School of Humanities & Social Sciences - 2023

School of Humanities & Social Sciences

FROM

A Note Associate Dean Stepanski

Synthesize complex topics, explore provocative ideas and consider the critical questions of our time including, “What kind of world do we want to live in?”

Programs in the arts, humanities and social sciences prepare you for success by challenging you to consider things you know about the human experience in new ways. Through Emmanuel’s School of Humanities & Social Sciences, you will learn to synthesize multifaceted and interrelated concepts and develop a deep understanding of the world’s cultural, political and social complexities.

The School’s eight academic departments— with undergraduate disciplines ranging from graphic design and history to sociology, international affairs and a number of unique interdisciplinary programs—offer a diverse

range of scholarship complemented by hands-on, real-world experience and a global perspective.

In both teaching and research, faculty in the School address timeless questions about the human condition and promote new ways of thinking on current pressing social issues. You will engage in intellectual debate, skillful collaboration and creative activity, gaining skills that will enable you to translate your talents and training into meaningful work that benefits your community and the wider world.

The School of Humanities & Social Sciences is truly a creative, innovative and supportive community of teaching and learning. I hope you sense this excitement as you learn more about our programs.

Lisa Stepanski, Ph.D. Associate Dean and Professor of English School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Boston is home to the country’s first official Literary Cultural District, which celebrates the city’s illustrious literary history and vibrant community of contemporary writers.

Beacon Hill Innovation District

TO THE

The humanities and social sciences cover a broad range of both distinct and complementary disciplines — the study of which are uniquely suited for a city as diverse and dynamic as Boston.

The city is steeped in history, from early Native American settlements to the political, cultural, financial and educational center that shaped the Boston of today. The State House is perched atop Beacon Hill and serves as the hub of Massachusetts government, and the surrounding city is teeming with opportunities in law, social services, academia and many other fields.

Boston is also home to some of the country’s most famous art and cultural institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston— the fifth largest museum in the U.S.—and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, both right in our Fenway neighborhood. Students looking to start a career in journalism or media can do so at the ninth-largest media market in the country, or at award-winning publications such as the Boston Globe or the Boston Herald, which boast 35 Pulitzer Prizes between them.

BOSTON

WRITERS’ BLOCK

There. Everywhere. Here.

Emmanuel’s campus is buzzing with the exchange of ideas. In addition to faculty sharing their latest research, the School of Humanities & Social Sciences welcomes scholars and practitioners to campus to share their expertise on current issues such as addiction, Black history in American art, behavioral economics, the future of the Constitution, poverty in the U.S., privilege systems, and the media’s impact on social justice.

Students begin to chart their professional interests through in-depth research projects alongside faculty or to receive Distinction in the Field of Study upon graduation. Students have presented on the role of therapeutic art-based activities on cancer patients, the parasocial relationship between social media audiences and influencers, healthcare in wartorn areas, the lasting effects of the Indian Removal Act, the social stigma of PTSD in the military and more.

Through study abroad, Emmanuel students benefit from authentic interactions, experiences and personal connections with the cultures and people of other countries. They gain firsthand knowledge of what life is like in other areas of the world and expand their understanding of our increasingly global society. Students in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences may choose to study abroad for a summer, semester or academic year through more than 500 programs in 65+ countries. We also offer exchange programs for art majors to study at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, and for Communications & Media Studies majors to study at Jönköping University in Sweden.

For students looking to enhance their oncampus experience with a global component, the School of Humanities & Social Sciences offers a number of faculty-led travel courses. Why not consider spending spring break in Ireland, summer in Greece, or a few weeks serving others through our service-learning course in South Africa?

Patrick Carland ’14

MAJOR: Literature; studied abroad at Osaka Gukuin University in Japan on a Bridging Scholarship

RESEARCH FOCUS: “I Am Not a Machine”: Remapping Political Discourse in Postmodern Japanese Media

CURRENTLY: M.A. in Japanese Language and Literature, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Ph.D. candidate, East Asian Languages and Civilization, University of Pennsylvania

Keaton Bergeron ’21

MAJOR: Sociology, concentration in Social Justice & Social Inequality, minor in Sustainability

RESEARCH FOCUS: Environmental issues and food justice; served as coordinator of Emmanuel’s Urban Food Project, which serves Boston residents through urban gardening, food education and social outreach

CURRENTLY: M.S. Candidate, Integrated Food Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

CURRENT TRAVEL COURSES

• Irish Art in Ireland

• Paris: City and Contrasts in Modern French Literature and Culture

• Politics of Race and Ethnicity in Latin America and Caribbean

• In the Footsteps of Thucydides (Greece and Italy)

• Statecraft and Globalization (Greece)

• The Geopolitics of Democracy (Greece)

• India: Religion, Culture, Justice

• Southern Africa: Ethics, Religion and Global Health

• Contemplation and Action: An Introduction to Christian Spirituality

• Spain: A Cultural Approach

INSTITUTE OF EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES

Emmanuel is also home to the Institute of Eastern Mediterranean Studies (IEMS), which promotes and supports the study of the Eastern Mediterranean and neighboring regions. IEMS highlights the geopolitical and cultural importance of the region in a changing globalizing landscape by sponsoring academic programs, research and educational opportunities, as well as opportunities for study abroad, U.S.-based academic programs in Greece and scholarships for Emmanuel students.

IEMS offers certificate programs in Security Studies or Biotechnology with travel to Athens, Italy and Cyprus, a guest lecture series that focuses on diplomacy, leadership and innovation, and two series of film screenings and workshops focused on social justice narratives and music and culture, among other special events.

A Glimpse Curriculum INTO THE

MOTION GRAPHICS AND DIGITAL ANIMATION

Motion graphics can illustrate complex ideas in a way still images cannot. And with the clutter of advertisements and information across all types of media, how are business using animation to enhance their marketing strategies and help their messaging stand out? In this course, you will build on fundamentals of design while exploring facets of time-based media such as concept building, story boarding and problem solving, while investigating type, image, sequence, scale, contrast, movement, rhythm and balance. You will focus on the dynamic communication of visual systems of information with an emphasis on audience and purpose.

DIGITAL CULTURE & SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION

We live in an unprecedented era, where consumers communicate with brands the same way they communicate with friends and family—and with so many options to choose from, what a company stands for and how it interacts with consumers is as important as the product or service it sells. Social media has led the charge in revolutionizing the way we relate to one another. From the positive (brand transparency and shared social values) to the negative (effects on body image and the depiction of an unattainable lifestyle), you will study the effects, in theory and practice, of “new media” on contemporary society.

Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Petros Vamvakas teaches courses on comparative politics, international relations and political theory at Emmanuel.

STREET DEMOCRACY

In recent years, we’ve seen the powerful effects of movements such as Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March in our own country. All over the world, people have historically fought for basic rights for the disenfranchised. Explore the nature of resistance, political engagement (at a time when we have unprecedented access to officials), and the transformative power of ordinary citizens to bring about justice and accountability. This course focuses on protest movements and their role as interest articulation mechanisms, specifically within transitioning and consolidated democracies. The main question is this: Do protest movements work to hinder or enhance the process of democratic consolidation?

Comparative methods will be used to identify, compare and contrast protest movements in Latin America and Europe.

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

One of the most pressing questions facing society today is, “Is our criminal justice system broken?” In this course, examine the processes employed by those charged with ensuring the fairness, justice, and dignity of the criminal justice system, particularly as deliberation and discretion have been employed in ways that have marginalized those who have historically been without voice, power, and influence. Through examination of course readings and class discussions, you will consider applications of ethical actions as they pertain to issues of social justice.

MORE CLASSES STUDENTS CAN’T WAIT TO TAKE:

Art of Resistance: Social Justice & the Visual Arts

Visual Language for Design and Communication

The Haves and the HaveNots: American Authors on Money, Class and Power

Ethics in Documentary Film

Surviving Columbus: 500 Years of Indigenous History

Immigrant Kitchens: A Glocal and Historical Perspective on Identity, Ethnicity and Foodways

Spanish at Work in the Community

Theories of Human Nature

Deviant Behavior and Social Controls

Food Policy and Social Justice

PIRATES, RASCALS AND SCOUNDRELS

Pirates are some of the most romanticized figures on the High Seas. Much has been written about them, from children’s bedtime stories to classic novels to scholarly works. But why are pirates so interesting and mesmerizing to audiences throughout centuries? Explore the illicit side of history by examining the role of pirates, criminal convicts and other outsiders in the creation of the Atlantic world from 1450-1850, when marginalized peoples labeled as “rebellious Rascals” counted as a silent majority. While exploring issues of class, race, gender and forced migration, you will examine how these groups navigated the difficult and complex landscapes of the Atlantic.

Tristyn Surprenant ’20

MAJOR: Communications & Media Studies

AFTER GRADUATION: Public Relations Assistant, Ropes & Gray

As an undergraduate, Tristyn Surprenant ’20 took an interest in Associate Professor of Communications & Media Studies

Dr. Mark Flynn’s (pictured) work in health communications and served as his research assistant. Together, they worked on projects about the effects of mindfulness and flow on television binge-watching and the healthiness of food advertisements in magazines.

“It was one of my most valuable experiences,” she said. “I was exposed to academic literature and technical or ‘weedy’ materials that really challenged me, often about things on which I had no prior knowledge.”

But it was Dr. Flynn’s course in public relations, and the impression left by guest speaker Aaron Kellogg, the director of public relations for Ropes & Gray, that would eventually change the course of her career. “I didn’t even have my first internship yet,” Tristyn said. “I was sitting there thinking of how cool it would be to work at the top of the Pru.”

When a position for a PR Assistant opened at Ropes & Gray, Dr. Flynn encouraged Tristyn to apply. “I thought it would be a perfect fit because I’d be reading and writing communications on similarly challenging topics,” she said.

“One of the things that continues to surprise me about this job is how much I learn daily, on subjects like cybersecurity, commercial real estate, asset management, private equity transactions,” she said. “To do media relations at a law firm, it’s important to understand how to talk, read, and write about different industries.”

In a “full-circle” experience, Tristyn recently returned to campus with Kellogg to speak to Dr. Flynn’s PR class, where she sat just four years earlier.

Little Prep Talk A

100% of students in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences complete at least one internship as part of the core curriculum, gaining real-world experience in the city of Boston. Our Leslie Ferrick McCafferty Career Center has designated career communities for students interested in Creative Arts, Design & Media, or Public Service, Law & International Relations, with specialized recruiting opportunities and events to build your networking skills—and your resume.

• Gain career insight and inspiration through alumni panels and networking events such as our Career Community Panels, in which alumni and industry professionals share insights into their careers and graduate school experiences.

• Meet dozens of top employers in one afternoon at our annual non-profit internship and career fair.

• Take advantage of our professional partnerships with regular off-campus events, such as the CCCOB (College Career Centers of Boston) Communications and Marketing Career Fair or Government Careers Forum, Boston Cultural Institute Information Roundtables (BCIIR) Panel & Networking Event or the annual Sports and Entertainment Career Fair at Fenway Park.

• Experience face time with recruiters through our regular McCafferty Career Center’s Industry Recruitment Series, in which recruiters from organizations across communications and media, government, nonprofits and more meet with students “speed-dating style” to provide information about their organizations, culture, hiring timelines and application procedures.

• Most importantly, check in with your Career Advisors early and often—they are here to learn more about your individual skills and career goals.

Graduates headed into the workforce need technical training and transferable soft skills to demonstrate fluency in their first roles. But to be truly career ready requires an understanding of your values, an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and confidence in pursuing organizations and opportunities that align with your professional trajectory and that will enable you to make a meaningful impact in any stage of your career.

Because landing a job after college is more than the reward at the end of your journey—it’s the beginning of an extraordinary new one.

MAJOR: Graphic Design

INTERNSHIP: Graphic Design Assistant, The Fantastical, an award-winning fullservice boutique advertising and branding agency that counts ’47 Brand, iRobot, Beth Israel, Volkswagen, and Panera Bread among its clients.

Jacob MacAdam ’23

Alyssa Hogan ’24

MAJORS: Political Science and Spanish

INTERNSHIPS: Office of the Governor, Massachusetts State House; Campaign Fellow, Andrea Campbell Mayoral Campaign; Content Writer, The Borgen Project

One transformative high school law class changed Alyssa’s college plans from STEM to political science.

“I view it as a way to have more paths to protecting other people,” she said. “I have always had an interest in current events and foreign policy, and I now know I want to go into a field where I can make the most effective change to address systemic injustices that prevent people from protecting themselves.”

Alyssa took advantage of Emmanuel’s Boston location to gain significant real-world experience through her internships. “Campaign work was incredible, “she said. “I met the most driven and empathetic group of people who dedicate their lives to getting a candidate elected for the betterment of society. Similarly, writing for the Borgen Project was a great way to complement my foreign policy studies and find out new paths that people take to protect basic human rights.”

During the fall 2022 semester, Alyssa interned in the Office of the Governor at the Massachusetts State House. “It has been such an eye-opening experience,” she said. “Every day I work with people who are directly impacted by policy and legislation.”

As her academic focus at Emmanuel has centered on human rights violations and protection, she would like to take those into her future career—two long-term goals are working with the FBI in their counterterrorism branch or as a human rights lawyer for the United Nations.

One School, Many Paths

By one year after graduation, 96% of the School of Humanities & Social Sciences Class of 2021 were either employed, enrolled in graduate school, or engaged in military service. These graduates are employed in such industries as government and public administration, law, urban development, advertising and media, public relations, healthcare, higher education, design, marketing, information technology and military and defense.

Our students are limited only by their ambition—take a look at the far-reaching effects of just a few of our recent graduates.

Victoria Harding ’20 Communication & Media Studies Marketing Program Specialist Akamai

Samantha Ford ’12 Communications & Media Studies News Producer

WCVB-TV

Leanna Griffith ’22 Graphic Design Product Designer Janji

Kayra Contreras Girsang ’08 Communications & Media Studies UCAN Events Manager Netflix

Lindsay Kenney ’18 Sociology Political & Legislative Organizer Massachusetts AFL-CIO

Jonathan Rowe ‘18 Writing, Editing & Publishing Operations Associate

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab

U.S.

Whole Foods

CliftonLarsonAllen

Converse

ESPN

Gregory Galizio ’12 History and American Studies Assistant District Attorney

Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office

Alaina Martin ’22 International Studies and Economics Associate

Sarah Soldano ’10 Writing & Literature and Graphic Design Design Director

Barefoot Books

Danielle Olsen ’14 Art History Associate Director of Education & Civic Engagement

Peabody Essex Museum

Mishaal Kahn ’19 Political Science Donor Relations/Resource Development Operations Oxfam

Sam Hopperstad ’11 Graphic Design Senior In-Store & Local Marketing Specialist

Lauren O’Neill ’14 Graphic Design Senior Designer, Global Digital Content

Taylor Graboski ’19 Graphic Design Production Designer II

Christina Ascolillo ’17 History and Political Science Legislative Director

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

David Korin ’18 International Relations Law Clerk

Institute for Defense Analyses

Allison Bleier ’14 Sociology People Analytics Consulting Lead

Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Benjamin Craig ’20 Political Science Deputy Press Secretary

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

Shannon McMahon ’15 Communications & Media Studies Editor, Destinations

Conde Nast Traveler

OF

Overview Programs

AFRICAN & AFRICAN DIASPORA STUDIES

AMERICAN POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

AMERICAN STUDIES

ART HISTORY

ART THERAPY

CATHOLIC STUDIES

CERAMICS

COMMUNICATION & MEDIA STUDIES

CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

DIGITAL HISTORY

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION

DIPLOMACY & SECURITY

ENGLISH

FILM

GENDER & WOMEN’S STUDIES

GLOBAL & PUBLIC HEALTH

GRAPHIC DESIGN

HISTORY

HUMAN SERVICES

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & COMPARATIVE POLITICS

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

LEGAL STUDIES

MIDDLE EAST STUDIES

MIGRATION STUDIES

PEACE STUDIES

PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY

PHILOSOPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY

POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

POLITICAL SCIENCE

SOCIAL INEQUALITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

SOCIOLOGY

SPANISH

STUDIO ART

SUSTAINABILITY & GLOBAL JUSTICE

THEATER ARTS

THEOLOGY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES

TRANSCULTURAL STUDIES

WRITING

WRITING, EDITING & PUBLISHING

The School of Humanities & Social Sciences also offers certificate programs in Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish for Healthcare Professionals.

Emmanuel’s robust academic programs offer a set of core majors in expansive and diverse disciplines—students may choose to keep their studies broad, or may specialize in a more specific field of study with an added concentration.

Major Minor Concentration

For students interested in pursuing careers in the legal field, our Pre-Law curriculum provides an excellent preparation for the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT) as well as guidance for students who wish to explore the practice of law.

Right: Emmanuel’s theater department is frequently invited to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and has taken home awards in individual and ensemble acting; production, set and costume design; and excellence in musical theater.

During the 2021-2022, the Theater Arts program presented a slate of shows, including the spring musical, “Cinderella.”

Contact Us Learn More AND

Emmanuel College

School of Humanities & Social Sciences

400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 www.emmanuel.edu

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