Natural History and Humanities.

The NHH degree program is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the environment and the human relationship to it. NHH students learn from a variety of disciplines toward this end, including science, philosophy, literature, and the arts. Though it is focused on the natural world and our place in it, the degree can be customized to fit a student’s future academic and occupational goals, such as nature or environmental writing, the study of law, natural history interpretation, and photography.


The Course Work

The Natural History and Humanities degree takes a three-part approach to the study of the natural world: the "foundation" intellectual disciplines, creative arts, and NHH courses in which these are combined in a truly interdisciplinary manner.


The Foundation (48 hours)


NHH focuses on the following major fields of study:
  • Science (15 to 21 hours)
  • Literature (12 hours)
  • Philosophy (9 hours)
  • Humanities (6 hours)

Communication and Interpretation (12 hours)


NHH majors are required to take an additional 12 hours of coursework in English, journalism, or the visual arts, designed to give them a strong background in the following:
  • Creative Writing
  • Photography
  • Illustration
  • Journalism

The NHH Interdisciplinary Courses (27 hours)


Students also take 27 hours of NHH-specific courses that study the interrelationship between science, literature, philosophy, and art, often through a mix of content and practical skills. Here are some sample NHH courses that demonstrate how this is done:
  • NHH 1302 "Introductory Fieldcraft"
    • Interdisciplinary content: regional ecology/history/illustration
    • Practical skills: students learn to identify regional plants and animals and hone field-based observational skills by keeping a traditional naturalist's notebook; service learning project involving a local environmental concern (example: restoring habitat for the Lesser Prairie Chicken)
  • NHH 3305 "Ecology"
    • Interdisciplinary Content: the science behind major environmental issues/ethics
    • Practical skills: students learn to interpret science for the general public through content-specific projects. These may include a variety of media approaches, such as writing, film, or photography (example: a published article in The Encyclopedia of the Earth)
  • NHH 3350 “Advanced Fieldcraft”
    • Interdisciplinary Content: ecology/culture of the southwest United States
    • Practical skills: students learn to interpret science for the general public through content-specific projects. These may include a variety of media approaches, such as writing, film, or photography (example: a "re-photography" service project with the National Park Service to document changes in the Rio Grande riparian zone over a period of several years)

Core Curriculum and Electives (33 hours minimum)


Finally, students will take as many Core Curriculum and elective courses as needed to reach a minimum of 120 hours in order to complete their degrees. The number of hours needed for completion will vary, as many of the Core requirements can be met through NHH, Creative Option, or Foundation courses.