Interdisciplinary Minors
An interdisciplinary minor in the College of Arts and Sciences must consist of six courses and must include either a required introductory course or a concluding seminar or project. (Note: some programs require both.) The minor should aim for a coherent shape appropriate to the subject matter and offer courses that give students a definite sense of movement—from a beginning to a middle and an end, from introductory to advanced levels, or from general to specialized treatments.
Students must select at least three of the courses from three different Arts and Sciences departments. With the approval of the program, students may use one Core course or one course from their major toward the minor. For specific program requirements see the individual program descriptions below. Students carrying a double major are advised not to minor.
Each minor will be administered by a coordinating committee, consisting of a Director appointed by the Dean, and at least two additional members who represent departments included in the minor. One important function of this committee is the advising of students enrolled in the minor.
Minors are open to all undergraduate students. Courses prescribed by the requirements of the minor must be accessible to the students. Further information can be found in the individual program descriptions.
African and African Diaspora Studies
The African and African Diaspora Studies Program (AADS) considers the history, culture, and politics of Africans on the subcontinent and African-descended peoples in the U.S., the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Covering a vast historical period and geographical expanse, African and African Diaspora Studies acquaints students with the multiplicity and diversity of the African diaspora and the world in which we all live. Using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, the program draws on a broad range of methodologies in English, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Theology, Communications, and Theater. A minor in African and African Diaspora Studies includes completion of the following courses: BK 110 Introduction to African Diaspora Studies and BK 600 Senior Seminar (or the equivalent, completion of a minor's thesis). Students must also complete four additional courses clustered under a theme. Some possible themes are:
- Cities and Urban Life
- Economics of Inequality
- Gender and Sexuality
- Globalization and Development
- Intellectual and Philosophical Traditions
- Migration and Immigration
- Music and the Performing Arts
- Political Systems and Grassroots Protest
- Popular Culture and New Media
- Spirituality and Social Protest
However, students are not required to use any one of these themes. They may also devise a course cluster theme on their own or in consultation with the program's Director or Associate Director.
For more information on the African and African Diaspora Studies minor, consult the program website at http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/aads/ or call 617-552-3238.
American Studies
American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that brings together faculty from several departments to expose students to a wide range of approaches to American culture past and present. Thematic emphases include: race, and ethnicity; gender, sexuality, and culture; the cultures of cities; society and subcultures; popular culture, and media; law, politics, and culture; and America and the world. Participating faculty come from English, History, Art History, Psychology, and Communications, among other departments.
Courses used for fulfilling the minor must come from outside the student’s major and from at least two different departments. Six courses are required for the minor. Three of five courses must be clustered in a common area of concentration chosen by the student in consultation with the director of American Studies. In the fall of the senior year, each student must take the elective designated in the previous year as the American Studies seminar.
For further information on the American Studies minor, and application forms, contact Professor Carlo Rotella in the English Department, rotellca@bc.edu, 617-552-3191, or visit the American Studies website at http://bc.edu/schools/cas/amstudies/.
Ancient Civilization
The minor in Ancient Civilization aims at providing students from various majors the opportunity to study those aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman world that relate to their fields and their other interests without the requirement of learning the Latin and Greek languages. Each student will design his/her own program in consultation with the faculty. A program will consist of a coherent blend of six courses chosen from two groups:
- Greek Civilization and Roman Civilization. These general courses, which the department now offers every second year, serve as a general overview of the field and an introduction to the minor.
- Four other courses, chosen after consultation with the director, from available offerings in Classics and other departments in the areas of literature, philosophy, religion, art and archaeology, history, and linguistics.
A list of the courses that are available each semester from the various departments and that can count for the minor will be published at registration time. Interested students should contact Professor Meredith Monaghan of the Classical Studies Department, Carney Hall 120, 617-552-2827, or visit the Classical Studies website at http://fmwww.bc.edu/CL/.
Asian Studies
The Asian Studies minor enables a student to study the language, history, and culture of Asia from a number of disciplinary perspectives. Requirements are as follows: an introductory course, usually SL 263 East Asian Civilizations, one course in Asian history or political structure or diplomacy, two courses in an Asian language beyond the elementary level, and two approved elective courses in Asian Studies from related areas. One of these electives may be a directed senior research paper on an approved topic.
Further information is available from the Director, Professor Prasannan Parthasarathi, Department of History, 21 Campanella Way, 617-552-1579.
Catholic Studies
The interdisciplinary minor in Catholic Studies at Boston College seeks to develop an intellectual and academic approach to Catholicism which does justice to the full human reality, integrity and pluralism within this major world religious tradition. Since Catholicism comprises more than a religious institution, a set of moral or ritual practices, a body of doctrines, or individual and communal experiences, no one discipline or several disciplines functioning separately can properly understand it from the vantage point of its lived experience as a culture.
The Catholic Studies provides students with the opportunity to explore the Catholic intellectual tradition, emphasizing the richness of its philosophical and theological systems, its artistic and cultural expressions, its historical evolution (including internal and external moments of contestation), its approaches to social analysis and the natural sciences, in order to appreciate the vision and values which emerge from this tradition.
Requirements:
Six 3-credit courses.
- Five 3-credit courses (15 credits) selected from the three Catholic Studies clusters: The Catholic Imagination, Catholicism in Time and Space, and Catholic Social Thought.
- Students are strongly encouraged to take Exploring Catholicism I and II to fulfill their Theology Core and count them as six of the fifteen credits.
- A concluding research seminar (3 credits) which will focus on a series of common texts dealing either with the enculturation of Catholicism in different geographical/regional locations (i.e., Asia, Latin America, Africa, Oceania, Irish-American, Italian-American, Latino/a, Black, Amerindian), or a Catholic theme that is approached from several disciplinary perspectives and across historical periods (i.e., Catholic practices of asceticism in art, music, literature, theology). This seminar will offer the student the opportunity to research, write and present a senior project that thematically integrates what has been learned in the minor. The seminar is facilitated by a member of the Catholic Studies advisory committee. It is envisioned that the seminar presentations will become an occasion for creating intellectual community among Catholic Studies minors and faculty advisors.
Further information is available from the Directors, Professor Mary Ann Hinsdale, Department of Theology, 21 Campanella Way, 617-552-8603, and Professor Virginia Reinburg, Department of History, 21 Campanella Way, 617-552-8207.
East European Studies
The East European Studies minor requires six approved courses, distributed as follows:
- One introductory course (either SL 284 Russian Civilization or SL 231 Slavic Civilizations)
- One additional course in Russian or East European history or politics
- Two courses in Russian or another East European language at or above the intermediate level
- Two approved elective courses from related areas such as Art History, Economics, Film Studies, literature or language, Philosophy, or Theology. One of these electives may be a directed senior research paper on an approved topic.
Further information is available from the Director, Professor Cynthia Simmons, Slavic and Eastern Languages Department, Lyons 210, 617-552-3914. Students may also consult the Slavic and Eastern Languages website at http://www.bc.edu/ees/.
Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the science and policy of the earth's environmental challenges, designed to complement any undergraduate major. The goals of the minor are three-fold: to build the necessary knowledge base to understand the scientific, cultural, and political aspects of the environmental issues we face and to work towards effective and just solutions, to better prepare students for careers in the expanding field of the environmental professions, and to provide preparation for further study at the graduate or professional school level. These goals are achieved through a dynamic curriculum as well as research opportunities both on- and off-campus.
All Environmental Studies minors must take two foundation courses chosen from a specified list of environmental science and policy courses, three advanced courses to be chosen from upper-level offerings in various departments, and a senior seminar. Extensive opportunities are available for supervised internships in science and policy including the Environmental Scholars Program that is conducted with and funded by the Urban Ecology Institute at Boston College.
For further information or to register for this program, see the Director, Professor Eric Strauss, or the program assistant, Jess Schmierer, in Higgins Hall 431, 617-552-2477, or visit the program website at http://www.bc.edu/envstudies/.
Faith, Peace, and Justice
The Faith, Peace, and Justice minor offers students the opportunity to explore, in an interdisciplinary manner, how their own serious questions about faith, peace, and justice are related to concrete work for peace and justice in our world. The goals of the Faith, Peace, and Justice Program are to help undergraduate students acquire and develop skills in empirical, social scientific analysis of concrete issues for justice and peace, gaining a solid grasp of the ethical and justice principles which arise from these issues, learning how to formulate public policy or to initiate social change that would help to solve these problems, and implementing creative methods for conflict resolution, appropriate for the level of problem solving their particular issues require.
To achieve these goals, each student is required to take the introductory course for the minor, UN 160 The Challenge of Justice, and, in their senior year, UN 590 Faith, Peace, and Justice Senior Seminar. In addition, the students design, with the advice and approval of the Faith, Peace, and Justice Director, a cluster of four elective courses, which aims at an interdisciplinary course of study focused on a theme or concern for justice and peace which they have identified. This cluster is the foundation for the student's written thesis in the Senior Seminar. For further information, or to register for the Faith, Peace, and Justice minor, see the Director, Professor Matthew Mullane, 21 Campanella Way, or visit the program website at http://www.bc.edu/fpj/.
German Studies
The interdisciplinary minor in German Studies offers students an introduction to the language and cultures of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The foremost goal of the program is to provide participants with an understanding of the history of German-speaking civilization but also to acquaint them with Germany's place in today's world.
The interdisciplinary minor in German Studies consists of six upper division courses—GM 242 Germany Divided and Reunited, two additional courses from the Department of German Studies, and three courses from other departments. All students minoring in German Studies are strongly encouraged to spend one semester abroad.
Interested students should contact the Director of the Minor, Professor Rachel Freudenburg, Department of German Studies, Lyons 201F, 617-552-3745, freudenr@bc.edu, or consult the website at http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/german/english/programs/minorgs.html .
International Studies
The minor in International Studies offers students the opportunity to combine insights from different disciplines so as to develop a broad understanding of international affairs. Students may earn a minor in International Studies by completing six courses from at least three different academic departments, selected from among courses approved for the program. Working with the program's academic advisor, students structure their courses around a thematic concentration (International Cooperation and Conflict, International Political Economy, Development Studies, Ethics and International Social Justice, or Global Cultural Studies). They must complete a required introductory course, IN 510 Globalization, and five additional courses.
The program strongly encourages foreign study and advanced study of a foreign language. It provides a foundation for careers in government, business, non-profit organizations, international institutions, or journalism, as well as, preparation for graduate study. Guidelines for the International Studies minor and an enrollment form are available at the International Studies Program Office located in Carney Hall, room 214, or on the International Studies website at http://www.bc.edu/isp/. Students may also consult the Director, Professor Robert Murphy, Economics Department, 21 Campanella Way, 617-552-3688, or the academic advisor, Linda Gray MacKay, Carney Hall, room 214, 617-552-0740.
Irish Studies
Irish Studies at Boston College is part of the Center for Irish Programs. Founded in 1978, BC's Irish Studies program provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Irish culture and society. The program offers an undergraduate minor in Irish Studies and over thirty courses a year in history, literature, drama, music, art, and the Irish language. Irish Studies courses are posted on its website and is also available at Connolly House, the home of the Irish Studies Program. Irish Studies also hosts an extensive annual film series and a renowned concert program developed by Sullivan Artist in Residence, Seamus Connolly.
The minor in Irish Studies requires students to complete six courses drawn from more than one discipline and designated as appropriate by the Directors of Irish Studies. Students should contact Irish Studies at 617-552-3938 to arrange a meeting with one of the Co-Directors for assistance planning their courses. Those completing the Irish Studies minor are eligible for the Maeve O'Reilly Finley Fellowship for graduate study in Ireland.
Students pursuing the minor are encouraged to take advantage of the partnership programs that Irish Studies and the Center for International Partnerships and Programs have developed with the National Universities of Ireland at Galway and Maynooth, University College Cork, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Ulster, and Queen's University, Belfast.
Students interested in Irish Studies should contact Professor Marjorie Howes or Professor Robert Savage, 617-552-3938. Students may also consult the Irish Studies website at http://www.bc.edu/irish/.
Jewish Studies
The Jewish Studies Program seeks to examine the multiple dimensions and complexities of Jewish civilization throughout its broad chronological and geographical range. In so doing, the program contributes to Boston College's efforts to internationalize and enrich its curriculum by creating a space for reflection on an ethnically and religiously diverse campus. Far from being a parochial field, Jewish Studies is a well-established academic discipline, drawing upon almost every area in the Humanities and Social Sciences in order to understand the myriad expressions of Jewish civilization over the course of thousands of years and in every corner of the globe.
The minor in Jewish Studies consists of a total of six 3-credit courses, including one foundation course, four electives selected from at least three departments within the College of Arts and Sciences, and a concluding seminar/Capstone course.
The foundation course, ï¿1?2Mapping the Jewish Experience,ï¿1?2 is a team-taught, required course highlighting the extraordinary ethnic and cultural diversity of Jews. Professors from two departments will be in charge of this course, with additional lectures by guest faculty.
Although the Minor in Jewish Studies has no specific language requirement, students are encouraged to take as many courses as possible in biblical and modern Hebrew. However, a maximum of six credits in Hebrew language may be applied to the minor. Students may participate in Boston College's study-abroad program at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. They may also avail themselves of summer programs in Yiddish and Judeo-Spanish.
For additional information or to sign up for the Minor in Jewish Studies, contact the program co-director, Professor Dwayne E. Carpenter, in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Lyons Hall 311E, 617-552-3835, carpendw@bc.edu. or see the other program co-director, Professor Donald Fishman, Department of Communications, 21 Campanella Way, room 541. The Jewish Studies Program Office is located in Lyons Hall 308D.
Latin American Studies
The Latin American Studies program encompasses faculty and courses from across the University. With academic advisement from participating faculty, students can shape the Latin American Studies minor to fit usefully with their academic major and with the ambitions they hope to pursue after graduation. Students may earn a minor in Latin American Studies by completing six courses from at least three different academic departments, selected from among courses approved for the program. Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese that is equivalent to successful completion of a third-year college language course is required for the minor.
Students seeking to earn a minor in Latin American Studies must submit a proposed plan of study to the Director of the program, usually no later than the second semester of the sophomore year. The Director, in consultation with the student and other faculty in the program, will review the proposal, and notify the student of his/her acceptance into the minor.
For further information contact the Director, Professor Harry Rosser, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Lyons Hall 307D, 617-552-3828, or visit http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/latinam/.
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
This program emphasizes the interdisciplinary study of the Middle East and Muslim world from the rise of Islam in the seventh century to the present. Through a sequence of courses it offers preparation in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies useful for careers such as journalism, diplomacy, business, and social service as well as graduate programs of academic and professional training. Courses cover the social, economic, political, cultural, and religious heritage as well as contemporary developments in their regional and world settings.
Students interested in the program should contact Professor Kathy Bailey, Political Science Department, McGuinn 528, 617-552-4170, Professor Ali Banuazizi, Political Science Department, McGuinn 324, 617-552-4124, or Professor Benjamin Braude, History Department, 21 Campanella Way, 617-552-3787, or visit http://www.bc.edu/meis/.
Psychoanalytic Studies
The ï¿1?2unconsciousï¿1?2 dimension of human experience has been with us for a long time in art, literature, social studies, and even philosophy, but Freud was the first to give it a clinical status and to propose a method of investigating it. This conception was first presented to the world at large with Interpretation of Dreams in 1900 and soon became a challenge to every discipline that proposes to reflect on the nature of the human in all of its dimensions. The Minor in Psychoanalytic Studies offers students the opportunity to broaden their understanding of one of the major cultural and intellectual trends of the twentieth century. The minor consists of six courses, including one or two introductory courses, and representing a minimum of three departments within the College of Arts and Sciences.
For further information on the minor, consult the Director, Professor Vanessa Rumble, Philosophy Department, 617-552-3865, or visit the program website at http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/psychoan/minor.html.
Scientific Computation
The minor in Scientific Computation is an interdisciplinary program drawing on faculty in several departments, which complements students' training in the natural and social sciences. The minor focuses on applications of the computational methodologies developed in physics, chemistry, mathematics, economics, and finance for empirical research. Students selecting the minor will be exposed to a wide range of computational techniques of practical value in solving empirical and modeling problems.
Six courses are required for the minor: two mathematics courses (MT 202 and MT 210), one course in scientific programming (CS 127, cross listed), one course in numerical methods and scientific computation (PH 430, cross listed), and two elective courses from an approved list.
For further information on the Scientific Computation minor, see Professor Jan Engelbrecht, Physics Department, jan@physics.bc.edu, or Professor Christopher Baum, Economics Department, baum@bc.edu, co-directors of the minor, or visit http://physics.bc.edu/MSC/.
Women's Studies
The Women's Studies Program is an interdisciplinary forum for the study of women's past and present position in society. Women's Studies analyzes the similarities and differences among women as a result of such factors as race, class, religion, and sexuality. The concept of gender relations is considered a primary factor in our understanding of women's roles in various institutions and societies. The Women's Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary minor that consists of two required courses: Introduction to Feminisms (EN 125, PS 125, SC 225) and Advanced Topics in Women's Studies (CO 593), plus four additional courses (selected from a range of disciplines).
For more information consult the Director of the minor, Professor Sharlene Hesse-Biber, Sociology Department, 617-552-4139, or visit http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/ws/.