undergrAduAte PrOgrAMMeS - Lahore University of Management ...

08 SHSSL
Humanities
The Humanities major offers a thorough and
solid foundation in the key subjects of history,
literature and philosophy and is traditionally
considered the core of all knowledge. The
objective is to develop the faculties of critical
enquiry and rational investigation, as well as
the capacity to read, analyse and evaluate texts,
stances and arguments.
The focus is on the education of the mind, to
ensure that students are not just “technicians”,
but above all, well-rounded human beings able to
thrive in a world that requires precise conceptual
tools to understand it.
This programme is designed to cultivate
critical skills and an in-depth appreciation of
historical, literary and philosophical texts, all
grounded in current scholarship. The disciplines
within the Humanities major reciprocally enrich
one another, also providing foundations for strong
interdisciplinary competence.
History
History provides a distinctive education by
providing a sense of the past, an awareness of
the development of differing values, systems
and societies and the inculcation of critical yet
tolerant personal attitudes. It is not a “corrective”
to human behaviour, but an important context
from which we can derive lessons and values in
understanding ourselves and how human identity
has been shaped. Although other fields also
provide analysis and context for the contemporary
situation (political science, anthropology,
psychology) an exclusive reliance on current data
would provide an incomplete map of some of the
fundamental dilemmas human beings confront in
the modern world.
History offers an extensive evidential base for
the contemplation and analysis of how societies
function. Through studying history we can begin
to identify the agents of change and assess
whether such changes have been beneficial
or harmful. History also helps us to learn why
particular elements of a society persist in
political institutions, social custom, and religious
practices despite changes in other areas of life.
The History programme at LUMS includes
scholars in a range of historical specialties: Art
and Architectural History, Islamic Civilization,
The History of South Asia, European Studies,
The History of Religions, and Ancient Near
Eastern Studies. History and Philosophy have
sometimes been called “dream majors” because
they provide students with diverse vocational
options. History prepares a student for a life of
choices and teaches versatility and critical skills
in interpretation. It is an ideal course of study
for anyone considering a career in diplomacy,
scholarship and teaching, politics, public service,
and work for international organisations. By its
very nature, history is cross-cultural and global in
its outlook.
Career Prospects
The SHSSL aims to give a sound theoretical
base to its students and uses multiple teaching
pedagogies that train them in the skill set required
by the professional world at large. These inherent
transferable skills that their training equips them
in include: public speaking, communication,
networking, good writing skills, time
management, working under pressure, team-work,
conflict resolution, problem solving capabilities,
critical thinking, research skills, quantitative and
qualitative skills, tools and perspectives that
can be applied to address problems and draw
valuable insights in a range of situations. This
attitude and skill set aids them in a myriad of
careers traditionally not associated to Humanities
or Social Science majors. Some of the leading
employers that hire the SHSSL BSc (Honours)
and BA (Honours) regularly include ABN Amro
Bank, United Bank Ltd., HSBC, WWF – Pakistan,
CARE International, Rural Support Programme
Network, AIESEC, Punjab Education Foundation,
Timescape Capital, NADRA Data Warehouse, GEO
News, Lowe & Rauf etc.
The Social Sciences major at LUMS
has provided me with a broad
multi-disciplinary base in the social
sciences, and the theoretical and
practical lessons learnt both inside
and outside the classroom have
been a great help in my postgraduate
studies and professional
life. The skills, commitment and
enthusiasm of the Social Sciences
faculty have been the hallmark of
the social sciences programme at
LUMS. The programme provided
me with the opportunity to engage
with theory that is seldom taught in
other institutions and programmes in
Pakistan.
Zainab Saeed
BSc (Honours) Social Sciences
2007
LUMS Adjunct Faculty
Teaching: Anthropology/Sociology