The
Humanities Division at Transylvania offers students an opportunity
to discover the beliefs, values, knowledge, and skills that influence
them as individuals in society.
Focusing on the development of the person, faculty members engage students in issues that stem from the diverse religious, literary, philosophical, linguistic, and cultural heritage of humanity. They help students to develop their cognitive, analytic, evaluative, and expressive abilities. This process allows students to bring a reflective, informed, and organized intelligence to understanding both themselves and the cultural, moral, and political issues of their communities.
Majors included in this division are English, foreign language, philosophy, and religion.
A new program in Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication was added in 2005.
English
Transy’s English program offers a wide range of courses in both traditional and contemporary literature, film, and popular culture.
The program, while based in the study of British and American literature, offers several courses in other traditions, including South African and African, as well as courses in women’s literature, creative writing, poetry, fiction, film, and popular culture.
Through the program, you will learn to read critically, reflect on what you’ve read, engage with literatures of different cultures and times, and write in different forms—from expository to creative.
Faculty Members:
- Tay N. Fizdale; Assistant Professor of English; B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles.
- Brent A. Shannon, Visiting Assistant Professor of English; B.A., Indiana University, 1993; M.A., University of Cincinnati, 1996; Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 2003.
- Anthony P. Vital; Professor of English; B.A., M.A., University of Cape Town; Ph.D., State University of New York.
- Kremena Todorova; Assistant Professor of English; B.A., Hope College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame.
- Carrie Green; Visiting Instructor in English; B.S., University of Florida; M.A., M.F.A., McNeese State University; M.L.I.S., Louisiana State University.
Foreign Languages
Studying a foreign language can broaden your horizons by exposing you to other cultures and peoples.
Foreign language students take courses in conversation, civilization, composition, grammar, and literature. Many students participate in study abroad programs to improve language skills and experience another culture. Transy offers instruction in German, French, Spanish, Latin, and ancient Greek. Students can major or minor in French and Spanish, minor in German and classical studies, or complete a self-designed major in German.
Faculty Members:
- Brian J. Arganbright; Assistant Professor of French; B.A., B.S., Northern Arizona University; M.A., Pennsylvania State University; M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., New York University.
- Simonetta Cochis; Associate Professor of French and Spanish; B.A., M.A., SUNY at Stony Brook; Ph.D., New York University.
- Lisa M. Contreras; Instructor in Spanish; Director of the Language Lab; Director of the Foreign Language Festival; B.A., Arizona State University; M.A., University of Kentucky.
- Veronica Dean-Thacker; Professor of Spanish; B.A., Nazareth College; M.A., University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D., University of Kentucky.
- Martha Ojeda; Associate Professor of Spanish; B.A., Berea College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Kentucky.
- John Svarlien; Professor of Classics; B.A., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; M.A., The Florida State University; Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin.
- Richard A. Weber; Professor of German and French; A.B., Boston College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Cincinnati.
- Danae Orlins; Assistant Professor of Spanish; B.A., University of Southern California; M.A., Ph.D., Cornell University.
Philosophy
The philosophy program offers a strong background in human culture, literature, analysis, and critical thinking.
Studying philosophy at Transylvania can provide you with a solid historical foundation in the discipline, strengthen your professional skills, and help you come to terms with some of life’s most important questions.
Philosophy asks questions about some very basic concepts: self-identity, knowledge, reality, and morality. You will examine your understanding of many issues in relation to your own life, and in turn develop a deeper appreciation for whatever field you may enter.
Faculty Members:
- John J. Furlong; Professor of Philosophy; B.A., Bellarmine University; M.A., Ph.D., The Catholic University of America.
- Lissa Ellen Cox; Assistant Professor of Philosophy; B.A., Miami University of Ohio; M.A., Ph.D., DePaul Universtiy.
- Peter S. Fosl; Professor of Philosophy; B.A., Bucknell University; M.A., Ph.D., Emory University.
Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication
The Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication (WRC) program was established at the end of the 2004-2005 academic year to enhance the efforts of existing faculty in the teaching of writing and communication, and to concentrate the University’s offerings in these important areas.
Faculty Members:
- Martha Billips; Director of FLA, Assistant Professor of WRC; B.A., Transylvania University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Kentucky.
- Martha Gehringer; Director of Writing Center, Instructor in WRC; B.A., M.A., University of Kentucky.
- Gary Deaton; Director of Forensics, Instructor in WRC; B.S., M.A., Miami University.
- Scott Whiddon; Assistant Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication; B.A., Winthrop University; M.A., M.F.A., McNeese State University; Ph.D., Louisiana State University.
- Frank X Walker; Visiting Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication; B.A., University of Kentucky; M.F.A., Spalding University.
Religion
The religion program at Transylvania encourages students to examine the foundational questions of life.
Beginning in the introductory course, students examine issues related to religious thought and practice within their religious tradition and within a global context. Courses cover the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, the Judaeo-Christian tradition, non-Western religious traditions, and gender roles in religion.
Transylvania’s affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gives the program a unique perspective. The faculty combine a theoretical and analytical approach with a sensitivity for a life of faith. Majoring or minoring in religion will help you become theologically grounded, historically informed, and capable of reading and interpreting the texts of various religious traditions.
Faculty Members:
- Paul H. Jones; Professor of Religion; B.A., Yale University; M.Div., Texas Christian University; M.A., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University.
- Anthony Cerulli; Assistant Professor of Religion; B.A., Loyola University of Chicago; M.A., Yale University; Ph.D., University of Chicago.
