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About the College of Arts & Humanities at Maryland

Boldly Human, Fearlessly Creative

Experience the tight-knit feel of a small liberal arts college with the opportunities of a national research university.

Students walk past the Frederick Douglass Statue on UMD's campus.

Located near the nation’s capital, the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) at the University of Maryland is a vibrant and multi-cultural community of artists, intellectuals, creators and critical thinkers who study the human experience with a focus on how we have evolved as diverse peoples and who we should aspire to be as a just society. Our humanities and arts fields study and frame the past and the present so that we can collectively work towards a better future. 

With the guidance of faculty experts, you will grow into a global visionary, critical thinker and creative problem solver. ARHU’s integrated “Be Worldwise. Get Worldready.” initiative offers career-readiness courses and individualized academic and career advising to prepare you for a successful career. Our alumni have forged careers in almost every industry, including arts and culture, government, entrepreneurship, law, finance, medicine and technology. The creative ways to apply your ARHU degree are truly limitless!

Undergraduate Academic Programs

Majors

  • American studies (B.A.)
  • Arabic studies (B.A.)
  • Art history (B.A.)
  • Chinese (B.A.)
  • Cinema and media studies (B.A.)
  • Classical languages and literatures (B.A.)
  • Communication (B.A.)
  • Dance (B.A.)
  • English language and literature (B.A.)
  • French language and literature (B.A.)
  • German studies (B.A.)
  • History (B.A.)
  • Immersive media design (B.A.) 
  • Italian studies (B.A.)
  • Japanese (B.A.)
  • Jewish studies (B.A.)
  • Linguistics (B.A.)
  • Music education (B.M.E.)
  • Music (B.A.)
  • Music (B.M.)
  • Persian studies (B.A.)
  • Philosophy (B.A.)
  • Philosophy, politics, and economics (B.A.)
  • Religions of the Ancient Middle East (B.A.)
  • Romance languages (B.A.)
  • Russian language and literature (B.A.)
  • Spanish language, literatures, and culture (B.A.)
  • Studio art (B.A.)
  • Theatre (B.A.)
  • Women, gender, and sexuality studies (B.A.)

Minors

  • Arabic
  • Archaeology
  • Art history
  • Arts leadership
  • Black women’s studies
  • Chinese language
  • Classical mythology
  • Creative placemaking
  • Creative writing
  • Digital storytelling
  • French studies
  • German studies
  • Greek language and culture
  • Hebrew studies
  • History
  • Humanities, health, and medicine
  • Israel studies
  • Italian language and culture
  • Japanese
  • Jewish studies
  • Korean studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean studies
  • Latin language and literature
  • LGBTQ studies
  • Linguistics
  • Middle East studies
  • Music and culture
  • Music performance
  • Persian studies
  • Philosophy
  • Portuguese and Brazilian studies
  • Professional writing
  • Religious studies
  • Rhetoric
  • Russian studies
  • Spanish heritage language and Latina/o culture
  • Spanish language, culture, and professional contexts
  • Spanish literature, linguistics, and culture
  • U.S. Latina/o studies

Certificate Programs and Flagships

  • Arabic flagship
  • East Asian studies 
  • Latin American and Caribbean studies
  • LGBTQ studies
  • Persian flagship
  • Women, gender, and sexuality studies

Living-Learning Programs

  • College Park Scholars: Arts
  • Honors College:  
    • Design Cultures and Creativity
    • Honors Humanities
  • Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House
  • Language House

Student Experience 

ARHU students explore their interests on campus, in D.C. and globally. Check out our Instagram Highlights Reel to watch a day-in-the-life of several students going to class, internships, student clubs and more.

David T. Obajemu ’25

Immersive Media Design

“The faculty have been a major driving force in my success. Their willingness to provide resources has opened up exciting opportunities and given me a substantial launching pad.”

Emma Friedman ’24

English, Astronomy minor

“Working at NASA was always my dream job, and I worked tirelessly to get an internship there in communications and internal engagement. I also interned at the White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence. The writing skills I've learned at UMD have prepared me for my future career.”

Genevieve Menthen ’23

Classics, Criminology & Criminal Justice

“You learn how to present yourself, how to expand your understanding of the world around you, and how to continually look for ways to improve.”

A woman jogs towards the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

Location Advantage

Explore careers and find limitless opportunities near UMD's campus!

Recent Internship & Career Placements

  • Smithsonian Institution
  • NASA Goddard
  • Library of Congress
  • U.S. Secret Service
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • National Public Radio
  • Phillips Collection
  • Under Armour
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Bank of America
  • Bethesda Magazine
  • Penguin Random House
  • Washington Nationals

The College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) By The Numbers

Be Worldwise. Get Worldready.

$100,000+

In ARHU-Specific Scholarship Awards Each Year

30+ ARHU-Specific Career Events Per Year

43% Students of Color

96% Job & Graduate School Placement Rate

27+ Study Abroad Countries Visited

73% Of Students Do Internships

8:1 Student To Faculty Ratio

34% Double Majors

570+ Individual Career Advising Appointments Per Year

--- Unlimited Opportunities to Learn & Grow