The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences is a vibrant and diverse community of scholars and students which engages with the great questions of human society – how do we relate to and communicate with each other, why do people behave as we do, what principles guide our thinking, and what can we learn from the people who came before us? From anthropology and philosophy to sociology and psychology, the humanities and social sciences work to understand people.

Most of our faculty hold PhDs in their fields and are active in research and publishing, but our focus is on our teaching. We offer a wide range of courses to help you develop and improve your critical thinking, your communication skills, your understanding of your own and other cultures, and your empathy.

Whether it's law, journalism, creative writing, social work, psychology, or many others that interest you, anyone interested in working with people will find the humanities and social sciences provides a solid foundation for their career or a useful complement to other programs.

Challenge your perspective, interpret complex questions, and explore values and beliefs while engaging with larger social and cultural issues of our time.

New and Notable

University
Arts
Diploma

Focus on English, psychology, communications and more with a diploma that leads to an impactful career or ladders into a specialist degree.

Programs We Offer

Arts,
University Transfer

Study the past, present and future. Challenge your perspectives and interpret complex questions in preparation for a career in the humanities or social sciences.

Social Work, University Transfer

Fulfill your pursuit of social justice and promote well-being in communities, families or individuals. Put your empathy, patience and integrity to work.

NWPeople

Darlene Horseman: Decolonizing Her Education

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 | By Karlee Kapler

“I'll tell you this: I never liked education. As a child, school was such a negative experience for me. It was never a priority," admits Darlene Horseman, the Cree and Indigenous Studies Instructor at Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP). Read more about Darlene.

Raoudha Kallel: Passion for Education

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Growing up in the francophone country of Tunisia, Dr. Raoudha Kallel was immersed in the French language and culture. As a child, she had always admired the teachers she had in school and decided from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher too. Read more about Raoudha

Dr. Denise Nowicki: Awarding Excellence

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 | By Karlee Kapler

Tucked away in the Humanities and Social Science storage room you will find boxes upon boxes of Dr. Denise Nowicki’s student portfolios. Other instructors would have discarded student work after the required retention period, but Dr. Nowicki keeps them in case her former students eventually need something from their work. Read more about Denise.

Sally Jones: Harmonizing Academia and Art

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | By Karlee Kapler

Dr. Sally Jones, born and raised in the Peace Country, grew up on her family farm on the north banks of the Peace River. She has always felt a connection to the river, which ran through her veins like an invisible thread that always connected her back home. Read more about Sally

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Contact Us

For more information about the department and the programs we offer, please contact: