The Department of Humanities at Georgia State University Perimeter College is home to the disciplines of philosophy, religious studies, humanities, speech communication, American Sign Language, journalism and the world languages. Our department contributes to the essential liberal arts foundation of the academic curriculum. Our faculty are passionate about teaching and are dedicated to the highest quality of instruction. We challenge students to think critically and deeply, to develop multicultural awareness and to develop their minds and their skills in a way that will foster both personal and professional success. Our highly accomplished faculty not only equip students with the skills they’ll need for successful careers, but also with the skills they’ll need to be effective and engaged citizens.
Pathways
An education in the humanities equips students with the skills and habits of mind that enable them to become self-motivated learners who flourish, actualize their potential and make a positive impact on the world.
The Department of Humanities is a multi-disciplinary department offering instruction in philosophy, religious studies, humanities, speech communication, journalism, the world languages, and American Sign Language. Here’s a closer look:
Philosophy
Philosophy involves bringing critical thinking and argumentation to bear on the deepest questions of the human condition. The American philosopher Wilfrid Sellars once wrote that “the aim of philosophy, abstractly formulated, is to understand how things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest possible sense of the term.” Learn more.
Religious Studies
Students can study the world’s major religious traditions, including their beliefs, practices, sacred texts and moral codes. Religions examined in religious studies courses may include Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Native American traditions, and African religions.
Humanities
Courses taken in the humanities introduce students to humanistic inquiry and expression and its pivotal role in understanding human cultures. Students explore the contributions of a variety of humanistic disciplines and the methods of human expression they study. Works of central importance from diverse cultural traditions are examined.
Journalism
Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating and presenting news and information in a variety of ways. Studying journalism and professional writing allows students to become leaders in the new age of instant communication and connectivity. Learn more.
Speech Communication
Speech communication explores the construction, diffusion, analysis and impact of messages as they occur among individuals, groups, organizations and cultures in the media age. Communication focuses on how people develop communication skills and examines communication phenomena and events. It studies how persuasive tactics may influence members of diverse and globalized societies. Learn more.
The study of World Languages enables students to communicate in languages other than English, gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures and participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world. World language skills prepare students to communicate in a global and culturally diverse society. Perimeter College students also can fulfill their requirements in the Humanities by studying another language.
Perimeter College offers two forms of world language studies.
Traditional Format: Traditional Format classes meet with a professor three hours a week in a regular classroom or online. Class size is typically 18-25 students. Language offerings vary per campus. Alpharetta offers French and Spanish; Dunwoody offers French, German, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish; Clarkston offers French, Japanese and Spanish; Newton offers Spanish, and Decatur offers Spanish. To ensure proper placements, contact the Humanities Department
Critical Languages Program: Students can discover whole new worlds and cultures through our Critical Languages Program on the Dunwoody and Clarkston campuses. The Critical Language Program involves very small classes (three to nine students) who work with a native-speaking tutor and are reviewed by an outside examiner at midterm and final. The structure typically requires more independent work on the part of the student than the traditional format. Languages offered include Chinese, Arabic, Swahili, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Korean and Hebrew. Points of contact for the Critical Language Program are: Andrea DiBenardo (Dunwoody) and Barbara Bateman (Clarkston).
American Sign Language
American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most studied world language in the United States, and can be a valuable asset as a secondary skill for employment in a variety of settings. Learning a new language can expand your thinking, your perspective, and your opportunities.
We offer beginning through intermediate classes in American Sign Language and a pathway that leads to an Associate of Arts degree. We focus on introducing language in context and reinforcing what is learned by engaging in interactive activities. We recognize the dignity and value of the Deaf community and the language and communication modes used by its members.
Each of the American Sign Language courses contains a literature component introducing features of Deaf history and culture. The goal is to help students gain an understanding not only of American Sign Language, but also of cultural perspectives and diversity within the Deaf community.
Sarah Larson Lecture Series in the Humanities
Faculty from our department oversee this highly popular and active lecture series, which invites one or two speakers per semester to deliver talks on a wide range of topics across the arts and humanities. Learn More About Lecture Series.
Berman Commons Perimeter College Speaker Series
The Department of Humanities coordinates a speaker series for the ongoing enrichment of senior citizens in the community near the Georgia State University Dunwoody Campus. The program involves Perimeter College faculty and staff presenting on a wide range of topics. For information, contact Richard Lindner (rlindner@gsu.edu; 770-274-5549).
The Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute of Georgia State University provides campus activities and professors from China to introduce students at the Dunwoody Campus to the language and culture of Chinese people. Learn more about the Confucius Institute.
American Sign Language
Sign Language Lab: In Sign Language, students complete video-recorded assignments in the American Sign Language lab at Clarkston Campus. Tutors are available to assist. Contact Michael Devon Butler or Lara Kathleen Moore.
Outside the Classroom: The American Sign Language pathway regularly coordinates ASL-only workshops and social events to provide students the opportunity to practice American Sign Language outside of the classroom.
Message from the Department Chair
The Department of Humanities encompasses one of the most diverse and engaged collections of teachers and scholars at Georgia State University. Our department is the home of the disciplines of philosophy, religious studies, humanities, speech communication, journalism, the world languages, and American Sign Language.
We offer students a broad range of intellectually stimulating courses. And in all of our courses – from religious studies to journalism to Chinese – our focus is student success. But in addition to teaching, our faculty regularly give presentations, attend and organize conferences, publish a wide range of scholarly papers, and engage with our communities in myriad ways. Faculty in our department regularly teach abroad (most recently in Guatemala, Ecuador, and China).
The humanities are at the very heart of a liberal education, and there is no doubt that students studying with our faculty will have their perspectives broadened, their thinking skills sharpened and their lives enriched. Not only can exposure to the humanities enrich the lives of individual students, but it can enrich our society and our democracy by creating a citizenry of critical thinkers.
Jane Hercules
Interim Department Chair of Humanities
Assistant Professor of Communication
Perimeter College
Georgia State University
FAQs
Critical Language Program
Through The Critical Language Program students can take less commonly taught languages that are not offered at many U.S. colleges. At Georgia State’s Perimeter College, these languages include Arabic, Chinese (at Clarkston), Hebrew, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Swahili. Three to seven students attend class twice a week, where they meet with a native-speaking drill instructor for interactive communicative practice and language drills. Everyone has a set class schedule and syllabus that is written by a SACS-accredited language professional. This language professional evaluates students through oral and written exams. The exams determine the majority of the grade for the class.
Critical language classes are not offered online.
No. While the program expects that students assume a large responsibility for studying the material their own, it is essential for students to regularly attend class and follow the designated course schedule. Students are expected to study and memorize designated material prior to attending class and practicing that material while in class.
You can access this information through this website: http://perimeter.gsu.edu/
Yes. All Critical Language classes appear on your transcript as regular college classes, and you will receive a regular college grade for these classes.
No, you can’t. These classes are closed to native speakers.
Yes you may, but you need to contact us to schedule a placement test:
Critical Language Coordinator: Ann Sarnat, 678-891-3544, asarnat@gsu.edu.
English as Second Language (ESL)
Sign Language Interpreting
A: You do not need special permission to register to ASL 1001: Elementary American Sign Language I. The beginning course is open to all currently enrolled students.
A: If you already know some American Sign Language, you can contact the department to schedule a screening to see if you qualify to register for a higher level course.
A: If you are interested in becoming a Sign Language Interpreter, the American Sign Language Associate of Arts pathway is a great place to start. Once the Associate of Arts degree is complete, you may transfer to a bachelor’s-level major in Interpreting. For more information or advisement, please contact the department.
A: If you are interested in becoming a Sign Language Interpreter, the American Sign Language Associate of Arts pathway is a great place to start. Once the Associate of Arts degree is complete, you may transfer to a bachelor’s-level major in Interpreting. For more information or advisement, please contact the department.
A: It would be nice if that were the case, but sign language is no more universal than spoken languages. American Sign Language is the language used by a majority of people in the Deaf community in the United States and most of Canada (QSL is spoken in Quebec). Certain Caribbean countries and areas of Mexico also use ASL. England uses British Sign Language and Australia uses Australian Sign Language.
Campus Contacts
Jane Hercules
Interim Department Chair of Humanities
678-891-2717
jhercules@gsu.edu
Clarkston
Rick Robinson
Associate Chair
rrobinson28@gsu.edu
770-274-5193
Melanie Lynn
Administrative Assistant
Clarkston Campus
678-891-3600
mlynn@gsu.edu
Dunwoody
Rick Lindner
Interim Associate Department Chair
Dunwoody Campus
770-274-5549
Elizabeth Chavez
Senior Administrative Secretary
Dunwoody Campus
echavez@gsu.edu
770-274-5148
Alpharetta
Dr. Ken Johnson
Department Chair of English
Alpharetta Campus
678-240-6048
kjohnson212@gsu.edu
Karon Edge-Fitzpatrick
Administrative Coordinator
Alpharetta Campus
678-240-6024
kedge3@gsu.edu
Decatur
Dr. Andy Rogers
Associate Chair
Decatur Campus, SB-2282
678-891-2385
arogers41@gsu.edu
Kia Grant
Administrative Assistant
Decatur Campus
678-891-2618
kgrant22@gsu.edu
Newton
Dr. Deborah Manson
Associate Chair
Newton Campus
678-891-2429
dmanson@gsu.edu
Lakita Williams
Administrative Assistant
Newton Campus
770-278-1381
lwilliams160@gsu.edu
Online
Dr. Michael Bradley
Associate Chair
Online
678-212-7592
mtbjr@gsu.edu
World Languages
Rick Robinson
Associate Chair
770-274-5193
rrobinson28@gsu.edu
Testimonials
“I will never stop being grateful for my time at Perimeter College. I failed elsewhere, but my hands-on, encouraging Perimeter professors made my second try at college a positive and fruitful experience. Perimeter College helped me build both my confidence and the skill sets I needed to succeed.”
Joshilyn Jackson
New York Times best-selling author
Perimeter College 1991 graduate
Earned bachelor’s degree at Georgia State University
“The associate degree I received from Perimeter College in the journalism pathway prepared me for success in the employment I received just after graduating … and for my current success as an entrepreneur.”
Ashley Oglesby
Perimeter College 2013 graduate
Co-owner, Roll Dog Adventure
“Perimeter College remains a place of inestimable value in my heart. I was lucky to start my academic life at Perimeter, where professors such as Debra Denzer provided me not only with the tools necessary to be a successful student, but also with the love, compassion, kindness and understanding that I was not going to find anywhere else. Perimeter felt like home, and the professors felt like a family to me. I strongly believe that my success would have not happened if I did not begin my road at Perimeter College. As I am getting ready to finish the French literature doctorate program at Johns Hopkins University (expected fall 2017) and hopefully become a French and Spanish languages and literatures professor, my dream remains to return and teach at Perimeter College.”
Ioana Cooper
Perimeter College alumna
Earned bachelor’s and master’s at Georgia State
Completed doctorate in fall 2017 at Johns Hopkins University
“My favorite part of Perimeter College was the faculty. I had amazing professors who were so kind, lovely, understanding and willing to help. I was able to connect to my professors on a human level and be understood on that level, too. Great professors can have a huge impact on a student’s perspective of a subject and overall satisfaction in the learning environment. I feel lucky and blessed for the kind professors that came my way at Perimeter.”
Tamara Khader
Perimeter College alumna
Journalism student, University of Georgia
Interned at The Bert Show nationally syndicated radio show, (Ryan) Seacrest Studios in Atlanta and Atlanta Magazine
