The Department of Humanities is the only department in Canada to offer interdisciplinary programs and courses providing a comprehensive introduction to the humanities as an integrated field of study.
We are informed by a powerful vision of the value of interdisciplinary study and research, which enables students to understand and appreciate the diversity of human cultures and their multiple forms of expression.
Read our Land Acknowledgment which recognizes the unique and enduring relationship of Indigenous people and their traditional territory.
Pursue a program of study emphasizing the different ways in which human cultures and their multiple forms of expression have developed historically and continue to develop today.
Flexibility
Choose from a rich array of course offerings every year to create a program of study that meets your academic interests and career aspirations.
Study Abroad
You will have the opportunity to enhance your studies and add to your university experience by participating in an exchange program with universities around the world.
Active Student Clubs
From student associations to advocacy groups, get involved with your community through social and cultural events, advocacy projects and information sessions.
Campus Resources
Engage in the Multimedia Language Centre, LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research, the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies and many more resources for students on campus.
Welcome to the Department of Humanities where students can learn about the past, examine how the past shapes the present and imagine new possibilities for the future. In our courses, students explore various cultures and communities together with their expressive forms from a variety of critical viewpoints. We specialize in interdisciplinarity, combining fields of knowledge in the humanities to enable students to become critical thinkers and advocates for social justice. A humanities degree provides students with many exciting career paths, including, but not limited to, the following: cultural consultant, communications manager, podcast producer, social media strategist, digital collections archivist, media operations manager or elementary/secondary school teacher. Come join us!
— Elicia A. Clements
Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Humanities
February 24, 2026
SSHRC grants support York-led research collaborations
