College of Humanities

"At the core of humanities are these questions:

Why are we here? How did we get here? Where do we want to go, and how do we get there?"

Humanities and liberal arts the basis for a civil society

While politicians and even some colleges ponder the value of a liberal arts-based education, Jeffery Reeder, dean of California State University, Northridge’s College of Humanities, has no doubt that the lessons taught in those classes lay the foundation for society, and provide graduates with the tools for success.

“At the core of humanities disciplines—all of them—is asking questions about who we are as people, how we work together in groups and part of society and how we negotiate differences—whether it’s differences in goals, differences in ideologies, differences in our pasts or how we view our past,” Reeder said. “At the core of humanities are these questions: Why are we here? How did we get here? Where do we want to go, and how do we get there? Article continues on CSUN Today.

Congratulations to the 2024 College of Humanities Outstanding Scholar Jessica Smith

This year’s College of Humanities Outstanding Scholar was what you might refer to as a reluctant matador. You see, as a high school senior, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree at CSUN was not in Jessica Smith’s plans. As a matter of fact, when it came time to choose a university, she only landed at CSUN as a last resort. That’s because in 2020, during the height of COVID, she received rejection letters from every other school on her college wish list. Her only acceptance was from CSUN. Jessica acknowledges that having to make a compromise so early on her academic path felt like a failure. In retrospect, however, it turns out that pedagogical providence was on her side all along. Read more about Outstanding Scholar Jessica Smith.

Introducing the 2024 Humanities Dean’s Scholar Emma Carroll

Emma Carroll, the 2024 College of Humanities Dean’s Scholar, has long been focused on excellence. A Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing, a 4.0 GPA, and a recurring place on the Dean’s List are just a few of the many accomplishments that clearly highlight how she never lost sight of her academic goals.
Read more about Dean’s Scholar Emma Carrol

Beatriz Cortez Wins Rema Hort Mann Foundation Grant for Emerging Artists

February 5, 2018

Professor Beatriz Cortez, Central American Studies, has won a 2018 Rema Hort Mann Foundation Grant for Emerging Artists in Los Angeles. Cortez is one of seven artists who received the prestigious award, a $10,000 unrestricted grant for demonstrating critical and rigorous work in the field of contemporary art, as well as an ability and commitment to making future substantial contributions to the visual arts. Read more

Scott Kleinman's WE1S Project Awarded $1.1 Million by Mellon Foundation

October 16, 2017

The WhatEvery1Says Project (WE1S) co-directed by English Professor Scott Kleinman has been awarded $1.1 million by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Along with co-directors Alan Liu, Professor English at UC Santa Barbara, Jeremy Douglass, Assistant Professor of English at UC Santa Barbara, and Lindsay Thomas, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Miami, Kleinman will spend the next three years studying the representation of the Humanities in public discourse. Read more

For Latino Artists in Sci-Fi Show, Everyone’s an Alien

August 25, 2017

By JORI FINKE, New York Times. RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The shiny steel space capsule, a 12-sided metal contraption, looked more like a theatrical prop than anything truly orbit-worthy. And it was getting crowded inside. A heavy desk, bookshelf and fireplace — all made out of steel — lined one wall. Still to come was a metal trunk. “If I had to go in a space capsule because I couldn’t live on earth anymore, I’d want it to feel like a home,” said the capsule’s creator, the El Salvador-born Los Angeles artist Beatriz Cortez [Professor, Central American Studies], who Read more