Social Studies Degrees

Requirements for the Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Six courses, including an introductory course (typically WG 201); a course in feminist theory (typically WG 311); and a senior seminar (typically WG 493); and three additional courses designated as WGSS courses or cross-listed under WGSS, at least two of which must be at the 300 or 400 level. No more than one semester of independent study (WG 491 or 492) may be counted toward fulfillment of the minor requirements.

The point scale for retention of the minor applies to all courses taken toward fulfillment of the minor. Courses counted toward the minor may not be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program is a feminist interdisciplinary program designed to acquaint students with scholarship on women, gender, sexuality, and feminist theory. WGSS courses examine the way gender is culturally constructed and the relation of gender to other systems of social difference such as race, ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation. This scholarship covers a variety of theoretical and empirical studies from within both traditional disciplines and interdisciplinary frames. In addition to the core WGSS courses, the program offers a wide range of cross-listed courses taught by faculty members from many departments and programs, and students are encouraged to develop a broad foundation through study in several fields. A WGSS major graduates with a program of study that is often unique to the student’s developing interests.

Students may pursue a major or a minor in WGSS. Descriptions for courses cross-listed with WGSS are listed under the various departments.

Requirements for the Minor in Religious Studies

A minimum of six courses in religious studies, including at least one from each of the following groups: Eastern religions (211, 212); history of Christianity (216, 236, 258, 259); biblical literature (143,144); three religious studies courses at the 300 level or above. The three required 300-level courses may not include courses from other departments or institutions.

Religious Studies

The academic study of religion at Colby focuses upon the origins and historical development of several of the world’s major religious traditions with the goal of enabling students to understand and appreciate religious diversity in the modern world. Although Religious Studies is a small department at Colby, we are able to include within our curriculum courses that explore Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto and thus represent a considerable exposure to complex and varied religious traditions. Occasionally we are able to expand the scope of our inquiry further.

A study of Judaism and Christianity provides students with a deep knowledge of the development of our own culture and its heritage. Similarly, learning about Asian religions is crucial for understanding the culture of India, China, Japan and other Asian countries, including those located in the area often described as the “Middle East.” We also intend to expose students to a variety of methods in Religious Studies. Thus, in our courses, students learn to study religious traditions by scrutinizing their literary traditions, archaeological remains, rituals, texts, and their effects in and upon society. The study of religion teaches people to think clearly, critically, and cross-culturally about ways in which human beings have understood the world and their role in it.

You can learn more about us, our faculty, our students, and our courses by accessing course materials and resources for your exploration of the world’s religions. The menu at the left will help you to navigate our site.

East Asian Studies

The East Asian region is home to some of the world’s oldest cultures, and yet the area is also deeply relevant to the modern world. East Asia will to have a profound influence on world trade, politics, and culture in the twenty-first century. The East Asian Studies Department contributes an important dimension to the traditional liberal arts curriculum by offering courses with a focus on this region and an East Asian Studies major and minor, a Chinese minor, and a Japanese minor. Students considering a major in East Asian Studies are strongly urged to take one of the department’s introductory courses, East Asian Studies 151, 152 or Art 173. Information on the programs can be found on the department requirements page; course schedules are on the course offerings page; and links to online course materials can be found on the course webpages page

The study of Chinese and/or Japanese languages is an important component of the major, and the department offers four years of instruction in both language. Study abroad during the junior year is strongly encouraged; see the study abroad page for information about the Associated Kyoto Program in Japan and approved programs in China. In addition to gaining a solid grounding in language and literature, East Asian majors also choose from a variety of courses offered by faculty in art history, anthropology, economics, film studies, government, history, music, philosophy, and religion to complete their course requirements.

African Studies

Embracing 54 countries and 748 million people, Africa is a vast continent of 30 million square kilometers, and one of the culturally and ecologically richest areas in the world. With a history and a future integrally connected to both the Americas and Europe, the African continent represents a prime area for study and research in the decades ahead. Some suggest that the 21st century will be the Century of Africa.

Recognizing Africa’s importance in the international arena , and the growing interest among Colby students to study abroad in Africa, Colby inaugurated an African Studies Program in 2001. The African Studies Program offers a minor that is both flexible and interdisciplinary, and can be combined with a wide range of majors. In particular, it supports and complements majors in anthropology, French, environmental policy, history, government, and international studies. Students who are concentrating on Francophone Africa will take a number of courses in French, both on campus and abroad. Other students will do their class work in English. Students may want to undertake the study of Swahili, Arabic or other African languages using audio programs in the Language Resource Center.
There are excellent library and video resources to support the study of Africa at Colby, thanks in part to a recent grant from the U.S. Department of Education that has substantially enhanced our library book collection, as well as underwritten the development of an outstanding video collection from the best filmmakers throughout Africa, from Tunisia to Burkina Faso to Senegal and South Africa. A few years ago Colby hosted the first Maine African Film Festival, and hosts an annual Africa week of lectures and cultural programming.

Requirements for the Minor in African-American Studies
Seven courses including African-American Studies 276; English 343; History 247; one course selected from Music 232, 238, or American Studies 275, 282; at least one course focused on Africa or the Caribbean; and two courses selected from American Studies 493, Anthropology 217, 231, English 346, 413 (when appropriate), 427, Philosophy 213, Religious Studies 356, or Sociology 252, 354, 355, 357, 358. Course substitutions and exchanges may be made in consultation with the advisor.

Interested students also may consider an independent major in Africana studies (a selection of courses combining study of the Caribbean, the Americas, and Africa) or an independent major that combines African-American studies with another relevant discipline or program, especially anthropology, Latin American studies, African studies, or music. Majors and minors are instructed to inform faculty that they are African-American studies majors or minors when seeking the permission of an instructor to register for courses restricted to majors in other disciplines or when asking that prerequisites be waived.

African-American Studies

The African-American Studies Program at Colby is an interdisciplinary program of courses designed to expose students to the history and culture of African-Americans in the United States and to connect those experiences to the literatures, histories and cultures of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Students may elect a minor in the program built around courses in anthropology, economics, government, history, literature, music, religion, and sociology. Students may also elect to pursue a combined African American and American Studies major.
In the late 1960s, a College committee was created to expand Colby’s participation in this burgeoning field. This led to curriculum development, exchanges of visiting scholars, special lectures and other intercultural programs, and student exchanges with predominantly African-American institutions. Formerly called Black Studies, the program has maintained a special relationship with other College programs such as the American Studies Program, the Colby College Black History Month Celebration, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and the Ralph J. Bunche Symposium, which sponsors events that explore the themes of diversity and human rights.

Students participating in African-American Studies usually major in English, American studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Government, or History. The history courses taken within the program may be applied to a field of concentration within the history major. A student with any major may take a variety of courses in African-American Studies. Those who wish may be assigned an adviser in the program as well as one in their major department.

The major in African-American and American Studies is built around a core of courses in history, literature, and the social sciences. The minor in African-American Studies draws upon a strong core of courses that include African-American Culture in the United States, African-American History, several music courses, and a wonderful range of courses in African-American literature.

Requirements for the Major in Religious Studies

A minimum of 10 courses, to include at least one from each of the following groups: Eastern religions (211, 212); history of Christianity (216, 236, 258, 259); biblical literature (143, 144); three religious studies courses at the 300 level or above; and a senior independent study project. The three required 300-level courses may not include courses from other departments or institutions. The senior independent study project may take one of three forms: a four-credit independent study (491 or 492) with a religious studies faculty sponsor, a two-semester project in the honors program (483, 484) described below, or a Senior Scholars project with one mentor from the religious studies faculty.

The point scale for retention of the major applies to all courses that count toward the major.

Religious Studies

The academic study of religion at Colby focuses upon the origins and historical development of several of the world’s major religious traditions with the goal of enabling students to understand and appreciate religious diversity in the modern world. Although Religious Studies is a small department at Colby, we are able to include within our curriculum courses that explore Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto and thus represent a considerable exposure to complex and varied religious traditions. Occasionally we are able to expand the scope of our inquiry further.

A study of Judaism and Christianity provides students with a deep knowledge of the development of our own culture and its heritage. Similarly, learning about Asian religions is crucial for understanding the culture of India, China, Japan and other Asian countries, including those located in the area often described as the “Middle East.” We also intend to expose students to a variety of methods in Religious Studies. Thus, in our courses, students learn to study religious traditions by scrutinizing their literary traditions, archaeological remains, rituals, texts, and their effects in and upon society. The study of religion teaches people to think clearly, critically, and cross-culturally about ways in which human beings have understood the world and their role in it.

You can learn more about us, our faculty, our students, and our courses by accessing course materials and resources for your exploration of the world’s religions. The menu at the left will help you to navigate our site.