Programs & Minors

The College of Liberal Arts is comprised of twelve academic programs in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. These units offer a wide range of majors, minors, and independent programs.

American Studies Minor

American Studies minor

Course requirements: 15 credit hours.

The American Studies minor provides undergraduates with the opportunity to study American culture with faculty from a variety of disciplines. The goal is for students to gain an enhanced understanding of the complexity and richness of the social, political, aesthetic and economic structures that inform American life. Simultaneously, the minor exposes students to interdisciplinary approaches to the study of American society.

The minor consists of a minimum of 15 hours: 3 hours (1 class) in an introductory course in American Studies; 6 hours (2 classes) in breadth courses from the University Core Curriculum; and 6 hours (2 classes) in one of the four primary American Studies focus areas. Through coursework in American Studies, students prepare themselves for careers in a variety of fields requiring critical thinking and writing, from teaching to law, health, business and government. The requirements for the American Studies minor are listed below.

I. Core course for the minor:

All students taking the American Studies minor must complete "Introduction to American Studies," which is cross listed in History and English:

HIST 212, or
ENGL 212

II. Breadth Courses:

Students must take two of the following courses (6 hours):

III. Specialization Courses:

Students must take two courses (6 hours) from one of the below "focus areas":

1. American Cultural Studies:

2. Political Philosophy:

3. Art and Literature in the U.S.:

4. Local History/Public History:

Cultural Competency Minor

Cultural Competency minor

Course requirements: 18 credit hours.

The multidisciplinary minor in Cultural Competency enhances the perspectives of students working within culturally diverse communities on a national, international, and global scale. Students completing this minor will be better prepared to thrive and be successful in a diverse workplace. The minor is beneficial to students whose career path requires them to be effective professionals, such as teachers, nurses, social workers, journalists as well as technicians, engineers, and scientists. Area focus, such as East Asia, the Middle East, South America, Latin America, and the Caribbean, as well as LGBTQ+ and disabilities, is an integral part of the minor.

The minor requires 18 credit hours of course work and independent study. Within these 18 credit hours, credit hours must be taken outside the student’s primary discipline. The student must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at SIUC.

Students who wish to enroll in this minor must consult with the Director of the School of Africana and Multicultural Studies: jbrownsj@siu.edu.

Core Requirements: AFR 499, AFR 499B, ANTH 470A

Elective Courses: AFR 495, AFR 360 or HIST 361, AFR 449, AFR 472, AFR 487, ANTH 202, ANTH 204, ANTH 240D, CMST 201, CMST 241, CMST 301I, CMST 441, CMST 448, CCJ 203, CCJ 340, PSYC 223, PSYC 233, PSYC 334, SOC 215, SOC 435, SOC 437, SOC 438, SOC 455, WGSS 426, WGSS 456, WGSS 489

Forensic Sciences Minor

Forensic Sciences Minor

The Forensic Science minor is interdisciplinary, designed to provide undergraduates with a basic understanding of the ways forensic scientists evaluate physical evidence in criminal investigations, and the legal and ethical ramifications of this work. Students pursuing focused majors in preparation for employment or graduate studies in Forensics-related fields can use the minor to inform and broaden their studies on related issues. The program also is intended to develop critical knowledge and skills for evaluating forensic evidence in law, literature, and public media portrayals of forensic scientists.

Course Requirements

It is strongly recommended that the SIU Core Curriculum requirements be satisfied as follows: Social Sciences: ANTH 104; Human Health: PHSL 201 or 310; Science Group I: CHEM 106; Science Group II: ZOOL 115 or 118; Integrative Studies Multicultural: CCJ 203 or ANTH 202.

Required courses for the Forensic Science Minor amount to 15 hours, including 9 hours of required courses and 6 hours of electives (with no more than 4 of the minimum 6 hours of electives from a single discipline/department).

Required Core Courses:

Required Core Courses Include: 9 hours:

CCJ 201
ANTH 231
CHEM 173

Electives:

Electives may be chosen from the following (note, some have prerequisites) 6 hours:

AH 313
CCJ 290
CCJ 310
CCJ 330
CCJ 408
ANTH 240A/E
ANTH 440B
ANTH 441D
ANTH 455A
ANTH 455H
ANTH 465 (internship in Forensics –must be arranged individually)
BIOL 305
CHEM 439
PHIL 104
PHIL 340
PHSL 301
PLB 300
POLS 334
PSYCH 305
PSYCH 431
PSYCH 440
SOC 372
ZOOL 394

Latino and Latin American Studies Minor

Latino and Latin American Studies (LALAS) Minor

The Latino and Latin American Studies minor is interdisciplinary, designed to provide undergraduates with an enhanced understanding of the culture, history, language, literature, and arts of both Latinos in the United States and the people of Latin America. The minor consists of a minimum of 15 hours that are to be selected from the University's offerings on these topics and organized to reflect each individual student's interests. Through coursework in Latino and Latin American Studies, students may prepare themselves for careers in teaching, government, the media, health care, business, law, and the arts, among others. The requirements for the Latino and Latin American Studies minor are listed below.

For additional information, please contact:
José D. Najar
History Department
Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Faculty Coordinator, Latino & Latin American Studies Minor
Faner Hall 3271
jnajar@siu.edu
(618) 453-7872

Successful completion of the Latino and Latin American Studies minor consists of 15 credit hours, including a minimum of 3 hours selected from a) humanities / fine arts and b) social science courses listed below. No more than 6 hours from the student's major can be counted toward the minor in Latino and Latin American Studies. In addition to the list of humanities and social science courses listed here, students may count up to 6 hours of coursework in Africana Studies; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; or other courses that specifically focus on intercultural relations in the U.S. Use of such courses as electives for the minor will require written approval from the Faculty Coordinator as part of early registration.

There are no language requirements or other prerequisites for the minor. Latino and Latin American Studies courses do not require a knowledge of Spanish or other foreign languages. However, a familiarity with Spanish (or any second language) is always an asset. CoLA majors are strongly encouraged to use introductory Spanish language courses in order to fulfill the college-wide foreign language requirement. Students who have proficiency in other languages such as Portuguese or an indigenous Latin American language may consult with the Program Coordinator about having them count for the LALAS minor.

COURSES THAT FULFILL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LATINO AND LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES MINOR

A) Humanities / Fine Arts

ENGLISH (ENGL)

ENGL 205 Cultural Diversity in American Literature
ENGL 446 Caribbean Literature

HISTORY (HIST)

HIST 361 Race & History in the U.S. (same as AFR 360)
HIST 365 American Immigration
HIST 370A History of Latin America: Colonial
HIST 370B History of Latin America: Independent
HIST 407 History of Latinos in the United States
HIST 470 Continuity & Change in Latin America

PHILOSOPHY (PHIL)

PHIL 211 Philosophy & Diversity: Gender, Race & Class

SPANISH (SPAN)

SPAN 304 Hispanic Film and Conversation
SPAN 310 Introduction to Hispanic Literature
SPAN 370B Hispanic Culture
SPAN 434 Colonial Literature
SPAN 451 Studies in Latin American Literature of the Nineteenth Century
SPAN 461 Studies in Latin American Literature of the Twentieth Century

B) Social Sciences

AFRICANA STUDIES (AFR) (FORMERLY BLACK AMERICAN STUDIES)

AFR 360 Race & History in the United States

ANTHROPOLOGY (ANTH)

ANTH 204 Latino Cultures in America
ANTH 205 Latin American Civilization
ANTH 206 Latin American Popular Culture
ANTH 302 Indians of the Americas
ANTH 310C Introduction to Peoples & Cultures: Caribbean
ANTH 310E Introduction to Peoples & Cultures: South America
ANTH 310I Introduction to Peoples & Cultures: Mesoamerica
ANTH 328C Introduction to Languages and Cultures of the Americas: South America
ANTH 416 Spanish in the U.S.A.
ANTH 430B Archaeology of Mesoamerica
ANTH 430F Archaeology of South America

CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CCJ)

CCJ 203 Crime, Justice, & Social Diversity

ECONOMICS (ECON)

ECON 419 Latin American Economic Development

LINGUISTICS (LING)

LING 416 Spanish in the U.S.A. (same as ANTH 416)

POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLS)

POLS 215 Politics of Diversity in the United States
POLS 366 Latin American Politics

PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC)

PSYC 223 Diversity in the Workplace

SOCIOLOGY (SOC)

SOC 215 Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States
SOC 438 Sociology of Ethnic Relations in World Perspective

Native American Studies Minor

Native American Studies Minor

The Native American Studies minor is interdisciplinary, designed to provide undergraduates with an enhanced understanding of the culture, history, language, literature, and arts of Native Peoples of the Americas. The minor consists of a minimum of 18 hours that are to be selected from the university’s offerings on these topics and organized to reflect each individual student’s interests. Through coursework in Native American Studies, students may prepare themselves for careers in teaching, government, the media, health care, business, law, and the arts, among others. The requirements for Native American Studies minor are listed below.

Successful completion of the Native American Studies minor consists of satisfying all course requirements.

Associated Faculty

Gray H. Whaley* (History) - Faner Hall Rm 3374

* Native American Studies Advisor & Contact person

Course Requirements

Course Requirements: 18 credit hours, including 6 hours of required core courses and 12 hours of electives, of which 3 hours may be selected from a special interest or related course; for example, Africana Studies.

Required Core Courses:

One of:

ANTH 310E/470E: Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of South America
ANTH 310I/470: Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of Mesoamerica
ANTH 310J/470J: Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of the Andes
ANTH 310K/470K: Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of the Native Southwest

And:

HIST 366: American Indian History

Electives:

Electives can be chosen from the following (note that some have prerequisites or restrictions):

Anthropology (ANTH)

201 Archaeology of Illinois
205 Latin American Civilization
206 Latin American Popular Culture
302 Indians of the Americas
310e/470e Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of South America
310i/470i Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of Mesoamerica
310j/470j Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of the Andes
310k/470k Introduction to Peoples and Cultures of the Native Southwest
328a/428a Indigenous Languages of the Americas: North America
328b/428b Indigenous Languages of the Americas: Mesoamerica
328c/428c Indigenous Languages of the Americas: South America
420 Mayan Texts
424 Native American Verbal Art
430A Archaeology of North America
430B Archaeology of Mesoamerica
430E Archaeology of the Eastern Woodlands
430F Archaeology of South America

Art & Design (AD)

317I Contemporary Native American Art
428 Native North American Art
468 Pre-Columbian Art

English (ENGL)

332 Folktales and Mythology

History (HIST)

361 Race and History in the United States
403 American Indians and U.S. Empire

Sociology (SOC)

215 Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States

The Peace Studies Minor

The Peace Studies minor is interdisciplinary, designed to provide undergraduates with a better understanding of the causes of war and violence, the history of war and peace, and alternatives to violence in thought and practice. The minor consists of a minimum of 18 hours that are to be selected from the university’s offerings on these topics and organized to reflect each individual student’s interests. Through coursework in Peace Studies, students may prepare themselves for careers in teaching, government, media, law, non-profit organizations and NGOs, and the arts, among others. The requirements for the Peace Studies minor are listed below.

Contact

For more information, contact: Satoshi Toyosaki, Coordinator

Peace Studies Minor

Successful completion of the Peace Studies minor consists of satisfying all course requirements.

Course Requirements

18 credit hours, including 6 hours of required core courses and 12 hours of electives. The 18 hours must be spread over at least three different departments.

Required core courses

History 358i or Cinema and Photography 358i - Introduction to Peace Studies

Philosophy 309i: Philosophy of Peace, Law, and Justice

Electives

Electives are to be chosen from the following list. Other courses may substitute, but only with the express approval of a member of the Peace Studies faculty advisory committee.

Anthropology (ANTH)

330 Biological Foundations of Human Behavior
370 Anthropology and Contemporary Human Problems
410A Practicing Anthropology
410E Anthropology of Law
410O Colonialism and Post-colonialism

Africana Studies (AFR) (formerly Black American Studies)

209 Critical Issues in the Black American Experience
332I Introduction to Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
360 Race and History in the U.S. (same as HIST 361)
416 Black Feminist Thought as Theory and Praxis (CMST 416)
447 Communicating Race and Ethnicity
472 Psychology of Race and Racism
497 The U.S. Civil Rights Movement

Cinema and Photography (CP)

469 Queer Visual Culture

Communication Studies (CMST)

301I Intercultural Communication
341 Introduction to Intercultural Communication
412 Environmental Rhetoric
448 Intercultural Training
463 Interpersonal Conflict
464 Compassionate Communication
490C Global Peace Studies in Japan

Criminology & Criminal Justice (CCJ)

203 Race, Class & Gender
492 Special Topics: Genocide and Mass Atrocity

East Asian Studies (EA)

370A Global Peace Studies in Japan

English (ENGL)

493 Rebels, Slaves, Monsters, and Human Rights: From Oroonoko to Game of Thrones

Geography (GEOG)

304 Geography of Globalization

History (HIST)

335 Peace and War in the 20th Century
340 International History of the Cold War
355 Radical View of American History
361 Race and History in the U.S. (same as AFR 360)
456 The U.S. in the 1960s
457 American Environmental History
493 Civil Rights Movement
496 Internship

Linguistics (LING)

320 Language, Gender and Power

Philosophy (PHIL)

210 The American Mind
375 Ecology and Ethics
405 Democratic Theory
433-001 Post-Colonialism
441 Philosophy of Toleration

Political Science (POLS)

324 Politics and Environmental Policy
332 Introduction to Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
370 Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
375 War and Force in World Politics
405 Democratic Theory
490 Philosophy of Toleration
International Human Rights

Sociology (SOC)

424 Social Movements and Collective Behavior
435 Social Inequality
437 Sociology of Globalization and Development
438 Sociology and Ethnic Relations in World Perspective
455 Racial Inequality

Spanish (SPAN)

401/501 Third Cinema and Latin American Documentary

University Honors

UHON 351 Global Peace Studies in Japan

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

300 Feminist Theory
320i Language, Gender and Power (same as LING 320i)
401 Contemporary Feminism

Mass Communication and Media Arts:

RTD 492-002/MCMA 555-002 Special Topics: Militarization and Media
RTD 489/MCMA 497 Gender, Media and Militarization
CP 270-470A: Topics in Cinema & Photography: Marxism and the Visual Arts and Performance: History - Theory, Twentieth Century to Present
CP 470 A Neoliberalism and the Politics of Culture
CP 463/MCMA 552 History of Experimental Film: topic Race, Class, Gender and Experiments in Media
CP 470B/MCMA 543 Film Production Topic: Art and Activism: a creative revolution

Social Justice Minor

SOCIAL JUSTICE MINOR

The Social Justice Minor in Sociology is an interdisciplinary course of study in which students take an array of coursework in different topical areas on issues of social justice. A minor in Social Justice requires the successful completion of at least 15 credit hours of coursework, including Contemporary Social Problems (SOC 302), and at least three or more 300- or 400- level courses, all passed with a grade of C or better. The list of approved elective courses will be routinely updated to include special topics courses.

Courses taken at other institutions may apply toward the minor only if those courses are accepted for transfer credit by the home department that offers the course. No more than 2 transfer courses can count toward the minor.

SCHOOL OF AFRICANA AND MULTICULTURAL STUDIES

Africana Studies (AFR)

Africana Studies is an interdisciplinary and global discipline focused on the scholarship of the histories, political and cultural movements, institutions, economies, and identities of Africans and the African diaspora. Africa's own overlapping cultures along with the disbursement of African people -- whether forced or voluntary -- have given rise to the discourse of what "black" and "African" identities and experiences actually mean. This has impelled the discipline of Black Studies to rethink the geographical boundaries and conceptual template surrounding the production of knowledge about Africa and its diasporic communities.

Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, an interdisciplinary and global field of inquiry, explores gender and sexuality in societies past and present. While the field continue to focus on women’s experiences, achievements, and positions in society, and ways in which women's lives are shaped by race, class, and culture, these topics are naturally related to broader themes of gender and sexuality, masculinity as well as femininity and feminism, Queer Theory as well as Feminist Theory.

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Communication Studies (CMST)

A degree in Communication Studies can prepare you for a career in business, the arts, social services, government, education, or industry. Your ability to communicate effectively is essential to your potential career success. In our program you can develop the flexible, practical skills you will need after graduation. You learn from nationally-recognized faculty in small classes. In our program you're a name, not a number.

SCHOOL OF ANTHROPOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND SOCIOLOGY

Anthropology (ANTH)

Anthropologists study humanity in many different dimensions, across time and space. The field is divided into four main areas of inquiry: modern human societies (Socio-cultural Anthropology), past human societies (Archaeology), human communication (Linguistic Anthropology), and human and primate biology (Biological Anthropology). At Southern Illinois University, we strive to offer students an integrated, "four-field" approach to the study of humans, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, along with opportunities to work with active researchers in all areas.

Political Science (POLS)

Political Science is the study of issues and decisions in local, national, and global arenas that influence and govern the way we live. Political science majors qualify for many different careers in private and public sector organizations. Some of the more common careers pursued by graduates in political science include: law, business, teaching, journalism, interest groups, and public and international affairs. Political science training also provides valuable preparation for participating in community organizations, electoral politics, movements on behalf of specific policies, or even seeking elected or appointed positions in government.

Sociology (SOC)

Sociology is the scientific study of social change and social life -- by seeking to explain how human groups, institutions, and social movements shape our lives. Sociology develops students' insights into theoretical and practical aspects of life. Students at SIUC study such topics as criminology, delinquency, deviance, identity, international development, marriage and the family, race/ethnic relations, religion, sex and gender roles, sexuality, social problems, social movements, social thought, social change, sports/leisure, and victimology.

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS

Languages, Cultures, & International Studies (LCIS)

The Languages, Cultures, and International Studies Program prepares students to live in today's global community. We teach modern & classical languages and prepare our students to understand their cultural contexts. Our faculty conduct research in literature, linguistics, pedagogy, philosophy, and foreign cultures. We serve the university, our professional communities, local schools, and the general public by providing support and leadership to help citizens thrive in an increasingly globalized world.

Linguistics (LING)

Linguistics is the study of language. Linguists study the sounds of language, how words are built, how sentences are constructed, and what words and sentences mean. We also study how language is learned and processed in our minds and brains, how it is used in social-cultural contexts, and how it changes over time.

SCHOOL OF LITERATURE, WRITING, AND DIGITAL HUMANITIES

English (ENGL)

The study of literature and written communication disciplines the intellect and teaches us to comprehend the world. Employers want people who respect and understand the diversity of human experience, who can communicate directly and clearly, and who can take on responsibility, initiate change, and solve problems independently. The discipline of English seeks to define what it is to be human by scrutinizing both real and imagined experience; by teaching us how to think creatively and critically, using our interpretive and analytical abilities; and by teaching us valuable lessons about the human experience -- that things may not be as they appear, that language can be both powerful and playful, that even as we differ, humans share many important values. Students who choose to study literature, language, rhetoric, and composition in the SIUC Program of English have access to excellent resources: a talented, friendly faculty, small class size, well-equipped facilities, and extensive library collections. Graduates of the program have gone on to work in teaching, publishing, and law. Others hold responsible positions in business, industry, government and more.

SCHOOL OF HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

History (HIST)

The History Program is strongly committed to creating an environment that is supportive of students from diverse backgrounds while upholding the most rigorous academic standards. Our courses cover the globe, and students are given ample opportunity to work closely with award-winning teachers and scholars. However much we may want to, we cannot escape the relevance of history to our lives. The past lives, and we study history to connect our past with our future and to give meaning to our present. Online BA option is available.

Philosophy (PHIL)

The Philosophy Program at SIUC is a pluralistic one with undergraduate courses in a variety of traditions. The faculty have diverse specializations: history of philosophy, logic, ethics, metaphysics, political and legal philosophy, the philosophy of science, philosophy of technology, and philosophy of religion. Our Philosophy program also houses several world-famous project divisions, including the Phenomenology Research Center, The Center for Dewey Studies, and the Library of Living Philosophers.

University Studies Program (UST)

CoLA undergraduates can choose to build their own bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of sciences (B.S.) degrees using the University Studies Program. This degree tool offers a passage to receiving a real, tangible, liberal arts degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale without a formal, declared major. The University Studies program is the way to build a custom bachelor's degree based on the needs and interests of a particular student. It is a broadly based degree that not only allows, but requires, diversification. Online BA or BS option is available.