Appalachian Studies Minor (A)

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The Appalachian Studies Program provides students with an understanding of the heritages, environments, and cultures of the Appalachian region, while first questioning the very notion of what Appalachia is and what it may mean to be Appalachian. Students critique and analyze the political economies and institutions of the region, as well as learn about the rich diversity of its people. Our program is supplemented by cultural activities, such as folklife programs, concerts, and literary readings that are sponsored by the Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center and/or the Appalachian Events Committee, a student/faculty/staff group. If you plan to live and work within Appalachia, we’re positive you will find our minor a valuable addition to your major field of study. Even if you are planning to live outside the region, the minor will be beneficial as you acquire cultural sensitivity and responsiveness skills and critical thinking that transcend the particular place of Appalachia and can be applied on a national and even international level.

REAL Curriculum

This program covers the A area of the REAL Curriculum, Cultural or Behavioral Analysis. Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the R, E, and L areas. Learning competencies address historical depictions of the region and how they manifest contemporaneously in social, political, and environmental contexts. Additionally, students analyze and apply knowledge and methods from their major discipline to explain strengths and weaknesses of the Appalachian region.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Appalachian Studies minor includes 3 general education credits.

Minor Requirements (15 credits)

Required Courses (9 credits)

Required Outside Coursework (6 credits)

Students can choose from the following classes for the remaining 6 credit hours toward the minor.

Note(s):

* Students registering for APST410 are required to enroll in APST420, also. In essence, this is one class with an experiential component in Maymester and reflective work/final group project created and submitted in the fall semester.

Other courses in various disciplines may be petitioned to count toward the minor when the topic or final paper/project relates specifically to Appalachia.