It is the philosophy of Harrison Middleton University to provide the opportunity for a student to study the subjects that interest him or her. Students, with the guidance of their Instructional Team, design their own program of study. There are a variety of ways to design the degree program. The university believes that learning comes from life experiences as well as academic studies and students are encouraged to be creative in the design of the program of study for their degree. For example, a student could incorporate world travel into his or her program of study by researching the places and cultures that program authors lived in and wrote about. As students consider the possibilities, they should keep in mind that mid-way through their studies they will begin to plan the thesis, practicum, or project for the Capstone Course, the culminating experience at the university. The Capstone Course allows a student to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the authors, ideas, topics, and subtopics studies in the degree program. A student may choose to write a thesis, design a practicum, or do a project, which might include writing a novel, creating a form of artwork, or writing a substantial essay based on fieldwork.

The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities degree program consists of 120 undergraduate credit hours, which must include 30 credit hours of general education requirements and 82 credit hours of additional coursework from imaginative literature, natural sciences, philosophy and religion, and social science. After completing 6-12 credit hours of general education courses in each of the disciplines of imaginative literature (including oral and written communication), natural sciences (including mathematics), philosophy and religion, and social sciences, students will design a core program focusing on ideas, or focusing on authors. If a student chooses to design a program focusing on ideas, he or she will choose at least three ideas. A student may choose to design a program focusing on authors—examining common ideas, topics, subtopics, explored by the chosen author.

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities graduates will be able to design, implement, and complete a self-directed program of study in the liberal arts. They will have achieved the ability to think critically about major ideas in Western thought and to engage in discussion about fundamental questions of human existence. The bachelor program is designed to help the student develop critical, analytical, synthetic, and problem-solving skills through discussion and essay writing. Design and completion of a culminating thesis, practicum, or field project demonstrates an ability to carry out sustained library or field research on a designated topic as well as to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills acquired in the course of study.

Specifically, the bachelor’s level student will be able to construct logical, coherent, and well-supported verbal and written arguments; to engage analytically and critically with issues and ideas; and to recognize textual ambiguity and theoretical complexity.