The Humanities Division aims to promote students' ability to comprehend, generate, and use written, spoken and aesthetic forms of communication, so they will read with understanding, write with clarity, and listen and speak effectively.

The Humanities Division includes the English, Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Reading Departments. The Humanities Division shares responsibility with the Social Sciences Division for the Liberal Arts and Sciences—Humanities and Social Science curriculum.

Several faculty members in the Humanities Division have received awards such as the SUNY Chancellor's Medal for Excellence in Teaching, Advisement, or Professional Service or National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Seminar Fellowship.