Welcome to the Department of Humanities, in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). The Department of Humanities is one of the largest in CAS, with around 50 full-time faculty members.
This raises the question, why is humanities important? Studying humanities enriches the individual and society by expanding our understanding of the culture, values, history, thought, language and practice of others. Students of humanities learn to think creatively and yet systematically about being human, situated in specific historical and cultural context, and faced with questions about the world and their place in it. In the process, they become skilled at evaluating evidence critically and reflecting upon more than one side of every question. Humanities studies nurtures the knowledgeable and critical citizenry necessary for democracy to flourish.
Since its establishment, the Department of Humanities is poised to become a vibrant regional center in the discipline, committed to academic excellence in teaching and research as well as service to the both the academic and general communities. The department currently offers majors in History, major in Applied Geography and Geographic Information System, major in Fine Arts, and minor in Philosophy.
Our faculty members are highly qualified, with international academic experience and a strong commitment to quality instruction in their respective fields. We maintain a strong international and regional research profile, with several ongoing projects supported by national and institutional grants. Meanwhile we continue to serve the Qatari society in various capacities, including community outreach programs, professional development activities, and collaborative partnerships with various sectors of the national and international community.
With its long history, our program is well equipped to compete with those offered by regional universities in providing high quality undergraduate education. Our students become critical readers, thinkers, and writers equipped with the knowledge and technical skills required for problem solving, communication, and teamwork, and thereby empowered for future careers in all sectors of the economy.
Dr. Mehdi Jerad
Acting Head of Humanities Department
College of Arts & Sciences