Humanities 101
Humanities 101 offers free humanities courses to low-income adults who have experienced barriers to learning. The program is hosted on St. Mary’s University campus during the fall and winter terms. If you have faced barriers to education but have a passion for learning, this program may be for you
Now accepting new applications for the fall 2017 term!
Application deadline: Friday, August 18, 2017
What is Humanities 101?
Humanities 101 is a strength-based educational program designed to help low-income Calgarians address barriers getting in the way of their capacities and skills. We learn about the stories that connect us to others and the world around us through studies in Literature, History, Music, Cultural Studies, Philosophy and Art History. Our students are people who face challenges such as poverty, immigration, experience with violence, prior negative education experience, addiction recovery, homelessness, and other interruptions to learning. Participants in Humanities 101 learn how to increase their capacity to engage in a life reflective of their unique gifts and abilities, while deepening their skills of learning, communicating and analysis. We meet in a university classroom two days a week for four months and study a variety of texts and ideas. Teachers and tutors are passionate about learning and create a profoundly safe and welcoming space where adults with a diverse range of life and educational experiences are all welcome. We come alongside our students to equip them with skills so that they have more hope for the future. The program includes:
- Tuition and books
- Nutritious hot lunches before class
- Transit tickets as required
- Assistance with childcare costs as required
- Individual tutoring
- Cultural experiences
St. Mary’s University
St. Mary’s University is the accrediting post-secondary institution for Humanities 101, providing the administrative, academic and student support services required to run the program. Our commitment to ethics, social justice and respect for diversity prepares us to support and nurture the non-traditional learners who come to Humanities 101.
What our students have said about their experience
“I can condense my experience through the Humanities 101 program into two words – ‘Thank You,’ it changed my life. I came to the Humanities program feeling deflated and alone, I left energized, encouraged and empowered. I felt at home and built community.”
“Humanities 101 has immensely positively radicalized me. It made me realize that I can do things, which I thought I was not capable of after being out of school for ages. The camaraderie among the professors and classmates is one that is hard to leave behind.”
“Twice a week I found myself excited to leave work to enjoy lunch and read poetry with a unique group of students…the meaning of Humanities 101 is a classroom of diversified talented individuals.”
Program Eligibility Requirements
- At least 18 years of age
- Reading, writing and comprehension level of at least grade 8 or Canadian Language Benchmark level 7
- Low-income
- Experienced barriers to education
- Ready, willing and able to commit to attending all classes and completing coursework
Application Process
- Complete the New Student Application form and submit it to Sabrina Buzzalino, Program Coordinator,
- Candidates will be asked to attend an interview with the Humanities 101 team and complete our reading comprehension assessment.
- Final selection of students for the Winter 2017 Humanities: 105: Different Stories, Different Meanings will be made in late December, early January.
Please note: Completion of the application process does not ensure a place in the program. Successful candidates will be formally notified of their acceptance to the program by the Program Coordinator. Applications are reviewed and interviews are conducted on a rolling basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as available spaces are limited and are filled as qualified candidates are selected.
Contact
Sabrina Buzzalino
Humanities 101 Program Coordinator
Phone: (403) 254-3713
Email: hum101@stmu.ca
Location:
St. Mary’s University Campus, 14500 Bannister Road SE, just east of Mcleod Trail across from the Fish Creek-Lacombe Transit Station.
Friends of Humanities 101 is a student club at St. Mary’s that works to enhance the Humanities 101 program fundraising efforts. It was established to support two goals:
- Support Humanities 101 program on a continual basis on the St. Mary’s Campus and
- Contribute toward scholarships for students who have moved on from Humanities 101 to formal degree studies at St. Mary’s University. Scholarships cover part of the costs of tuition, fees and books and will be awarded on a competitive application basis.
The Humanities 101 Program at St. Mary’s University was recently featured in an article about literacy practitioners in the field by the Adult Literacy Research Institute.
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