Applied Humanities in Professional Education

FAIN: AA-295654-24

New York University (New York, NY 10012-1019)
Janet Njelesani (Project Director: May 2023 to present)
James Fraser (Co Project Director: May 2023 to present)
Grace Chen (Co Project Director: May 2023 to present)

A three-year project to develop an undergraduate applied humanities curriculum in the context of professional education.

The NYU Applied Humanities in Professional Education Project will integrate the Humanities into NYU Steinhardt’s professional education programs through first-year seminars that meet core requirements. These courses will focus on the role of history, literature, ethics, culture, ways of knowing, and interpretative practices in contemporary topics relevant to professional education while also developing students’ capacity to apply humanities methods in conducting inquiry. In contrast to positivist or techno-rational professional preparation, these courses will broaden and humanize students’ learning in preparation for professions of human development at a time when questions about which humans matter and how well artificial intelligences can mimic humans are extremely salient. Courses will offer experiential learning with community partners and serve as a foundation for a university-wide initiative to bring the Humanities into NYU’s many other professional schools.