Humanities at UNC Asheville

If you're familiar with the core curriculum (integrative liberal studies) which students must follow here at UNC Asheville, then you have doubtless heard of our interdisciplinary Humanities program.    I am currently taking the senior capstone course that will bring my time with Humanities to a close, so I thought it would be a great topic to introduce on the blog.  Essentially, over one's period of study at UNC Asheville, he or she will be required to complete four Humanities courses.  The first three, which everyone must take are "Humanities 124: The Ancient World," "Humanities 214: The Medieval and Renaissance World," and "Humanities 324: The Modern World (Mid 17-20th Century)".  


Each of these courses are four credit hours, as opposed to the "standard" three hours by which most classes here are defined.  The reason for this is that every week, students must attend a lecture given to all Humanities students. The Common Lectures offered for each level of Humanities occur on Fridays throughout the day.  Most teachers require attendance, and may either call roll or administer short quizzes on lecture material at the beginning of the following week.  The Humanities program utilizes sources from an array of academic fields in order to help students develop critical thinking skills and synthesize information.  The great thing about the Humanities program is that it asks members of the UNC Asheville faculty (regardless of whether they are actually teaching a section of Humanities that semester) to give a particular Friday lecture.  This keeps things interesting and allows students to learn from experts across disciplines.   


Following a standard, four-year college experience, students can map their Humanities courses over the course of freshman, sophomore, and junior years, or can take one humanities course each semester if he or she so desires.  The final, or capstone course, also four hours, is to be taken only by students who have completed over 75 hours of study, and who have taken all three preceding courses.  Here, students have some flexibility: they can choose to take either "Humanities 414: Individual in the Contemporary World" or "Liberal Studies 479: Cultivating Global Citizenship."  There is a slight difference between the two courses in terms of required texts and focus points, which the image at the end of this post outlines in more depth.  Although I chose to take LS 479 because it fit well with my schedule, and I like the professor teaching the particular section I chose (Wednesday nights 6:00-9:30), so far I've been very satisfied with the course.  I find its connection to real-life issues and dilemmas to be very useful and thought-provoking, and have been able to draw connections to both previous Humanities courses and classes I am currently taking.   


A final word on Humanities at UNC Asheville--although the course itself may seem difficult or time-consuming, don't be scared!  It's a great resource that will connect you not only with your fellow students and teachers, but your past, present, and future as well!  Check out the link to the Humanities website above for more information, or leave comments if you have questions.  

Bonus: Hum 414 vs. LS 479

	HUM 414 "The Individual in the Contemporary World"	"LS 479: Cultivating Global Citizenship"
Credit Hours	4 (3+1 Recitation section)*	4
ILS Requirement	Satisfies ILS senior capstone requirement	Satisfies ILS senior capston requirement
Course Format	Sections meet twice weekly with instructors AND attend Friday Common Lecture 11:25-12:35 Core syllabus Combination of lecture, class discussion, group work, major project/paper	Sections meet with instructor unless otherwise noted Common experiences vary by term Ccore syllabus Combination of lecture, class discussion, group work, major project/paper
Registration	*Students must register for BOTH section (recitation) and Common Lecture	Students register for 4-credit section only
Course pre-requisites	75 hours + HUM 124, 214, 324	75 hours + HUM 124, 214, 324
Key Differences	Serves as a 4th Humanities course in a series including HUM 124, 214, 324 Focus on arts, culture, identity, social justice movements, future studies	Integrates earlier HUM Program curriculum with social and natural science disciplines Focus on ethics, governance, economics, environmental sustainability
Service Learning	Varies by instructor	Varies by instructor* (required for all HONORS students)
Required Texts	The Individual in the Contemporary World, eds. Campbell and Chapman (Additional 1 or 2 supplemental texts per instructor)	Ethics, Peter Singer The Bhagavad-Gita: Krisna's Counsel in Time of War, Barbara Stoler Miller (trans.) Buddhist EthicsL A Very Short Introduction, Damien Keown Cradle to Cradle, William McDionough and Michael Braungart

  

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"Don't Wait for the Masses"

This evening, I was lucky enough to attend a lecture given by one of the Greensboro 4, Franklin McCain.  For those who are not familiar with Mr. McCain, the Greensboro 4, or their contribution to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, perhaps the name “Woolworth’s” will ring a bell.  Mr. McCain was one of the four students who participated in the nonviolent sit-ins at the Woolworth’s counter in Greensboro, NC, a protest against the system that denied African American citizens full rights, equality, and respect, and one that inspired similar acts of resistance across the state and the country.  Mr. McCain offered some general remarks about his experiences and about life in general, all of which were inspirational and encouraging, especially to the UNC Asheville students in the audience.  

Mr. McCain told us that when he was growing up, his family told him to follow four main rules in order to ensure a successful life:
1. Respect and admire the Bill of Rights and the Constitution

2. Follow the 10 Commandments and go to Sunday school

3.  Get not good, but superior, grades

4.  Respect your elders and do things for others without expecting to be acknowledged or praised for doing so

He also mentioned that he did not have any “tales of woe” from his childhood; his family lived comfortably and the only question about college was where he would enroll.  However, as he grew older, he told us, he felt rather betrayed by what his family had taught him: following those four rules did not help him attain success, dignity, or respect, particularly in regards to his place in American society.  He admitted that he often became depressed by this, and sometimes questioned whether or not his existence was even worthwhile.  However, he realized that ending his life over this was the “coward’s way out,” and was, moreover, perhaps one of the most inconsiderate things he could do to the people who loved and supported him. 

In college, Mr. McCain met other similar-minded students and was able to safely express his feelings of frustration and anger with the system.  After a period, however, he realized that simply sitting around and talking about and criticizing these problems; rather ironically, given the nature of his later protests, he describes his college-aged self as an “on chair activist.”  He and his friends decided to address the problems they identified through their sit-in at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, taking action that was as peaceful as it was provocative. 

Mr. McCain did not spend much time discussing the particulars of the Woolworth’s events, but he did give us some advice for affecting change where we see problems.  First, he told us, “don’t wait for the masses,” to make a change; do something yourself.  He describes himself, even now, as a person who is “hard to keep control of,” so it is natural that he would express such a sentiment in regards to overcoming social and political issues.  He also advised us never to apply stereotypes to people whom we do not know.  At Woolworth’s, for example, he and his fellows met a small woman who was very much the stereotypical “white southern woman, complete with large shoulder bag that held everything but the kitchen sink.”  However, when she spoke to the Greensboro 4, she thanked them for their efforts and admitted that she wished they had taken action a decade ago.  Since this time, Mr. McCain told us, this “little old woman” follows him everywhere to remind him that before he passes judgment he must get to know an individual (because “you just don’t know that person” and “it’s not fair” to hold them to stereotypes).  Another piece of advice that he offered the audience was that if we see something that needs to be fixed, “don’t ever wait for permission to start a revolution.”  Although he received threats from strangers and even members of his school community, McCain continued his nonviolent protests; if he had asked permission of these people to do so, he would never have been able to begin.  Finally, he told us, “Be ashamed to die before you make an indelible impression on your community and the region where you live.”  He took us on a mental journey through a cemetery where everyone has two things in common: the date of birth and the date of death.  What will set us apart is how we live the dash between those dates.  He warned against a “skinny, narrow” line and advises a wide, long, fat line representing a life of integrity. 

“I wish I could tell you everything,” he told us about halfway through his lecture, and I wish he could have.  When he ended by saying “I’m finished,” I was glad that we at least had the question and answer session during which to learn more from him.  Mr. McCain was an engaging speaker with a fantastic sense of humor (for example, he described himself as “older and 5% wiser”), a wealth of good advice, and, not surprisingly, a very humble demeanor.  UNC Asheville is lucky to have hosted such an inspiring individual, and I know that the rest of the audience feels the same way.   

For more information about Mr.McCain and the Greensboro 4, please follow the link below:

Greensboro 4 "Seizing Justice"

Woolworth's and other Sit-Ins

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