About the College of Human Sciences and Humanities
Improving Lives
The College of Human Sciences and Humanities (HSH) is home to over 3,000 majors who are pursuing degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Our university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and many of the programs in HSH carry additional accreditations.
Our faculty are deeply committed to teaching and to research and artistic activity: they work closely with their students in classrooms, labs, and studios; they win local and national awards for excellence in teaching; and they are internationally renowned for their high rates of publication, exhibition, and grant funding.
Our disciplines are broad, including health, human, and biomedical sciences, psychological and behavioral health sciences, social and cultural sciences, psychology, liberal arts, and communication and studio arts. Many of our students receive scholarships or other forms of institutional support, and most are involved in applied learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Our graduates have a long history of successfully entering the workforce upon graduation, often as the result of internships.
Meet the Deans
Dr. Glenn Sanford has served as the dean of the College of Human Sciences and Humanities since June 2021. His expertise focuses on philosophy of biology, philosophy of science, environmental and natural resources law, and public policy.
Dr. Shreerekha Pillai was appointed associate dean of the College of Human Sciences and Humanities in January 2023. As a professor of humanities, her teaching ranges across disciplines, from literature and women's studies to cross-cultural studies. Her areas of expertise lie in post-colonial, feminist, film, and carceral studies.
Glenn M. Sanford
Dean,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3301
Email: sanford@uhcl.edu
Shreerekha Pillai
Associate Dean and Professor of Humanities,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3401
Email: pillai@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 1529.06
Meet the Department Chairs
Chloé Diepenbrock
Department Chair of Communication and Studio Arts and Associate Professor of Writing,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3356
Email: Diepenbrock@uhcl.edu
Office: Student Services Building 2109.04
Heather Kanenberg
Department Chair of Health, Human, and Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Social
Work,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3458
Email: kanenbergh@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 2617
Sarah Costello
Department Chair of Liberal Arts and Professor of Art History,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3342
Email: costello@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 2121.10
Mary B. Short
Department Chair of Psychological and Behavioral Health Sciences and Professor of
Clinical Psychology,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3324
Email: ShortMB@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 1508.26
Christopher P. Ward
Department Chair of Psychology and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3303
Email: wardchris@uhcl.edu
Office: SSCB 2109.05
Amy Lucas
Associate Professor of Sociology,
Human Sciences and Humanities
Contact number: 281-283-3413
Email: Lucas@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 2121.04
Opportunities to Engage
We reward curiosity and dedication with unmatched educational opportunities.
In just one example, our art and design students hone their craft in spacious studios for ceramics, metalworking, woodworking, sculpting, painting and graphic design. Looking for inspiration? The UHCL Art Gallery hosts exhibitions from around the world.
And while the greater Houston area offers innumerable opportunities, we know there's a lot more to explore. We regularly bring international luminaries to campus and arrange study abroad trips to Mexico, Europe and beyond.
Meeting Future Needs
We're growing to meet the changing needs of both our local and global community. Our first doctoral program, the Doctor of Psychology in Health Service Psychology, first began welcoming students in 2016 to meet the demand for expertise in both school and clinical psychology. Our RN to BSN program for registered nurses to attain a bachelor's degree launched in 2014 to support national initiatives in nursing education.
The College of Human Sciences and Humanities holds a number of specialized accreditations, including accreditations and approval from the Commission of Accreditation for the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the National Association of School Psychologists. The Council on Social Work Education has also accredited our bachelor's degree in social work. Our Kinesiology curriculum has been recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association for preparing students to successfully enter into the career field. The Human Factors Certificate and Applied Cognitive Psychology Program are accredited by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.