to employers but also provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Skills You'll Learn

Courses in the B.A. in Humanities emphasize developing enduring skills applicable across diverse industries and careers, making graduates highly desirable to employers:

Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Ability to Work in a Team

Written Communication

Taking Initiative

Strong Work Ethic

Technical Skills

Flexibility and Adaptability

Attention to Detail

Leadership Skills

Why Choose the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities?

EXCEPTIONAL VALUE

With an annual tuition of just $17,000 (excluding fees, room and board)—48% less than the average U.S. private institution tuition in 2024—our B.A. in Humanities delivers outstanding value.

HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Our program is designed to help you achieve your career goals or continue to graduate school after graduation.

MARKET ALIGNED

Acquire essential skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability, preparing you for the job markets of tomorrow.

FLEXIBLE COURSES FORMATS

Enjoy a mix of lectures, seminars and hybrid courses tailored to various learning preferences.

VARIED CONCENTRATIONS

Select from over a dozen disciplinary and skill-focused areas, such as prelaw, philosophy and leadership.

COMMUNITY AND COHORT EXPERIENCE

Advance through the program with a cohort, building peer support and forming lifelong friendships.

PERSONALIZED SUPPORT NETWORK

Benefit from a dedicated team of faculty, academic and career advisors and a supportive alumni network.

Humanities Highlights

Humanities Concentrations

Select a concentration by completing five or more courses in one of over two dozen study areas, each emphasizing essential skills. All concentrations culminate in a year-long research experience designed to refine problem-solving, data gathering and analysis and presentation skills. Additionally, all Merrimack students earn a concentration or minor as part of their core curriculum, allowing humanities majors to add complementary concentrations in areas such as content creation, data science or interactive design.

Concentrations Include:

Applied Artificial Intelligence
Bioethics
Communications
Creativity and Imagination
Culture and Society
English
Ethics
Film Studies

Historical Studies
Law, Ethics & Society
Leadership
Organizational Dynamics
Philosophy
Pre-Dental
Pre-Law
Pre-Medicine

Race and Ethnic Studies
Religious and Theological Studies
Social Entrepreneurship
Social Justice
Social Policy and Social Change
Sociology
Spanish
Women’s and Gender Studies

Pre-Medical
Concentration

The Pre-Med concentration prepares students for careers in healthcare, including medical school, physician assistant programs and roles in hospitals and patient care settings. You’ll develop skills in problem-solving, communication and adaptability — all extremely important assets in medicine.

Pre-Law
Concentration

The Pre-Law concentration prepares students for law school or a law-related career and includes a required hands-on experience such as Moot Court or internship. You’ll develop an exposure to law through the lenses of society, government, business, criminal justice and political ethics.

Law, Ethics & Society Concentration

The Law, Ethics, and Society concentration explores how society functions and where ethical principles come into play. You’ll develop critical thinking and analytical skills while engaging with the Socratic method, a foundational approach used in law school.

These are just three examples of what to expect when enrolling in the Humanities degree. Wondering what your specific concentration will look like? Reach out to your admission counselor or email our admission team and we’ll send you a personalized map!

Humanities Skill Tracks

A skills track is a newly created thematic area that focuses on the development of a specific marketable skill. Students will first choose from tracks and then choose three courses from within that track.

Skill Tracks Include:

Select a popular concentration below to learn more:

Pre-Medical

If you’re looking to help people in the medical field but not quite sure how, this health humanities concentration is for you! The pre-medical concentration at Merrimack is for students pursuing careers in healthcare including medical school, physician assistant programs or careers in hospitals and patient care settings.

Career Pathways For Pre-Med Students

Medical School

Physician Assistant (PA) School

Healthcare Administration

Medical or Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Health Services Administrators

Community Health

Sample Four Year Schedule - Curriculum Guide

Wondering when you’ll take certain courses? Use the Curriculum Guide – a sample four-year schedule – to get a sense of what your path to graduation looks like.

Pre-Law

Are you interested in attending law school, pursuing a law-related field or just learning more about it all? Merrimack’s pre-law concentration in Humanities. This concentration will expose you to law from a variety of perspectives including society, government and business law, criminal law and ethics in politics.

Career Pathways For Pre-Law Students

Law School

Graduate School

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office

Legislative Assistant

Compliance Officer

Political Campaign Manager

Sample Four Year Schedule - Curriculum Guide

Wondering when you’ll take certain courses? Use the Curriculum Guide – a sample four-year schedule – to get a sense of what your path to graduation looks like.

Law, Ethics and Society

Law, Ethics and Society is the concentration for you if you’re looking to learn more about how our society functions and where our ethical principals come into play. You’ll develop critical thinking and analytical skills and be exposed to the Socratic method commonly used in law school!

Career Pathways For Law, Ethics and Society Students

Law School

Graduate School

Ethics Consultant

Human Rights Advocate

Journalism

Mediator

Sample Four Year Schedule - Curriculum Guide

Wondering when you’ll take certain courses? Use the Curriculum Guide – a sample four-year schedule – to get a sense of what your path to graduation looks like.

Examples of Humanities Courses

green screen:
environmental film

eng 3745

This course examines ecological themes through the medium of film. What ideas do films communicate about the natural world? What impact do they have on audiences? What can close, critical readings of these movies reveal?

Global
Media

COM 4450

This course examines how media flows and changes as it crosses borders, whether imported from or exported to other countries, and how this may reinforce notions of cultural imperialism, the creation of a global village, or how cultures and texts intersect and overlap.

Human Rights: Theory & Practice

PHL 3010

This course critically examines different theories of human rights and considers the development of international human rights law. We will examine the concept of human rights and the moral and political foundations of this idea through theory and practice.

See All Courses & Options Available to Humanities Majors

Humanities Major Requirements

General Education Requirements

In addition to the major requirements below, you will also need to complete Merrimack’s general education requirements. To see more details about the major, please visit catalog.merrimack.edu.

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Customize Your Experience

Students can personalize their experience by engaging in activities that provide extra learning and growth opportunities:

Warriors at Work

Service Learning

Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Study Aboard

Career Outlook: Where Can a Humanities Degree Take You?

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Career Outcomes Rate

94% of the undergraduate class of 2023 in Arts & Sciences were either employed, participating in voluntary service or continuing their education within nine months of graduation.

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Experiential Learning

90% of the undergraduate class of 2023 participated in at least one internship, co-op, clinical, practicum or research opportunity while at Merrimack.

Graduate School

Merrimack, New England School of Law, George Washington University and Boston College are just some of the graduate programs Arts & Sciences graduates are attending.

Jobs with a Humanities Degree

Upon completing our program, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue graduate study or a career in humanities and related disciplines. Humanities majors have a diverse range of career options. Positions may include: