What has opera to do with mechanical engineering?  Why are computer science majors studying Shakespeare on film?  Who are those students reading Plato in the library? 

For most NJIT students, the Humanities Department offers the courses that transcend the technical components of their major curricula. For student engineers, architects, computer scientists, business managers, and technologists, the humanities program is designed to broaden horizons, to encourage access to the noblest creations of the human mind, both in the western tradition and with a global perspective. NJIT students come from all over the planet, rich in the diversity of human culture, sharing their art and literature. Honoring the achievements of past centuries as well as those of our post-modern world, the Humanities Department provides, within the technological curricula, a liberal arts component that is rooted in the oldest traditions of the university. 

We also offer courses at the intersection of technology and the arts, courses that help students succeed by stressing the ability to think critically, write clearly, speak articulately--all lifelong skills that will serve students well in pursuing professional goals and living complete and fulfilled lives.

NJIT’s core curriculum program, the General University Requirements, includes lower division requirements in English composition and in cultural history, followed by upper-level electives in a wide range of courses, including music, drama, theater, literature, history, and philosophy.

The Humanities Department also grants degrees, with undergraduate programs in Communication and Media and in Science, Technology and Society (STS).  Both of these areas of study take advantage of the growing interest in the application of technological knowledge to human affairs. To an ever-increasing extent, government, industry, and graduate professional schools are looking for broadly educated, technologically savvy students with a deep perspective on current events and the ability to communicate effectively to disparate and diverse audiences.

Our masters program in Professional and Technical Communication provides both practical and theoretical courses for individuals with varied undergraduate backgrounds, broadening their knowledge and enhancing career opportunities.

As Humanities faculty we are devoted to our students, whether in the traditional classroom environment or in distance learning.  We are also actively involved in scholarly research and service to the profession and to the university. As you browse through this website, please take the time to recognize how varied a group we are, with academic interests which promote multi-disciplinary approaches in both our scholarship and our teaching. 

We look forward to having you join us--humming Verdi, comparing Olivier’s Richard III with Al Pacino's, and engaging in Platonic dialogue. 

Burt Kimmelman
Professor and Chair
Department of Humanities