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.

The Independent Major

The College provides the Independent Major for those students whose academic interests do not match the course requirements of existing majors.

A student may design an independent major and submit a detailed written proposal to the Independent Study Committee. The proposal must be prepared with the aid of one or two advisors who write letters of support and agree to assume responsibility for the duration of the program. The program must include a balance of lower and upper level courses normally totaling one third or more of the total credit hours required for graduation. In many cases, independent majors take their courses from two or more departments. In this case, students are asked to have two advisors, from different departments.

Many independent major proposals include courses taken abroad or in other institutions. In such cases, the applicant should check with Off-Campus Studies to make sure that the proposed program will be approved before submitting the independent major proposal. Approval of the independent major does not imply approval of the off-campus study portion.

An independent major should be a coherent program of study with a specific focus, rather than simply a haphazard choice of courses. The driving principle of a major should be discussed in the written proposal. If the college offers a minor in the subject, the courses required for the minor should be taken as a starting point for a major. To ensure depth, the student is required to engage in a synthesizing research project during the senior year, normally in the form of an independent study.

Independent majors must be approved by the end of a student’s sixth semester at Colby. To streamline the decision process on independent majors, the Independent Study Committee has set the 30th day of each semester as the target date for independent major proposals. Proposals received after that date may have to wait until the next semester to be considered.

Students pursuing independent majors should keep in touch with the committee, which must be notified about any changes in their program; substantial changes, or a change of advisor, must be approved by the committee.

Independent majors may receive a distinction in their major upon graduating if they have an overall GPA of at least 3.5.
Inquiries about independent majors should be directed to Maria Colbert in the Spanish Department ( or x4682). Applications can be downloaded in electronic form.

African American Studies Major

All majors are required to take the following core of courses:

AAM-367 The African American in the United States I
AAM-377 The African American in the United States II
AAM/ENG-166 African Literature
AAM/ENG-267 African American Literature
AAM-8_5 Independent Study (completed during the senior year)
Six courses from the appropriate list below:

History

*HIS-145 History of the United States to 1865
*HIS-155 History of the United States Since 1865
HIS-397 Women in America
HIS-487 American Colonial History
HIS-525 Recent American History I
HIS-535 Recent American History II
HIS-545 Intellectual and Social History of the United States I
HIS-555 Intellectual and Social History of the United States II
HIS-725 Seminar in American History I
HIS-735 Seminar in American History II
#AAM/ENG-777, -787, -797 Seminar in Black Literature

Literature

#AAM/ENG -777, -787, -797 Seminar in Black Literature
ENG-275 Current Literature
CRW-280 Poetry Workshop
CRW-285 Advanced Poetry Workshop
CRW-290 Fiction Workshop
CRW-295 Advanced Fiction Workshop
ENG-345,-347 American Literature

Sociology

PSY-335 Social Psychology
SOC-116 Cultural Anthropology
*SOC-328 Urban Sociology
*SOC-415 Social Conflict
SOC-425 Social Change
#AAM/ENG -777, -787, -797 Seminar in Black Literature

*=Required course
#=Two Seminars required
African American Studies Minor

The minor in African American Studies consists of African American Literature (AAM-267), The African American in the United States I (AAM-367), The African American in the United States II (AAM-377) and two other courses chosen from departmental offerings.

Student Opportunities
As an African American Studies student at Coe, you will benefit from a strong liberal arts curriculum that broadens your intellectual horizions and provides sound preparation for a successful career in your desired field.
Students may focus more pointedly on specific areas in literature or history or sociology or on special research topics.
Independent-study and off-campus-study opportunities may be woven into students’ concentration plans.
Students may come to obtain more appreciation of diversity in human experiences by examining and studying selected cultural elements of the diasporic African world.

African-American Studies
Interdepartmental Programs

Three track options are available for students who wish to major in this interdisciplinary area: the History track, the Literature track, and the Sociology track. All majors must include among their chosen track offerings The African American in theUnited States I (AAM-367), The African American in the United States II (AAM-377), African Literature (AAM/ENG-166), African American Literature (AAM/ENG-267), and an Independent Study (AAM-8 5) in their senior year.

Students planning to major in this area should consider carefully what they expect to do following graduation. They should seek close advising in examining programs of study. Supportive courses outside the major should be chosen wisely.

Minor in Non-Western Studies
The minor in Non-Western Studies is designed to allow students to
develop a multidisciplinary, directed course of study through which he
will attain a well-rounded understanding of a regional (Asia, Middle East,
Africa, Latin America) or functional (e.g., development, revolution) area.

Competencies, Knowledge, or Skills to be Achieved:
In addition to the before-mentioned benefits, students will have an
opportunity to develop keener insight and appreciation for diversity.
The current curriculum is highly Eurocentric; this program will not only
allow minority students to learn about their origins, it will (perhaps
more importantly) engage Euro-American students to widen their horizons.
In addition, this specialization will prove especially beneficial for the
student pursuing a graduate degree in such areas as International Business,
International Studies, Comparative Literature, History, etc. It will also
distinguish students entering military or other government service.
No students are excluded from pursuing this minor. Students may not,
however, use any course toward satisfying both the minor requirement and
a specific or area requirement in their major.

Structure of the Minor:
1. Required Courses
Foreign Language through the 202 level (equivalent to 12 hours);
Introduction to Non-Western Studies (PSCI 343) (3 hours)

2. Electives
Four of any of the below from at least two disciplines:
HIST 417 PSCI 337 GEOG 311 BADM 412
HIST 451 PSCI 338
HIST 461 PSCI 339 LANG 303*
HIST 474 PSCI 340 LANG 304*
HIST 477 PSCI 341 LANG 320*
HIST 489 PSCI 342
PSCI 433 ANTH 202
Other: relevant Independent Study in any discipline; approved
Senior Research Project or Internship; any relevant course taught
by departments as a Special Topic; any relevant literature and/or
language course (Asian, African, Latin American, or Middle East).
*FREN, GERM, RUSS, or SPAN as appropriate.

3. Projected Course of Study:
Students will be required to file a declaration of intent with the
Director of the program by the end of the first semester of the
junior year. This declaration will outline the projected course of
study and will be approved by the Director. In addition to
approving this projected course of study, the Director will assume
responsibility for publicizing the program and for monitoring each
student’s progress toward fulfilling the requirements of the minor;
in this latter capacity, the Director will be responsible for
verifying that the student has met the requirements of the minor
and for notifying the Records Office to that effect.
Total Credit Hours Required 15 (plus 12 of language)

Applied Social Studies Top-up Year BA(Hons)

What it’s about

This is a one year, full-time programme (or longer for part-time students) for students who already have an HND in Social Care, Diploma in Social Work, Diploma in Counselling, Diploma in Youth and Community Work or comparable qualification.

What you do

There are compulsory modules in research methods and social policy together with a dissertation. In addition, five option modules must be studied from women’s studies, studies in death and dying, bereavement, working with HIV/AIDS, children’s rights, mediation, divorce and separation, religious belief and social care, counselling, housing, antiracist and multicultural social welfare. There is a wide range of teaching methods using lectures, seminars, tutorials and independent study. Methods of assessment include essays, seminar presentations, examinations and dissertation.

Where next

The degree will provide a useful qualification for those wishing to work in a wide variety of statutory, voluntary and private settings dealing with health and social welfare services. The degree will also provide a foundation for vocationally oriented postgraduate study in person centred and helping occupations or research in health, social policy and social welfare.
Back to top
Fact FileQualification:
BA(Hons)
Faculty/School:
Faculty of Health
Location:
Stoke Campus
Course Length: One year full-time.
Entry Requirements: A DipHE or HND or equivalent in social work, youth and community work, housing, counselling or health studies.
UCAS Code:
L512