Humanities Greatest Needs Fund

Imagine a world without reading. Imagine a world without literature. Imagine a world without art, poetry, dance, philosophy, history and music. Imagine a world in which you would know nothing about any culture but your own; a world without tragedy or comedy. Imagine a world without imagination. That is a world without the humanities.

The humanities is the exploration and expression of the human condition; what it means to be a conscious, artful, thinking being. The study of the humanities forms the heart of a college education and the foundation of a well-rounded individual. A classical education develops intellectual flexibility, interpretation, creativity, and analysis – skills that are essential throughout all careers. Studies in the humanities promote disciplined reflection and prepare students for productive, culturally rich lives in an increasingly complex and connected world.

The UCLA Division of Humanities offers a remarkable breadth of study, from philosophy and classics to the languages and literatures of every part of the world. We educate more than 23,000 undergraduate students each year. The courses form the basis of their college degree and ensure UCLA students from all disciplines are prepared for the world, not limited to one major.

Our scholarship goes beyond the traditional discourse of the Humanities. UCLA is engaged in some of the most fascinating initiatives in the field: UCLA Digital Humanities revolutionizes the humanities by expanding it to digital formats and enhancing our traditional relationship to knowledge and cultural material. And the new Urban Humanities program tackles contemporary issues – such as protest, identity and space – from the multi-disciplinary lens of philosophy, history, public policy and architecture to provide new understanding of human challenges. This is just a sampling of the thought leadership underway in UCLA Humanities.

The humanities cultivates cultured, curious thinkers. A gift to UCLA Humanities Greatest Needs allows administrators to direct funds to where they can do the most good – stimulating new and exciting areas, recognizing potential and creating new opportunities. Help preserve the breadth, depth and leadership of programs we offer in the UCLA Division of Humanities.