Humanities I is a broad, interdisciplinary first-year program. Rather than taking a set of fixed courses, you have the chance to explore a wide range of subjects before choosing a major. Take this opportunity to engage in familiar subjects while also discovering a passion for new fields of study!
Certain requirements must be met as outlined below.
Structure of Humanities I
Humanities I is comprised of 30 units:
9 units of the following mandatory Humanities course:
- HUMAN 1DL3 – Digital Literacy for the Humanities
- HUMAN 1HL3 – Humanities for Life: The Value of a Humanities Degree
- HUMAN 1VV3 – Voice and Vision: Words to Change the World
12 units from Course List 1. These courses act as gateways to programs in the faculty (students should check the specific admission requirements for their programs of interest).
9 units from Course List 1, Course List 2 or from another faculty.
Students doing a full course load should have a balance of 15 units in the Fall Term and 15 in the Winter Term. This is normally equivalent to five courses each term.
Humanities Level I Course Enrolment Webinar
Have questions about Level 1 course enrolment? Join the McMaster Humanities Academic Advising team as they walk you through all the important Humanities academic information you need to know to enrol in courses in this webinar. Upon registration, a Zoom link will be emailed to participants closer to the date of the virtual event. This webinar was recorded on June 12, 2025 and is intended for students going into Humanities 1 or iArts (Integrated Arts) 1 in September 2025.
McMaster101: Navigating Rules, Regulations and Supports with special guests International Student Experience Team
Monday, June 16 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EST
Now that you’ve enrolled in courses, it’s time to introduce you to everything else you need to know for your September start, like familiarizing yourself with the grading system, what happens if you miss an assignment because you were ill and supports available to you across campus. The webinar is presented by a Humanities Academic Advisor and featured members of the IESE (International and Exchange Student Experience) team who offer immigration advising and peer support. Upon registration, a Zoom link will be emailed to participants closer to the date of the virtual event. A recording of the webinar will be posted on this website after the event.
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Our Academic Advisors can provide guidance on finding the right course options for your degree.
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Requirements and course lists Learn more
View Humanities I requirements and course lists.
Electives Learn more
View a full list of level I elective courses open to all students. Course offerings vary each year; please check Mosaic for current offerings.
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Humanities I course enrolment guide Learn more
A guide to help with the enrolment process.
Mosaic: create my timetable Learn more
Login to Mosaic, McMaster’s student information system, to build your timetable.
Humanities level I brochure Download
Everything you need to know about studying in the Humanities at a glance.
Timetable worksheet Download
This example worksheet can be helpful when organizing your class schedule.