Dan Edelstein (Stanford University) writes that the humanities can learn from the approaches used by “service departments” which offer required courses for all majors to reach non-major students. Edelstein encourages departments to focus on offering courses that students want to take, that are delivered in a discussion seminar format to provide students with a contrast to their typical lectures, or that involve topics or books that are discussed in a thoughtful, educated way. “[T]here are many ways to make the humanities more accessible and enticing to undergraduates, if we’re willing to experiment,” concludes Edelstein.
Chronicle of Higher Ed (Acct Req)
