In this course learners will:

• engage in the big questions facing humanity today

• apply what they learn to their own life

• compare Asian and Western approaches to the world

Module 1: What is Humanities?

In this module you will explore and define what is humanities and what makes the humanities perspective different.

You will learn how to:

• understand humanistic inquiry and why it is more important to ask questions rather than to get answers

• explain how the humanistic inquiry allows us to engage in ongoing conversations about issues in the world

• reflect on your understanding through discussing selected issues with humanities in focus

Module 2: Why does Humanities Matter?

In this module you will use humanistic inquiry to explore film, art, history and language. Our instructors will guide you to question, humanise and connect problems and issues in those topics, and will share why they believe humanities matters.

Problems and Issues that will be explored include:

• Gender Equality (Film)

• Environmental Issues (Film)

• Migration (Film)

• Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing World (Art)

• Human consciousness (History)

• Unconscious Assumptions (Language)

• Health and Crisis Communication (Language)

You will learn how to:

• question and identify underlying problems and issues

• humanise and connect the problems and issues from a humanities perspective

• reflect on why humanities matter

Module 3: Why does Humanities Matter to Me?

In this module presenters specialising in different majors and professional fields will share how a humanities perspective helped them solve problems and issues they faced in their fields.

You will then personalise the course content by reflecting on how a humanities perspective can make a difference in your own field of expertise.

You will learn how to:

• personalise what has been discussed and answer the ultimate question: Why does humanities matter to me

• identify a problem in your field, approach the problem from a humanities perspective, and share how using that perspective could help solve the problem

Student comments:

“It was awesome to learn about two artists that began using new styles and spurring new innovation later in their careers.”

“I found [the videos] to be full of information”

“Humanities in Focus was an inspirational course. Thank you for everything!”