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The Atlantic Studies minor focuses on cultures bordering the Atlantic Ocean, combining courses selected from History, Literature, Anthropology, Political Science, Philosophy, and Modern Languages. This interdisciplinary minor encourages students to explore the connections between past and present cultures in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, enhancing cultural knowledge and understanding for students in all majors. For more information, contact Dr. Andrew Wise, History & Political Science.

The Black Studies minor is focused on the history, experiences, and perspectives of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora. The multidisciplinary coursework provides a foundation in Black Studies in both the American and global context, promotes civic literacy, cultural fluency and global contextual competency. The minor is ideal for students considering careers in social work, human resources, education, counseling, international affairs, government agencies, non-governmental agencies, or graduate work in American Studies or Cultural Anthropology. For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Sankoh, History & Political Science.

The multi-disciplinary coursework in this minor is focused on the study of the criminal justice system, and the social causes and consequences of crime. The criminal justice minor is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in local, state, and federal law, law enforcement, or who are considering law school or a career working in or around the criminal justice system. For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Parshall, History & Political Science.

Courses in this minor teach you to analyze change over time, learn about connections between the past and the present, and open a window into the lives of people of past civilizations, as well as cultures of the contemporary world. Our History minor includes courses in American, World, and European history, along with courses selected from your areas of interest. You will gain factual knowledge while developing analytical abilities such as critical thinking, close reading, textual analysis, synthesis of information, argumentation, and writing. A History minor is ideal for students who are considering careers in education, law, communications, government service, and business. For more information, contact the Chair of the History & Political Science Department. 

This interdisciplinary minor provides students with knowledge of the ever-evolving and expanding world of political communications, helping to prepare students for careers in political journalism, government, international affairs, political campaigns, or for graduate study in the fields of political science, communications, or journalism. Students complete 21 credit hours of coursework in Political Science and Writing Composition, including two required courses and five electives. The minor also makes this field accessible for students outside the political science minor.  For more information, contact Dr. Jay Wendland, History & Political Science Department. 

The Political Science minor includes coursework focused on the study of governments, institutions, public policies and political behavior; using both humanistic and scientific perspectives. The minor is ideal for students of all majors who are considering employment in public service, law, business, media, or any profession working in or around politics and government. Political Science coursework emphasizes civic engagement and civic literacy in local, national, and global affairs. For more information, contact the Chair of the History & Political Science Department.

While the ABA does not require any particular course or course of study in preparation for law school, the courses in the Pre Law minor provide students with substantive legal knowledge and will hone the skills that are critical for law school admission and success. Our rigorous, yet flexible, Pre Law minor establishes intent/interest in a legal career and demonstrates academic ability in rigorous coursework. In addition to the the study of the American legal system, courses in the minor emphasize reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing proficiency. For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Parshall, History & Political Science.

Public Administration is focused on what government does: the law in action, regulation, the executive function, organizing and managing people and other resources to achieve the goals of government, and the implementation of public policy. The PA minor is ideal for students of all majors who are considering employment in public service, or who are pursuing careers that require interaction with governmental institutions and agencies. For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Parshall, History & Political Science.

The Public History minor combines foundational coursework in American history with courses selected from three other areas: writing and public relations; applied knowledge and allied fields like public administration, accounting, and historic preservation, and the public history internship; and computer and web design. This minor is excellent preparation for a career working in a museum, archive, or historic site, or in education. For more information, contact Dr. Penny Messinger, History & Political Science.

REFUGEE AND MIGRATION STUDIES MINOR

18 credit hours required.

Description:  The Minor in Refugee and Migration Studies is a multidisciplinary minor that integrates coursework in Political Science, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Literature, Philosophy/Religion, Language/Linguistics, Spanish, and French. The minor includes one foundational course in global knowledge, one course introducing students to Refugee Studies, and three courses that deepen the students’ knowledge of the causes and contexts of population movements. A required Service Learning class provides students with the opportunity for experiential learning and application of knowledge about global studies, migration and refugee issues. Students can choose from local SL placements where they will work with and learn from refugees in the Western New York area; International Service Learning is an alternative route that affords students the opportunity to develop cultural proficiency and knowledge of background issues related to migration and refugee movements.

I. Foundations in Refugee and Migration Studies. REQUIRED (3 credit hours).

PSC 214: Introduction to Refugee Studies

II. Foundations in Global Knowledge. (Choose one). (3 credit hours).

HST 106: World History 1500-Present

IND120:  Introduction to Global Studies

PSC121: International Relations

III. Causes, Contexts, and Consequences of Population Movements (9 credit hours). Select three courses from the list below:

HST 317:  The Middle East

HST 328:  Multicultural Poland: History & Public Memory

LIT 230:  Exile Literature

LIT 316:  Empire & the Imagination

LNG 309:  Language in Society

LNG 415:  Second Language Acquisition/Applied Linguistics

PHI 309:  The Holocaust

PHI/REL 328:  Comparative Genocide

IV. Applied/Experiential: Service Learning (3 credit hours). Select one of the service learning courses listed below. (Other SL courses, and internships, may be allowed by permission of the oversight committee if the course has a primary focus on refugees or migration.)

FRE/SPA 299/399 – Service Learning in French and Spanish

FRE/SPA 348/448 – International Service Learning in Spanish/French

IND 215: Service Learning for Refugee Studies

IND 231: Reaching Refugees in the Buffalo Community

IND 2XX [awaiting permanent course number]: Refugees Tell Their Stories

IND 348 or 448:  International Service Learning

Women’s Studies is an intellectually vibrant field that connects the academic exploration of gender with the lived experiences of women and girls throughout the world. Courses emphasize the understanding of gender and sexuality in historical and contemporary contexts; the pursuit of gender equity as an aspect of human rights; civic responsibility from local to global contexts; and critical thinking skills in understanding gender as a foundational category of social organization. Courses in Women’s Studies are excellent preparation for careers in public service, business, education, law, social work, and many other fields, and our AAUW Student Organization provides opportunities for student leadership and application of knowledge. For more information, contact Dr. Penny Messinger, History & Political Science.