The Humanities Program has two separate tracks; students may enroll for either, but not both. Each track combines lectures and small group discussions; each pays particular attention to careful reading and writing.

The traditional Humanities Program (Humanities 150, 151, 250, 251) is a four-semester interdisciplinary course for first- and second-year students. It aims to help students come to an understanding of main currents in the Western Tradition from antiquity until the present century and to an appreciation of literary, religious, philosophical, and artistic monuments of the past.

The newer Cultures & Civilizations track (Humanities 160, 161) is a two-semester interdisciplinary course for first-year students only.  It seeks to expand horizons beyond the West, using significant literary and other works to explore a variety of cultures and civilizations.

Each track is taught by a staff of faculty members representing several departments or disciplines, with the staff changing in each semester. Lectures help to provide guidance for discussions in groups of about sixteen students each.

The four-semester course, when completed, counts toward core requirements in Literature, History, Religion, and Philosophy. It further satisfies the College's requirement in composition.

The two-semester Cultures & Civilzation course, when completed, counts toward the core requirement in Literature and satisfies the composition requirement.