Courses - Fall 2026
ARHU158A
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; Cyberpunk: Back to the Future
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Fictions of the 80s and 90s describe a future that we recognize as our present. Rooted in their political, literary, & technological contexts, the novels, films, and games termed cyberpunk are notable for their AIs and cyborgs. Often seen as fanciful dystopias, cyberpunk texts tapped into the cultural anxieties of the moment, offering narratives of both hope and despair, conceiving of a world familiar to us today. In philosophy & cultural studies, we will examine the constitution of the human subject and questions of agency. In history, we will look at the ramification s of cyberpunk-esque developments, thinking about what locked us into this among our possible futures. In multimedia studies, we might consider the ways these thematics continue to play out in literature, film, and games.
Fictions of the 80s and 90s describe a future that we recognize as our present. Rooted in their political, literary, & technological contexts, the novels, films, and games termed cyberpunk are notable for their AIs and cyborgs. Often seen as fanciful dystopias, cyberpunk texts tapped into the cultural anxieties of the moment, offering narratives of both hope and despair, conceiving of a world familiar to us today. In philosophy & cultural studies, we will examine the constitution of the human subject and questions of agency. In history, we will look at the ramification s of cyberpunk-esque developments, thinking about what locked us into this among our possible futures. In multimedia studies, we might consider the ways these thematics continue to play out in literature, film, and games.
ARHU158I
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; How to Panic Productively
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Does it sometimes feel like the world is falling apart? With a variety of crises facing humanity, it can be easy to give in to existential dread. In this course, we will seek to uncover ways to embrace panic as a productive exercise in humanizing. Drawing from disciplines such as ethics, philosophy, history, and politics, we will explore ways to existin the liminal space between fear and action and consider how to channelfeelings of panic or despair in a way that allows us to build a more humane society together.
Does it sometimes feel like the world is falling apart? With a variety of crises facing humanity, it can be easy to give in to existential dread. In this course, we will seek to uncover ways to embrace panic as a productive exercise in humanizing. Drawing from disciplines such as ethics, philosophy, history, and politics, we will explore ways to existin the liminal space between fear and action and consider how to channelfeelings of panic or despair in a way that allows us to build a more humane society together.
ARHU158L
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; The Stories that B(l)ind Us
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Stories (narratives) shape and are shaped by infrastructures of thought,which are heavily influenced by media. In this course, we will consider how an increasingly complex media ecology is upending possibilities for shared narratives, authentic connection and collectiveaction. Bringing together ideas from sociology, rhetoric, philosophy, and political econ omy, we will discuss how algorithms are both useful and dangerous and explore how AI is transforming both narrative and social connection.
Stories (narratives) shape and are shaped by infrastructures of thought,which are heavily influenced by media. In this course, we will consider how an increasingly complex media ecology is upending possibilities for shared narratives, authentic connection and collectiveaction. Bringing together ideas from sociology, rhetoric, philosophy, and political econ omy, we will discuss how algorithms are both useful and dangerous and explore how AI is transforming both narrative and social connection.
ARHU158N
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; The Art of Public Health: Humanistic Exploration of Health Disparities
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Artists explore and document public health disparities by collectively creating a multiverse of expression. Public health data presents a technical framework in presenting the challenges faced by communities. Artist s, over the ages, have expanded this narrow lens by responding tohealth inequities through advocacy and giving voice to the experiencesof marginalized communities. Engaging with literature, film, music and visual art, students will explore the essentiality of the humanities in creating a broader understanding of health disparities.
Artists explore and document public health disparities by collectively creating a multiverse of expression. Public health data presents a technical framework in presenting the challenges faced by communities. Artist s, over the ages, have expanded this narrow lens by responding tohealth inequities through advocacy and giving voice to the experiencesof marginalized communities. Engaging with literature, film, music and visual art, students will explore the essentiality of the humanities in creating a broader understanding of health disparities.
ARHU158U
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; Who Programs the Future?
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
This course introduces students to humanistic research through the study of artificial intelligence as a cultural system shaped by human values, power, inequity, and imagination. Using methods from media studies, philosophy, the history of technology, and feminist and critical race theory, students will learn how to ask scholarly questions, analyze primary texts and artifacts (ads, headlines, platforms), and develop original research on AI's social impacts. Through guest lectures, debates, and a final research project, students will practice key skillsof humanistic inquiry: critical interpretation, argumentation, andethical reflection.
This course introduces students to humanistic research through the study of artificial intelligence as a cultural system shaped by human values, power, inequity, and imagination. Using methods from media studies, philosophy, the history of technology, and feminist and critical race theory, students will learn how to ask scholarly questions, analyze primary texts and artifacts (ads, headlines, platforms), and develop original research on AI's social impacts. Through guest lectures, debates, and a final research project, students will practice key skillsof humanistic inquiry: critical interpretation, argumentation, andethical reflection.
ARHU158V
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; Citizen Humanists
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
How can we share and preserve the cultures we love in a digital world? In this course, students explore their own cultural identities from gaming and fandoms to heritage languages and music while learning to bridge the digital divide. Adopting a "minimal computing" ethic, you will learnto build future-proof, "static" websites and manage digital data using free, accessible tools. We will navigate the ethics of AI, intellectual property, and environmental sustainability. Through a hands-on digital project, you ll develop skills in data curation, information visualization, and linked data. By joining this community of"Citizen Humanists," you will gain the technical and research tools necessary to archive the cultural practices most meaningful to you and your community.
How can we share and preserve the cultures we love in a digital world? In this course, students explore their own cultural identities from gaming and fandoms to heritage languages and music while learning to bridge the digital divide. Adopting a "minimal computing" ethic, you will learnto build future-proof, "static" websites and manage digital data using free, accessible tools. We will navigate the ethics of AI, intellectual property, and environmental sustainability. Through a hands-on digital project, you ll develop skills in data curation, information visualization, and linked data. By joining this community of"Citizen Humanists," you will gain the technical and research tools necessary to archive the cultural practices most meaningful to you and your community.
ARHU158W
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; Language, Power, and Identity: Raciolinguistics and Education
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
This seminar introduces ARHU majors, especially future language educators at all levels, to the social, political, and ideological dimensions of language. Grounded in critical sociolinguistics and related interdisciplinary fields, the course examines how language, power, race,and identity operate across public and educational spaces. Studentsdevelop critical linguistic awareness and explore raciolinguistic and antiracistapproaches to language teaching, analyzinghow these dynamics shape public discourse and broader social institutions.
This seminar introduces ARHU majors, especially future language educators at all levels, to the social, political, and ideological dimensions of language. Grounded in critical sociolinguistics and related interdisciplinary fields, the course examines how language, power, race,and identity operate across public and educational spaces. Studentsdevelop critical linguistic awareness and explore raciolinguistic and antiracistapproaches to language teaching, analyzinghow these dynamics shape public discourse and broader social institutions.
ARHU158Y
Explorations in Arts and Humanities; Art as Inquiry: How Making Shapes Understanding
Restricted to first semester first year students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Drawing from visual art practice, art history and philosophy, this course examines how different traditions have approached the role of artin shaping understanding. Students will explore historical and contemporaryartworks across a range of media, to consider how artists have sought to explain, question, document, or reimagine the world around them. A significant portion of the course is devoted to hands-on making, alongside close looking, discussion, and critical reading. Students will work withmaterials, processes, and forms to interrogate the conditions and contexts of everyday life. Making art is treated not as a technical skill-building exercise, but as a mode of inquiry that complements historical and interpretive approaches. No prior art experience is required.
Drawing from visual art practice, art history and philosophy, this course examines how different traditions have approached the role of artin shaping understanding. Students will explore historical and contemporaryartworks across a range of media, to consider how artists have sought to explain, question, document, or reimagine the world around them. A significant portion of the course is devoted to hands-on making, alongside close looking, discussion, and critical reading. Students will work withmaterials, processes, and forms to interrogate the conditions and contexts of everyday life. Making art is treated not as a technical skill-building exercise, but as a mode of inquiry that complements historical and interpretive approaches. No prior art experience is required.
ARHU230
Introduction to Humanities, Health, and Medicine
Restriction: Permission of ARHU-History Department.
Cross-listed with: ENGL254, HIST219N, WGSS230.
Credit only granted for: ARHU230 , ENGL289C, ENGL254, ARHU298A, HIST219N, or WGSS230.
An overview of the historical, cultural, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of medicine, human health, disease, and death from the points of view of various humanistic disciplines.
For information on registration, please email hhmminor@umd.edu.
ARHU240
Arts Organizations and Audiences in the United States
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with: TDPS240.
Credit only granted for: TDSP240 or ARHU240.
An introduction to the history and role of arts organizations in the U.S., as well as the respective audiences and populations they serve. This grounding allows artists and emerging administrators to understand the events and questions that have shaped the field, and develop strategies for advancing sustainable arts organizations in the future.
ARHU275
Writing for the Stage and Screen: An Introductory Workshop
Cross-listed with: ENGL275.
Credit only granted for: ENGL275 or ARHU275.
Introduction to the theory and practice of scriptwriting with an opportunity to read, view, evaluate, write, and revise texts meant to be performed. Students will practice writing for the stage, film, and television and also examine selected scripts, performances, and film and television clips as models for their own creative work. Students will complete frequent writing exercises, participate in workshops, and learn to apply scholarship to the analysis and critique of scripts.
ARHU286
Experiential Learning
Credits:
3 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: Permission of ARHU-College of Arts & Humanities.
Restriction: Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5; and must be in a major or minor in ARHU - College of Arts and Humanities.
Designed for students who are in their first semester at the University of Maryland and/or students who wish to complete legislative internships, some start-up internships and some remote internships. All students must be enrolled in an ARHU major or minor and the internship must be in one of the academic fields covered within the College of Arts and Humanities. In addition to completing their required hours on site, students will be required to attend three bi-weekly seminars at the beginning of the semester to help develop their para-professional goals and understandings.
ARHU300
Writers' House Colloquium: Welcome to Writers' House; Writing Your Manifesto
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Must be in the Jimenez-Porter Writers' House Living-Learning Program.
Welcomes new students into Jimenez-Porter Writers' House, a literary center for the study of creative writing across cultures and languages, and helps them to understand, develop and write their own artist statement (aka Artist Manifesto). Students will explore the creative and intellectual traditions of our community, their craft and future careers, understand what these traditions are, how they have evolved over time and place, and why they matter. Emphasis will be placed on community building, engagement and participation, with presentations from the editorial staff of Stylus, executive board of Terpoets, Novelist Support Group as well as other professional development opportunities.
ARHU309
Writers' House Colloquium: Creative Writing in Community
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restricted to Jimenez-Porter Writers' House students.
ARHU319D
Writers' House Second Year Colloquium: Form and Theory of Creative Writing; Exploring the Contemporary Revolution in Poetic Practice
Restricted to Jimenez-Porter Writers' House students.
We are living through a revolution in poetic practice. Over the last two decades, many writers have revisited received forms (and invented new ones) to reclaim poetry as a medium for engaging urgent issues of our time, including the climate crisis and systemic discrimination across race, class, gender identity and expression, sexuality, disability, ethnicity, religion, and national origin. This workshop invites you to read this exciting new work and experiment alongside contemporary poets who use formal constraint as both catalyst and subject. Together, we ll explore radically reimagined versions of cross-cultural poetic forms such as thesonnet, sestina, pantoum, ghazal, ekphrasis, erasure, prose and letter poems, as well as hybrid, digital, found, documentary, and emergent forms (including the bop, duplex, golden shovel, and collaborative work).
We are living through a revolution in poetic practice. Over the last two decades, many writers have revisited received forms (and invented new ones) to reclaim poetry as a medium for engaging urgent issues of our time, including the climate crisis and systemic discrimination across race, class, gender identity and expression, sexuality, disability, ethnicity, religion, and national origin. This workshop invites you to read this exciting new work and experiment alongside contemporary poets who use formal constraint as both catalyst and subject. Together, we ll explore radically reimagined versions of cross-cultural poetic forms such as thesonnet, sestina, pantoum, ghazal, ekphrasis, erasure, prose and letter poems, as well as hybrid, digital, found, documentary, and emergent forms (including the bop, duplex, golden shovel, and collaborative work).
ARHU319E
Writers' House Second Year Colloquium: Form and Theory of Creative Writing; Personal Narratives and the Art of Crafting Fiction
Restricted to Jimenez-Porter Writers' House students.
This course explores the fertile ground where lived experience meets imaginative storytelling. Through a blend of personal narrative, fictional techniques, and reflective craft study, students will learn how to draw from their own histories to create layered, resonant fiction. We'll examine how memory, identity, voice, and vulnerability shape narrative choices - and how transforming truth through fiction can open new creaive possibilities. Readings will include autofiction, autobiographical short stories, and author essays on craft. Students will generate new work through guided exercises and develop a short story or excerpt rooted in autobiographical material.
This course explores the fertile ground where lived experience meets imaginative storytelling. Through a blend of personal narrative, fictional techniques, and reflective craft study, students will learn how to draw from their own histories to create layered, resonant fiction. We'll examine how memory, identity, voice, and vulnerability shape narrative choices - and how transforming truth through fiction can open new creaive possibilities. Readings will include autofiction, autobiographical short stories, and author essays on craft. Students will generate new work through guided exercises and develop a short story or excerpt rooted in autobiographical material.
ARHU338
Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship in a Living Learning Program
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Sophomore standing or higher; and must be in an ARHU Living Learning Program or be a graduate of the program; and must have permission of the Living Learning Program to enroll. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
Offers exceptional students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and gain valuable experience. ARHU Living learning program UTAs also serve as peer mentors and program leaders. They assist with course planning, research, and student advising (as appropriate). We are also allowing for variable credit (1-3 cr hrs).
Offers exceptional students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and gain valuable experience. ARHU Living learning program UTAs also serve as peer mentors and program leaders. They assist with course planning, research, and student advising (as appropriate). We are also allowing for variable credit (1-3 cr hrs).
ARHU340
Arts Entrepreneurship and the Creative Profession
Recommended: ARHU240.
Cross-listed with: MUSC448E.
Credit only granted for: ARHU340 or MUSC448E.
Introduces students to arts entrepreneurship in preparation for diverse and ever-changing careers in the creative fields. Students will practice and develop their entrepreneurial mindsets and learn about different frameworks for audience engagement. Topics include financial management, revenue development, business planning, and the "need-to-knows" of the gig economy. Throughout the semester, students will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of entrepreneurs in the arts and to evaluate their future career paths.
ARHU358
Becoming Worldwise and Worldready: Finding Success in College and Life
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Restriction: Must be enrolled in a major in the College of Arts and Humanities. Repeatable to 3 credits if content differs.
Designed to help students navigate the various resources that exist at a large, Research 1 university like the University of Maryland. The course focus is helping them better understand the groundwork needed to transition successfully from underclassman to upperclassman, from an outside major into ARHU or from an external school to UMD, and ultimately from college into life post-graduation.
Designed to help students navigate the various resources that exist at a large, Research 1 university like the University of Maryland. The course focus is helping them better understand the groundwork needed to transition successfully from underclassman to upperclassman, from an outside major into ARHU or from an external school to UMD, and ultimately from college into life post-graduation.
ARHU376
Writing the Feature Film
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: ENGL275, ARHU275, ARHU375 or THET340; or permission of instructor.
Cross-listed with: CINE376.
Credit only granted for: ARHU376 or CINE376.
Examines the creative process of developing and writing a feature-length screenplay. Students will experience a collaborative workshop environment, researching stories, pitching feature film ideas, creating a logline, developing a detailed beat sheet and, ultimately, writing a complete first draft of the screenplay.
ARHU386
Experiential Learning
Prerequisite: Permission of ARHU-College of Arts & Humanities.
Restriction: Junior standing or higher.
ARHU441
Arts Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: ARHU240 or TDPS240; or permission of instructor.
Recommended: ARHU440 or TDPS440.
Restriction: Limited to 4 undergraduate students (2 in ARHU and 2 in TDPS).
Cross-listed with: TDPS441.
Jointly offered with: ARHU640, TDPS640.
Credit only granted for: TDPS458E, ARHU441, TDPS441, ARHU640 or TDSP640.
Formerly: TDPS458E.
Establishes arts entrepreneurship as a unique discipline with the goal of connecting creative initiatives (products, artforms, and programs) to audiences, resources, and communities. Introduces students to the ways in which creative initiatives both create value and offer solutions to social, political, environmental, and cultural issues. Students will develop artist impact statements and identify different contexts and ways to apply their talents and creative initiatives in society.
ARHU458
Graduate School Preparation
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 60 credits. Must be enrolled in a major in the College of Arts and Humanities. Repeatable to 3 credits if content differs.
Designed for Juniors and Seniors who are interested in applying to graduate school. Topics include skills needed for the graduate school search and application process, evaluation and reflection of application materials, preparation for GRE exam, and exploration into career options after graduate school. Focus on the Humanities fields.
Designed for Juniors and Seniors who are interested in applying to graduate school. Topics include skills needed for the graduate school search and application process, evaluation and reflection of application materials, preparation for GRE exam, and exploration into career options after graduate school. Focus on the Humanities fields.
ARHU468A
Peer Mentoring Program; Arts and Humanities' Ambassador Program
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restricted to current ARHU students who will serve as ambassadors for the College of Arts and Humanities.
ARHU486
Internship Practicum in Arts and Humanities
Credits:
3 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: Have completed previous internship at U of MD.
Restriction: Must be in a major in ARHU-College of Arts & Humanities; and permission of ARHU-College of Arts & Humanities; and minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5; and must have earned a minimum of 60 credits; and completed 12 credits at U of MD.
An internship intended for students who have already completed an internship for credit. ARHU486 must be a different experience from the internship students have already taken for credit. Generally students intern with a different company, but they may continue working for the same company if the job is significantly different. See ARHU internship coordinator for details.
ARHU489
Advanced Internship Practicum in ARHU
Credits:
3 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: Permission of the College of Arts and Humanities.
ARHU640
Arts Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Cross-listed with: TDPS640.
Credit only granted for: ARHU640, TDPS640, or THET669U.
Formerly: THET669U.
Establishes arts entrepreneurship as a unique discipline with the goal of connecting creative initiatives (products, artforms, and programs) to audiences, resources, and communities. Introduces students to the ways in which creative initiatives both create value and offer solutions to social, political, environmental, and cultural issues. Students will develop artist impact statements and identify different contexts and ways to apply their talents and creative initiatives in society.
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University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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