About our education
The University of Humanistic Studies is a small-scale university located in the heart of the medieval centre of Utrecht. We are committed to high-quality scientific research and education based on a humanist inspiration.
Education at the University of Humanistic Studies is personal, small-scale and varied. The programmes and courses are interdisciplinary, combining humanities and social sciences. They focus on issues relating to worldviews, the way people give meaning to life, and the way we strive for a humane society. The humanist worldview is an important source of inspiration in every course.
Programmes
The University offers a Bachelor’s degree in Humanistic Studies. We also offer a Master’s degree in Humanistic Studies, a Master’s degree in Care Ethics and Policy and a Master’s degree in Citizenship, Professionalism and Civil Society. These programmes are (until now) mostly offered in Dutch.
Some of the courses are offered in English and together they form an interesting Bachelor’s and Master’s exchange programme. Furthermore, our Graduate School offers a PhD programme in English.
Bachelor Humanistic Studies
The Bachelor’s programme in Humanistic Studies focuses on people and society from both a social science and a humanities perspective. This includes insights from sociology, philosophy, psychology and history. The approach is interdisciplinary. Meaning and humanisation are central concepts in the programme. Meaning is about people’s personal development and how they approach life. Humanisation is about how we can make our society even more humane. The two are related: in order to lead a meaningful life, environment is important. Through independent research and in working groups, students will learn to apply scientific knowledge to current social and ethical issues, always focusing on the interaction between the individual and the social context. Students also take courses in professional skills, so that they become aware of their own norms and values.
Master Humanistic Studies
The Master’s programme in Humanistic Studies focuses on complex questions of meaning and ethical issues for which there are no ready-made answers. This requires a view from different disciplines: psychological, anthropological and sociological insight, a philosophical perspective and also a historical angle. The programme is unique in its focus on the interplay between the personal search for meaning and broader structures and developments in organisations and society. Practical experience is gained during an internship and learn to design and implement educational programmes. There is also a strong focus on the personal development and value orientation of the students.
Master Care Ethics and Policy
The Master’s programme in Care Ethics and Policy – the only one in the world in the field of care ethics – studies care from various scientific perspectives. This interdisciplinary programme brings together insights from philosophy, ethics and social sciences, but it also focuses on critical-theoretical fields such as disability studies and gender studies. Care always takes place in relationships between people, but also between people and other living beings, and in interaction with their natural, cultural, social and technological environments. That is why not only the perspective of caregivers is important in this programme, but also that of care recipients. The programme touch on urgent ethical and political issues: from market forces in healthcare to technological innovations, from dignified living to social inequality and discrimination.
Master Citizenship, Professionalism and Civil Society
The Master’s programme in Citizenship and Quality of Life provides a solid theoretical foundation for reflecting on the behaviour and development of citizens in a democratic society and on their interactions with each other and with public organisations. The programme tackles current topics such as diversity, sustainability and livelihood security. The focus is on clarifying central tensions and moral dilemmas and the role that ethical professionals can play in dealing with them. In addition, there is a strong focus on practical experience, which students will gain during an intership at a public organisation.
Please visit our Dutch website for further details about the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.