Humanities Lab

General module: Humanities Lab 101 (5 EC)

In this course, we jointly focus on the general theme of the Humanities Lab: similarities, differences and connections among the humanities and between the humanities and the natural and social sciences.

Humanities Lab Key and Advanced modules (15 EC)

You choose three elective themes: two Key modules and one Advanced module. All elective modules are 5 EC. The themes in this part of the programme comprise intriguing topics such as cultural memory, Dutch colonialism, race and racism in Asia, sociolinguistics, genetic privacy and ethical issues, trust research and culinary globalization and gastronationalism.

Key Modules

Advanced Modules

Humanities Lab Grande Finale – Closing Module (5 EC)

The Grande Finale consists of a set of capstone projects. Each project is interdisciplinary and requires skills, insight and methods from different domains of knowledge. Teams of students are asked to demonstrate how insights and methods from the Humanities can make a difference to topical issues in society or in the world of science at large. Students present their findings at a closing conference with staff, stakeholders, and community members. Students who have chosen the Solo track of the Humanities Lab will also participate in the closing module.

Honours Class

As part of the Honours programme, students take at least one Honours Class. The Honours Classes are organised by all faculties of Leiden University and have an interdisciplinary character. In these Classes you will work with students from different faculties.

An overview of the Classes on offer can be found in the e-prospecus. More information about the Honours Classes, the registration period and the application procedure can be found on the Honours Academy website.

Prerequisites for a SOLO programme

A Solo programme needs to meet a few requirements:

• A Solo programme consists of at least 30 ECs, which include two required courses worth 5 ECs each. Those courses are: 1) an Honours Class 2) the Capstone project

• You draw up a study plan for the remaining 20 ECs in consultation with the Humanities Lab coordinator and submit it to the Humanities Lab board of examiners. The plan includes a motivational statement in which you explain why the courses you chose are important for you (are you following them to deepen an interest or are they connected to a careerpath you are pursuing), what the connection is between the courses you selected and what skills and knowledge you expect to have acquired by the time you finish your programme.

Elective Courses (20 EC)

There are several options to fill the remaining 20 EC of your solo track:

• SOLO students can take regular bachelor’s courses, but these courses need to be upgraded to Honours level. Within the Humanities Lab courses are upgraded by requiring a minimum grade: for all regular bachelor’s courses taken as part of a SOLO programme, students must earn a weighted average of 8.0 and at least 7.0 for each individual course.

• Students can do a research internship for a maximum of 15 EC.

• A maximum of 10 EC of master’s-level courses can be taken as part of SOLO. For these courses certain requirements may apply.

• Honours – designated courses: Honours Classes, Leiden University College courses (max. 5 EC), courses offered by the Humanities Lab, courses offered by honours tracks of other faculties.

For more information about the Solo track of the Humanities Lab, please visit the website.

Honours Class

As part of the Honours programme, students take at least one Honours Class. The Honours Classes are organised by all faculties of Leiden University and have an interdisciplinary character. In these Classes you will work with students from different faculties.

An overview of the Classes on offer can be found in the e-prospecus. More information about the Honours Classes, the registration period and the application procedure can be found on the Honours Academy website.

Humanities Lab Grande Finale – Closing Module (5 EC)

The Grande Finale consists of a set of capstone projects. Each project is interdisciplinary and requires skills, insight and methods from different domains of knowledge. Teams of students are asked to demonstrate how insights and methods from the Humanities can make a difference to topical issues in society or in the world of science at large. Students present their findings at a closing conference with staff, stakeholders, and community members. Students who have chosen the Solo track of the Humanities Lab will also participate in the closing module.

Honours class

As part of the Honours programme, students take at least one Honours Class. The Honours Classes are organised by all faculties of Leiden University and have an interdisciplinary character. In these Classes you will work with students from different faculties.

An overview of the Classes on offer can be found in the e-prospecus. More information about the Honours Classes, the registration period and the application procedure can be found on the Honours Academy website.