Comparative Cultural Studies International - Minor

The minor in Comparative Cultural Studies – International focuses on how culture and politics affect societies across the world. The program’s strong interdisciplinary approach in the humanities and social sciences gives students the skills and competencies they need to address complex and critical global issues. The minor provides students with tools to better understand diverse cultural perspectives around the world. The comparative and transnational focus encourages students to learn about other cultures and social systems, to reflect back on their own societies, and to discover how they want to position themselves as globally engaged citizens.

The courses recommended for the minor examine such issues as racial and gender politics; media, power, and politics; nationalism, ethnicity, and ethnic conflict; literature, film, performance, and politics; globalization, international development, and community mobilization; human trafficking; global public health; and diaspora, migration, and displacement. The coursework gives students the opportunity to gain expertise in areas or peoples outside of the United States and allows them to develop comparative and international perspectives valued by public and private employers. It is critical for contemporary students to understand the impact of politics and policies on people’s lives and global social injustice, inequality, and conflict.

The minor will assist students who are seeking a wide variety of jobs, ranging from U.S. government positions to social and popular media, as well as private business ventures, cultural organizations, and non-profit organizations. It is also beneficial for students who are pursuing a wide range of graduate and professional degrees, including law, education, non-profit administration, public policy, public health, communication, cultural studies, environmental studies, media studies, anthropology, social work, and business.