From ancient times to the present day, people around the globe have raised fundamental questions about life through the arts, literature and philosophy. In the Arts & Humanities Division, faculty and students explore the human experience across an exceptionally broad range of subjects.
By studying the world’s languages and cultures, students expand their horizons and prepare themselves for an increasingly multicultural world. Through rigorous exploration of complex philosophical arguments, students move beyond their own assumptions toward a deeper understanding of human life and its complexities. And discovery in the arts helps students open their imaginations to fresh perspectives on the world.
Dean Anthony Cascardi
The faculty in Arts & Humanities are leaders in their fields — both as researchers, honored worldwide for their contributions to scholarship, and as teachers who challenge students to explore the deepest questions that shape their lives and our times.
For Undergraduates:
Visit the Arts & Humanities undergraduate website to learn more about the majors, minors and other academic offerings for undergraduates, including undergraduate research and career preparation for Arts & Humanities majors.
Dean and StaffDean: Anthony J. Cascardi |
Contact InformationArts & Humanities Division |
Academic Departments
| Department | Chair |
|---|---|
| Art Practice | Greg Niemeyer |
| Classics | Ellen Oliensis |
| Comparative Literature | Sophie Volpp |
| East Asian Languages & Cultures | Andrew Jones |
| English | Steve Justice |
| Film and Media | Mark Sandberg |
| French | Nicholas Paige |
| German | Karen Feldman |
| History of Art | Whitney Davis |
| Italian Studies | Mia Fuller |
| Music | Cindy Cox |
| Near Eastern Studies | Francesca Rochberg |
| Philosophy | Niko Kolodny |
| Rhetoric | Daniel Boyarin |
| Scandinavian | Karin Sanders |
| Slavic Languages and Literatures | Eric Naiman |
| South & Southeast Asian Studies | Paula Varsano |
| Spanish & Portuguese | Michael Iarocci |
| Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies | Lisa Wymore |
Groups & Programs in the Arts & Humanities
| Group or Program | Director |
|---|---|
| Ancient History & Mediterranean Archaeology | Carlos Noreña |
| Arts Research Center | Julia Bryan-Wilson |
| Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion | Mark Csikszentmihalyi & Jonathan Sheehan |
| Berkeley Language Center | Richard Kern |
| Buddhist Studies | Alexander von Rospatt |
| Celtic Studies | Eve Sweetser |
| Center for Jewish Studies | Ben Brinner |
| Center for New Music & Audio Technologies | Edmund Campion |
| Consortium for Interdisciplinary Research | Jonathan Sheehan |
| Dutch Studies | Jeroen Dewulf |
| The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | Paula Fass |
| Medieval Studies | Jonas Wellendorf |
| Romance Languages and Literature | Richard Kern |
| Townsend Center for the Humanities | Timothy Hampton |
| Visual Resources Center |
Fellowship Information for Faculty Members
The Humanities Research Fellowship and Mellon Project Grant Programs
The Humanities Research Fellowship Program provides funds to supplement the sabbatical salary for faculty members engaged in research in the humanistic disciplines or working in the creative arts. The Mellon Project Grant program is intended to support research costs for associate professors who are engaged in research in humanistic disciplines or who work in the creative arts. Application forms are available in the fall. The application deadline is in October.
The Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities
Since its establishment in 1987, the Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities has encouraged an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship, fostered innovation in research, and promoted intellectual conversation among individuals from the humanities and related academic disciplines.
The center offers numerous fellowships and grants that support all levels of the university community. Fellowship opportunities for UC Berkeley faculty include the Townsend Fellowship for Assistant Professors, Associate Professor Fellowships, and the Course Threads program for undergraduates. Please visit the Townsend Center website for more information on the various grant and fellowship programs.
President's Research Fellowships in the Humanities
President's Research Fellowships in the Humanities are intended to increase the support for research available to individual faculty members in the humanities by providing a new source of funds and, where appropriate, augmenting funds from extramural agencies and campus grants.
Click here for information on how to give to Arts & Humanities.