Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Division

The Humanities are those studies and pursuits of the things that reflect our "humanness" – philosophies, ideas, language, and the arts.  Disciplines that focus on this study of human expression combine to form the TCC Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Division.

What are the Humanities?

• The cumulative artistic and intellectual achievements of humanity. 
• The artistic and intellectual experiences of those who appreciate but do not themselves create. 
• A study of those who appreciate but do not themselves create. 
• A study of those achievements and the critical process by which they can best be understood. 
• The humanities are:
  • A body of work.
  • A way of life filled with joyous moments of thought and esthetic pleasure.
  • An academic discipline devoted to studying important expressions of the human spirit through which our existence is made richer and more meaningful

-- from The Art of Being Human, Richard Paul Fanaro and Thelma C. Altshuler,
Longman, 1997.

What are the Social Sciences?

The primary mission of the Social Sciences Program at Tacoma Community College is to serve the academic, occupational, and transfer needs of our students. We seek to equip students with the knowledge and tools to investigate and analyze the relationships amongst individuals, the communities we create, and the social, cultural, and historical forces that shape our lives. Utilizing theories, methods, and practices drawn from the academic disciplines of Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, the Social Sciences program is dedicated to employing a scientific approach to the study of human society. Consequently, we strive to emphasize the importance of critical thinking, the appreciation of diverse viewpoints, and capacity to gather and evaluate relevant evidence and data. Furthermore, as a component of the Division of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, we are committed to the values and conducting research required for effective communication and problem-solving. Finally, to best meet the scheduling needs of our students, our courses are offered in traditional, hybrid, and full online formats.

Marlene S. Bosanko Dean for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Melanie Johnson
Assistant to the Dean for Arts, Humanities,
and Social Sciences