The Department of Humanities is committed to the ideals of the Revitalized General Education Program (RGEP), most especially that of instilling among the students "a passion for learning with a high sense of moral and intellectual integrity."

One of six degree-granting units of the College of Arts and Sciences, it takes charge of the communication, humanities, and philosophy components of the University's RGEP. It has regular faculty and research staff whose areas of expertise include the following: art history / art studies, communication, English / language teaching, literature / the humanities, Philippine studies, philosophy, speech communication, and related disciplines. Included among the Department's faculty are 6 of UPLB's outstanding/distinguished teacher awardees in the social sciences and the humanities.

To date, the Department is handling the various short courses offered by the Language and Arts Program of the College. Language offerings cover one-on-one tutorials, intensive English, remedial or speed reading, and technical writing. Other courses to improve communication competence include the writing and delivering of speeches, scriptwriting for comics, oral interpretation, office communication, and the theatrical arts. The Program also offers rapporteurial and editing services and certification for language proficiency.