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

CSUN Cited as Exemplar for Increasing Student Success

January 22, 2014

CSUN's considerable accomplishment of increasing graduation rates by nearly 100% during the 11-year presidency of Jolene Koester is the subject of an in-depth report released January 16 by the Education Trust. Leading Change: Increasing Graduation Rates at CSU Northridge details President Koester's vision and Read more

English Professor Martin Pousson Awarded NEA Fellowship

December 16, 2013

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded English professor Martin Pousson a 2014 Creative Writing Fellowship in Prose. The accompanying $25,000 grant and a planned fall 2014 sabbatical will allow Pousson, who teaches in the creative writing and queer studies programs, to complete work on his new novel, Black Sheep Boy. But Pousson says the recognition means more to him than any amount of grant funding ever could. Read more

Professor Denise Sandoval's Community Arts Book Receives PEN Award

December 6, 2013

Chicana/o Studies professor Denise M. Sandoval has received a 2013 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award along with coeditor Luis J. Rodriguez for their book Rushing Waters, Rising Dreams: How the Arts Are Transforming a Community. The book documents 20 years of arts activism in the northeast San Fernando Valley, compiling essays, poetry, interviews, photography, and color art reproductions chronicling the impact of communal cultural spaces on neighborhoods and families. Read more