UNC Asheville’s Human Rights Studies minor was created to provide a course of study fostering critical and creative thinking, and comprehensive knowledge about human rights locally, nationally, and internationally. The Human Rights Studies program is administered by the Political Science department and draws content, methods and skills from across the disciplines.

The program highlights the philosophical and political tensions inherent in human rights discourse and action, and also promotes unique student opportunities for undergraduate research and engaged scholarship in human rights, helpful to careers in areas such as public policy and administration, education, human services, humanitarian aid, business, journalism, law, criminal justice and law enforcement.

Coursework in Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, History, Literature, Philosophy, and a variety of interdisciplinary programs is incorporated to help elucidate and explain how various human rights concepts have emerged, evolved, been codified and implemented (often selectively and incompletely).

The Human Rights Studies minor requires a minimum of 18 semester hours including one course from HRST 201, INTS 214, PHIL 214 or POLS 388. The additional courses should be chosen from applicable courses in a wide variety of disciplines with the approval of the program director. No more than three courses can come from any one discipline, and no more than two courses can be used from the student’s major or other minors. Students are encouraged to include a human rights-related undergraduate research project, community-engaged scholarship project, internship, and/or study abroad experience, approved by the director of the Human Rights Studies minor, as part of their program of study.

Students can minor in Asian Studies as part of UNC Asheville’s Interdisciplinary Studies Program. The minor combines courses in different disciplines that have a substantial Asian focus.

Students must complete at least 18 hours for the minor chosen from at least three disciplines. Appropriate courses may be substituted with the approval of Associate Professor of Chinese Studies and Language Jinhua Li, director of the Asian Studies Program.

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In this video, International Studies Lecturer Jinhua Li talks about her classes in Chinese Studies and how well Asheville and China go together.

Welcome to Africana Studies

UNC Asheville’s Africana Studies minor is designed to give students an understanding and appreciation of the complexities of Africana people from both a historical and contemporary perspective. The courses will provide students with an interdisciplinary foundation to the broad issues affecting Africans and peoples of African descent with the aim of providing a grounded knowledge and appreciation of their experiences.

The Africana Studies program is designed to complement the liberal arts mission of UNC Asheville. Students pursuing a minor in Africana Studies will gain twenty-first century skills including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

The focus areas of the program include Africa, African America, and the African Caribbean. The program's aim is to encourage freedom of thought, excellence in scholarship, and creativity of expression among students as they develop a deep understanding of the experience of Black people in society and culture.

Students can take advantage of study abroad opportunities in Ghana, typically led by Ghanaian native Agya Boakye-Boaten, associate professor and director of the Interdisciplinary, International and Africana Studies Programs.

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UNC Asheville’s American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) minor is offered through the university’s Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

AIIS provides students with an understanding and appreciation of the broad historical, political, social, and economic issues and realities pertaining to indigenous societies and communities, both locally and globally, since the pre-colonial era through colonialism to modern times.

The minor incorporates an interdisciplinary framework of materials, methodologies and cross-cultural comparisons from the fields of social sciences and humanities. Students will examine historical and contemporary issues of power relations, representation, capitalism, coloniality, identity and ecology, along with social and cultural expressions rooted in the experiences and voices of indigenous peoples.

Particular emphasis is placed on language revitalization, specifically in the Cherokee language. Courses in Cherokee are offered through UNC Asheville’s Department of Languages & Literatures.

Students may also take advantage of internship opportunities in the Qualla Boundary, about an hour’s drive from the university, developed as part of UNC Asheville’s partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Affiliated with the AIIS Program is the Native American Student Association (NASA), a student group formed to focus on educating others on the the different aspects of Native American lifestyles, cultures, and the uniqueness of each tribe. By raising the profile of the Native American population on campus, and through recruiting of potential students, NASA works to bring an increased Native American presence at UNC Asheville. NASA is open to people who embrace all things about the Indian cultures or want to learn more, whether of Native American/Indigenous descent or not.

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