Skip to main content

Major in Cultural Studies

The Cultural Studies Program is designed to give students the opportunity to create a rigorous interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary program organized around a particular theme, question, problem, or interest (e.g., third world/ethnic studies, technology, science studies, theory, neo-liberalism, labor), or to establish links across a range of classes that define a specific intellectual focus. Cultural studies offers a home to students united by questions of the complex, dynamic workings of culture in contexts and with interests as diverse as the social studies of science, local migrant farm workers, or the influence of built space on consciousness.

 Core Requirements

  • COMM 350 Practices of Cultural Studies
  • Seven additional courses approved by the director (in consultation with the student) and the relevant Associate Dean.

 

Students are strongly encouraged to take at least one course on matters of social cultural differences/diversity such as ANTH 380, COMM 318, or RELI 323.  Students are also strongly encouraged to take at least one course on contemporary theory such as COMM 412.

Students are required to take classes in at least three departments. No more than four courses (12 hours) in the same department may count toward the major. A student should strengthen his or her course of study by choosing Approaches, Connections, and elective courses that complement courses in cultural studies.

Students with an overall grade point average of 3.3 or above and a grade point average of 3.3 or above in cultural studies courses are encouraged to undertake an honors thesis project during the senior year for a total of six credit hours (COMM 691H and 692H). These hours will be in addition to the 24 hours (eight courses) minimally required for the major.

The major is designed for undergraduate students who wish to combine the strengths of various departments and curricula in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students in the Cultural Studies Program tend to be strongly motivated, self-disciplined, intellectually curious, and want greater responsibility for their education. The program is distinguished by intensive advising, collaboration across disciplinary perspectives, and opportunities to extend learning beyond the space of the classroom. Students interested in cultural studies should meet with the director of the program to explain their interests.