Interdisciplinary Studies

Major in Popular Culture Studies
The major in popular culture studies (reference number 758) requires a minimum of 34 credit hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree.  The major is composed of three levels of required courses plus electives and is designed to ensure that students gain an interdisciplinary perspective on the subject of popular culture but still have the opportunity to pursue their particular interests.  A minor or second major in another discipline is required.  No more than 6 hours in the popular culture studies major may count towards a student’s minor.  Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all non-elective core courses applied to the popular culture studies major.  Students are encouraged to include at least one course on popular culture outside the United States and to participate in relevant study abroad opportunities.

Required Courses (19 hours):

1. POP 101 (3 hours) Note:  It is essential that students planning to pursue this major take this course as early as possible, ideally no later than having completed 9 credit hours within the major.
2. Core Courses (12 hours): Students must take one course from each of the following four categories, each of which represents a shared theoretical approach to the subject.
   Category One:  HIST 340 or HIST 447
   Category Two:  FLK 371, 373, 281
   Category Three:  BCOM 300, JOUR 201, ENG 366, ENG 465
   Category Four:  PHIL 207, SOCL 245, PS 372
3. POP 498 (4 hours):  Students should have completed POP 101, have senior status, and have accumulated 21 credit hours in the major prior to or concurrent with taking this course.

Elective Courses (15 hours): Students will fulfill the remaining fifteen hours of the major by choosing from the following elective courses:  AFAM 190, ANTH 120, 277, 350, 448, ART 302, 303, 312, 313, 334, 390, 405, 445, BCOM 201, 271, 300, 401, ENG 320, 321, 340, 365, 366, 368, 370, 465, 466, FLK 276, 281, 371, 373, 379, 410, 445, 464, 478, FREN 323, 427, 450, GEOG 430, GERM 333, 335, 437, HIST 320, 321, 340, 391, 402, 447, 490, JOUR 201, PHIL 207, POP 399, PS 303, 320, 321, 372, SOCL 245, 324, 345, SPAN 373, 376, 490, THEA 431, WOMN 375.  Students can take no more than 6 credit hours in any one discipline unless they are minoring or double majoring in that discipline.  Students should consult the appropriate department and course catalog listing for any prerequisites.

African American Studies
Grise Hall
Office 318, Phone: (270) 745-7076, Fax: (270) 745-2945
Website:  www.wku.edu/afam

Martha Sales, Assistant Director
e-mail: Martha.Sales@wku.edu
Jones-Jagger Hall Office 100B, (270) 745-2135

The minor in African American Studies (reference number 305) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. Required courses are AFAM 190, AFAM 358 or 359, AFAM 377, AFAM 393 and nine hours of restricted electives. The minor in African American Studies recognizes an attempt to compress the unique and diverse experiences of the African American into a manageable and definable program of study. Viewed from the cross-disciplinary perspective, the African American Studies minor is concerned with providing a comprehensive and honest picture of the life and institutions of the American people of African ancestry and of their role in the development of the United States.

The person who completes the African American Studies minor will have enlarged perspectives and increased awareness of diverse cultures; these are skills well-suited for jobs in governmental departments and agencies and with private organizations. As a related minor on any teacher certification program, African American Studies should add new dimensions to classroom teaching.

In fulfilling the minimum requirements for a minor, the student normally should not include more than six hours in any one department. All exceptions must be approved in advance by the director of the African American Studies Program.

Honors Program
The African American Studies Program participates in the University Honors College.  Honors courses allow students of exceptional academic abilities to investigate the African American experience in a more in-depth manner and to discuss contemporary issues in small group settings.  Honors courses encourage the development of critical thinking skills and analytical writing.  Students also have an opportunity to assist faculty with research, present papers at regional and national conferences and/or engage in self-designed research projects. African American Studies minors in the University Honors College can complete their honors thesis on a topic in consultation with an advisor. For further information on honors courses and opportunities, contact Dr. Saundra Curry Ardrey, (270) 745-4558.

Minor in Film Studies
Office 110-B, Phone: 745-5782
Ted Hovet, Director
e-mail: Ted.Hovet@wku.edu

The minor in film studies (reference number 358) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours, including three required courses: BCOM 271, ENG 366, and ENG 465. Students will fulfill the remaining twelve hours of the minor by choosing from among seventeen elective courses: ANTH 448, ANTH 449, BCOM 264, BCOM 350, BCOM 376, BCOM 378, BCOM 481, ENG 309, ENG 365, ENG 368, ENG 466, ENG 499, GERM 437, FREN 450, PS 303, SPAN 490, and THEA 303 (Note: ANTH 449 OR BCOM 264 will count toward the minor, but not both). The minor in Film Studies will give students an opportunity to study several aspects of cinema in an organized, in-depth manner. Because it is an interdisciplinary minor, it will allow students to examine film from a variety of perspectives. Completing this minor will give students a strong background in media history and literacy and in the critical analysis of film.

Humanities Semester
Ivan Wilson Center for Fine Arts
Office 200, Phone: (270) 745-2344
Lawrence Snyder, Director
e-mail: Lawrence.Snyder@wku.edu

The Humanities Semester offers WKU students a unique opportunity to fulfill General Education Requirements, in Category C and Category B. Instead of taking unrelated courses students enroll in a set of team-taught classes on a major cultural epoch in Western Civilization, often including a specially designated section of HIST 119 or HIST 120 appropriate to the epoch being studied. Faculty teams jointly plan the courses resulting in a series of integrated course outlines, readings, and themes. Each epoch is approached from the standpoint of its history, philosophy, literature, and art.

The three cultural periods offered in the Humanities Semester are Ancient Greece and Rome, Medieval and Renaissance Europe, and the Modern Western World.

Any student may register for the Humanities Semester. However, the program will be particularly attractive to freshmen to fulfill general education requirements. Because enrollments are limited, students interested in the Humanities Semester should contact Dr. Lawrence Snyder in the Office of the Dean of Potter College, FAC 200.

Certificate in Kentucky Studies
Cherry Hall 214A
Coordinator: Carol Crowe-Carraco (270-745-5728)

The certificate in Kentucky Studies provides students with the opportunity to study the Commonwealth of Kentucky from multiple perspectives, emphasizing cultural and natural history and resources. It enhances student learning by providing insight into Kentucky life, enriching the understanding of both natives and outsiders and fosters an appreciation for the unique character of the Commonwealth.

The certificate requires a completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours, including 9 hours from core courses and 3 hours from contextual courses.

Core Courses:  (9 Hours)
HIST 456   Kentucky History - required
Select two courses representing different disciplines (6 hours)
ANTH 430 Kentucky Archaeology
ANTH 432 Field Course in Archaeology
ANTH 434 Graveyard Archaeology
ENG 494 Kentucky Literature
GEOG 451 Geography of Kentucky
PS 412 Kentucky Government and Politics

Contextual courses - Select one course (3 hours)
ANTH 378 Southern Appalachian Folklife
FLK 281 Roots of Southern Culture
FLK 378 Southern Appalachian Folklife
HIST 457 Old South
HIST 458 New South
RELS 330 Religion in the American South

Latin American Studies
Faculty Advisor: Dr. David Keeling
Environmental Science & Tech 304
Phone: (270) 745-4555
e-mail: David.Keeling@wku.edu

Minor in Latin American Studies
The minor in Latin American studies (reference number 408) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. An Introduction to Latin America (cross-listed as GEOG 200, PS 200, HIST 200, and SPAN 200) is required of students taking the minor. At least four departments must be represented among the remaining 18 hours. Completion of one year of college Spanish or Portuguese or its equivalent is an additional requirement.

An Introduction to Latin America. 3 hours. (Required)(cross-listed as GEOG 200, PS 200, HIST 200, and SPAN 200). The course is a broad, interdisciplinary introduction to the study of Latin America, emphasizing its regions, peoples and cultures.

Approved courses for the Latin American studies minor are: GEOG 454, 462; PS 351, 462; HIST 364, 365, 464, 465; SPAN 270, 271, 370, 371, 372, 375, 376, 377, 471, 477, 478. Interested students should consult the program advisor. Other courses with Latin American content can be substituted in the minor with the approval of the faculty advisor.

Asian Studies
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Samuels
Cherry Hall 314
Phone: (270) 745-5748
e-mail: Jeffrey.Samuels@wku.edu
webpage: www.wku.edu/History/AsianStudies

Minor in Asian Studies
The Asian studies program deals with societies in South, Southeast, and East Asia and has the following goals: to introduce the history and culture of Asian societies; to enable students to view international and intercultural issues from different perspectives; to understand the political, social, economic and religious issues faced by developing areas in the modern world; to illustrate the interdependence among geographical areas of the world; and to foster respect and tolerance for human diversity.

The minor in Asian studies (reference number 317) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. The student must specialize in Asian studies by taking at least four courses in one of the three areas-South, Southeast, and East Asia. In addition, the minor is interdisciplinary, requiring that the student choose courses from at least three cooperating departments. Students may credit no more than six hours of 100-level Asian language courses to the minor. Students should emphasize advanced courses in their program. Students may credit toward the minor no more than three hours from their major disciplines.
Approved courses for the Asian studies minor are: GEOG 465; PS 366; HIST 110, 370, 460, 461, 471, 472; CHIN 101, 102; JAPN 101, 102; RELS 303, 306, SOCL 354 (See faculty advisor for updates on course offerings.)
The student may arrange independent study courses on specific topics with individual faculty in cooperating departments or the Honors College, which will count toward the minor. The program encourages, but does not require, language study and participation in appropriate study abroad programs. Interested students should consult the program advisor.

Russian and East European Studies
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Hugh Phillips
Cherry Hall 230A
Phone: (270) 745-5738
e-mail: Hugh.Phillips@wku.edu

Minor in Russian and East European Studies
Russia and Eastern Europe have long occupied a pivotal, but largely misunderstood, place in world history. Recent events, including the Cold War, the collapse of East European communism, and the crumbling of the Soviet empire, have underscored the need for a better comprehension of this neglected but fascinating area.

Now students at WKU have the advantage of an interdisciplinary minor in Russian and East European studies (reference number 451). This minor can equip students to comprehend the vast changes sweeping this region, the global implications of this transition, and the social and career-related opportunities likely to develop from increased trade and other contacts between East and West.

The Slavic peoples have great importance in contemporary world affairs, and have contributed immeasurably to Western civilization and modern life. Unfortunately, most Americans have little knowledge beyond Cold War stereotypes of these peoples, their rich history, geographic importance, ethnic diversity, and world impact. The minor will bring the significance of these societies to the attention of students and the Kentucky community.

Students will select the 21 hours required for the minor from the following list of existing courses or from related courses that may be added in the future. Courses must represent at least three different departments.
Approved courses for the Russian and East European studies minor are: HIST 338, 438, 439, 490 (Russia); PS 353, 367; GEOG 453; RUSS 162, 260, 261, 360, 361, 464, 465, 469.
In addition, all students must complete RUSS 160 and 161 or demonstrate the equivalent language facility, including an equivalent facility in a Slavic or East European area language. Interested students should consult the program advisor.

Canadian Studies Certificate
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James T. Baker
Cherry Hall 230D
Phone: (270) 745-5741
e-mail: James.Baker@wku.edu

WKU offers a Canadian Studies Certificate (reference number 198), administered by the Office of International Programs, with classes taught by faculty members of participating disciplines (and on the Web by professors at other colleges and universities). The CSC has been designed to encourage the study of Canada in the undergraduate curriculum. The multidisciplinary nature of the CSC accommodates a variety of student interests and provides an opportunity for participants to learn about our neighbors to the north. Students take a minimum of 12 hours (among the courses listed below) in order to have the CSC listed on their transcripts. Many of these courses may also count toward departmental majors and minors.

Approved courses for the CSC are: HIST 492 (required); AGRI 468; ECON 380; ENG 395 A/B; FREN 427, 445; GEOG 360, 471; PS 360; HCA 440; MGT 403, 410; MKT 420.

Students should contact the respective departments for information on the frequency of course offerings. They may also arrange independent studies on specific topics in some of these departments.

WKU is also the administrative home for the Canadian Parliamentary Internship Program that offers summer internships for students in the Canadian House of Commons and Senate in Ottawa. Interested students should consult Dr. James Baker for details.

Middle East Studies Certificate
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo
Cherry Hall 300
Phone: (270) 745-5744
e-mail: Eric.Bain-Selbo@wku.edu

The Middle East is of great importance to the United States. Ties of history, culture and religion; economic interdependence; and mutual strategic and security interests link the United States to the Middle East. The origins of three of the world’s major religions (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) are found there as well as the majority of the world’s oil reserves.

Students who complete at least 12 credit hours of approved coursework will be awarded a certificate in Middle East Studies, with designation on their transcript. A certificate in Middle East Studies would supplement, but not supplant, existing major-minor and general education requirements for undergraduate students. Courses approved for the certificate will be drawn from classes with major Middle East-oriented content offered through a variety of academic departments. Courses currently in the university curriculum which count toward a certificate in Middle East Studies include the following: (Other courses could be added in the future.)

• HIST 462 History of the Middle East
• HIST 404 History of Ancient Egypt
• RELS 306 Islamic Religious Traditions
• RELS 320 Religions of the Middle East
• GEOG 467 Geography of the Middle East
• PS 352 International Relations of the Middle East
• PS 365 Middle East Government and Politics

All certificate students must take HIST 462 (or the equivalent) and must include courses from at least three different departments to insure a multi-disciplinary perspective. There is no foreign language requirement for the certificate. However, students will be encouraged to study Arabic, to take advantage of study abroad opportunities to the Middle East, and to participate in the Model League of Arab States. Interested students should consult the program advisor.