Appalachian Studies

Theresa L. Burriss, Ph.D.*, Director
Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center
(540) 831-5366
www.radford.edu/appalachian-studies

Undergraduate Program

The Appalachian Studies Program promotes a comprehensive awareness of the Appalachian Mountain region; encourages critique and analysis of the political, social, and environmental economies and institutions of the region; and fosters appreciation for the region’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. Appalachian life of the past and present is stressed. Students who plan to live and work within the Appalachian region will find the Appalachian Studies minor a valuable addition to their major fields of study. Even students who intend to live and work outside the region will find the cultural humility and sensitivity skills they acquire in the minor useful no matter where they reside.

The academic program is supported by the Appalachian Regional and Rural Studies Center (ARRSC), where faculty and support personnel are available to assist student research. The Center houses a collection of journals, books, and other print materials, and a collection of video recordings. The academic program is also supplemented by cultural activities such as folk life programs, concerts, and literary readings sponsored by the ARRSC and/or the Appalachian Events Committee, a student/faculty/staff group.

Academic Program

Appalachian Studies Minor