Humanities Research
Everyone knows that scientists do research, but did you know that humanities scholars also produce new knowledge? Humanists conduct research to try to answer fundamental questions about culture, language, values, art, and history.
They employ a wide range of methods, such as:
- Close interpretation of literary texts
- Extensive surveys of archival records
- Interviews and oral histories
- Logical analysis of philosophical arguments
- The creation of new art
- Archaeological excavations
- Computational analysis of large data sets
At Stanford, you can get involved in humanities research beginning your freshman year! There are many reasons to consider this, even if you don’t intend to become a scholar. Participating in research is one of the best ways to discover your interests—including a potential major—because it allows you to develop a personal stake in a subject: you are learning about something not just because it is on a course syllabus, but because it resonates with you.
Research can also help you develop closer relationships with faculty than you might in class. And it teaches you an entirely different set of skills. As a researcher, you learn how to discover new knowledge: how to practice inquisitiveness, synthesize large amounts of information, and interpret evidence. These skills will serve you well in a wide range of careers.
Public Humanities offers two undergraduate research programs:
- Humanities Research Intensive: A five-day course, taught over spring break, that introduces frosh and sophomores to fundamental methods and sources.
- Undergraduate Researcher Program: Full-time summer research opportunities working with faculty recipients of our Humanities Seed Grants.
To learn about other humanities research opportunities on campus, check out our comprehensive guide.