This study attempted to: (1) identify and describe the nature of rationales, purposes and objectives, content and content organization, methods and materials, time and staff organization, general organization, and student populations of secondary school humanities programs in the United States; and (2) identify and describe the major common characteristics of secondary school humanities programs in the United States. The study was based on an examination of the current literature related to the nature of secondary school humanities programs and a collection of data on humanities programs operating in secondary schools. The conclusions of the study were that programs varied in definitions, rationales, purposes, objectives, instructional techniques, materials, and student populations. Program contents appeared to be selected from the humanities disciplines and organized most often by cultural epochs. The common characteristics among the majority of the humanities programs are discussed. (Author/LL)