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Courses - Spring 2026
ENGL
English Department Site
ENGL264
What Are the Liberal Arts?
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSHU
Explore what we call "the liberal arts" and "the humanities," which have historically formed the foundations of higher education. What is the role of learning in human life, and what are the ultimate ends of education? How does the idea of a liberal arts education take shape--from ancient Greece, to the medieval world, to the post-Enlightenment explosion of the sciences, to the modern disciplines of the humanities? What can you expect from the humanities curriculum at the University of Maryland, as opposed to a liberal arts college such as St. Johns College in Annapolis?