Minors
Adding a minor to your undergraduate degree allows you to explore your interests, develop new skills, and prepare for a rewarding career and life.
The Department of Social and Critical Inquiry offers a variety of minors across its areas of study. To declare a minor, consult with the program's faculty advisor and your major advisor to create a plan of study that aligns with your academic and career goals.
Minor Options
Unless a higher standard is specified for a particular minor, students must earn a grade of "C" or better in each required course to complete the minor.
American Studies
Minor advisor: Martha Cutter
The Minor in American Studies promotes an interdisciplinary understanding of the complex economic, political, and cultural structures of the United States and its place in the world. The minor can seamlessly be combined with a humanities or social science major. Many current English, political science, sociology, and history majors are already well on their way to earning a Minor in American Studies without even knowing it.
Students must complete 15 credits, including:
- Six credits of AMST courses at the 2000 level or above.
- Nine credits taken from any of the required courses for the Major in American Studies or courses approved by the minor faculty advisor.
Asian American Studies
Minor advisor: Bradley Simpson
The Minor in Asian American Studies explores the diverse historical, social, and cultural factors that shape the experiences of Asian diasporas and people of Asian descent in Connecticut, the U.S., and beyond.
Students must complete 15 credits at the 2000 level or above, including:
- Nine credits of approved courses from Group A: Asian American Studies.
- Six credits of approved courses from Group B: Comparative Ethnic Studies/Women’s, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Asian Studies
Minor advisor: Bradley Simpson
The Minor in Asian Studies offers students interdisciplinary education in the history, cultural, and politics across Asia or along specific regional tracks (for example, Southeast Asia). The minor compliments language studies and study abroad programs.
Students must complete 15 credits at the 2000 level or above, including:
- Six credits of approved courses from Group A: History and Culture.
- Six credits of approved courses from Group B: Politics, Movements, and Activism.
- Three additional credits from either Group A or B.
India Studies
Minor advisor: Bradley Simpson
The Minor in India Studies focuses on the study of South Asian societies. This degree plan brings together coursework across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The minor complements language studies and study abroad programs.
Students must complete 15 credits at the 2000 level or above, including:
- At least three courses from the approved list of Group A: Core Courses.
- An immersive experience that focusses on India, such as a senior thesis, participation in an education abroad program, or approved independent study.
- Any remaining credits can be completed from a list of approved core, related, or India Studies (INDS) courses.
Native American and Indigenous Studies
Minor advisor: Kevin McBride
Offered in partnership with the Department of Anthropology, the Minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) provides students with an in-depth understanding of historical and contemporary issues facing Native American and Indigenous communities.
Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits from an approved list of courses, which must be distributed across at least three disciplines.
Social Justice Organizing
Minor advisor: Jason Chang
Offered in partnership with the Africana Studies Institute and El Instituto, the Minor in Social Justice Organizing offers interdisciplinary classes on the theories, histories, and formation of social identities, structural inequalities, and movements to foster social justice and equity in the United States.
Students must complete 15 credits at the 2000 level or above, including:
- Three credits each of approved courses from the following groups:
- Group A: Identities, Intersections, and Categories of Analysis
- Group B: State Structures and Systems of Inequality.
- Group D: Service Learning/Internship
- Six credits of approved courses from Group C: Creating Social Justice, Equity, and Freedom.
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Minor advisor: Elaine Chu
The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) minor helps students explore how gender and sexuality are shaped across different cultures and societies. Our courses combine traditional academic approaches with insights from feminist, gender, and sexuality studies to examine the origins and changes in cultural and social structures.
Students must complete 15 credits at the 2000 level or above, including:
- WGSS 2250: Critical Approaches to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (three credits).
- Twelve additional credits of WGSS courses, WGSS cross-listed courses, and/or other courses approved by the director of WGSS. Visit the Academic Catalog for restrictions.