Graduate Humanities Certificate Programs

Those who are interested in a 12 unit course of graduate level study in Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, English, or History may apply to one of these graduate Humanities certificate programs. In order to be awarded a certificate, students must submit an application to Graduate Admissions, be admitted to the certificate program, must earn a minimum of 12 units in the graduate certificate program to which they are admitted (Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, English or History), and must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

All University and Graduate Division policies apply to students admitted to a Graduate Humanities Certificate Program. Concurrent enrollment is not permissible; however, students who successfully complete one or more certificate programs may subsequently apply to another. Admission to one program does not imply or guarantee admission to another. Graduate Humanities Certificate Program students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

For those who determine that their educational path would be well served by earning an MA in Humanities, the following Catalog policy applies:

An applicant may complete up to 6 units in one semester at MSMU while applying for admission to a Graduate Program in the areas of Education and Humanities (see Non Degree-Seeking Graduate Students section). For Religious Studies requirements, see Religious Studies. Under certain circumstances a student may petition to complete an additional 3 units prior to the acceptance to any of these programs. No more than nine units taken at Mount Saint Mary’s University before acceptance into a program may be applied to the degree program. (Catalog, Graduate Admissions Policies Section).

Creative Writing includes classes in Fiction and Non-Fiction Writing, Screenplays, Memoir, The Novel and more. The Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles graduate writing program's emphasis in our MA Humanities Program is designed for those who wish to hone their writing skills under the tutelage of faculty who are published authors in the genres of short stories, screen plays, poetry, and more. The program appeals especially to those who want to become better writers by expanding their knowledge.

Cultural Studies offers interdisciplinary courses that work across the boundaries of humanities and the social sciences, drawing on the methods, theories, and approaches of many disciplines--including history, anthropology, sociology, literary theory, and others—to explore the ways in which "culture" shapes and is shaped by individual experience, social, political, and economic forces. Students who are interested in making a difference are drawn to these classes that grapple with the questions and problems of today’s rapidly changing world.

English - At the heart of the humanities is literature. The literature classes in this program are interdisciplinary, adding depth and dimension to the study of literature by reading and interpreting it in conjunction with or through the lens of another discipline, such as science, art, music, architecture, etc. Examples include Science and Victorian Literature; Poetry and the Visual Arts, etc.

History – History arguably belongs in the humanities. These history courses, especially belong in this program. Our distinguished history instructors study not just the past, but how the past impacts the present, how the past can be used to illuminate the present and serve as a lesson in solving today’s social, political, and global problems. These courses are also interdisciplinary, reaching out to other fields of study such as literature, economics, art, philosophy, etc. Some examples include The Novel as History; The Western Esoteric Tradition; Gender and History; The History of Satan, and more.