Neuroscience is an academic discipline which seeks to understand how neural systems give rise to thought and behavior.

Study of neuroscience at UNC Asheville embodies the liberal arts experience since it draws on techniques and findings from several academic fields including biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and psychology.

The neuroscience minor at UNC Asheville exposes students to this breadth by requiring a certain number of upper-level courses for the minor to be completed in departments outside of the student’s home major. Many students find a neuroscience minor relevant preparation for medical or graduate programs.

The minor entails at least 21 hours, including Biology 136, Chemistry 111 and 132, Neuroscience 216 (cross-listed as Psychology 216), and one hour from Neuroscience 480. Of the nine elective hours, at least six must be from the 300 level and above, and be outside of the student’s major.

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UNC Asheville’s legal studies minor helps students to understand the nature of law and its role and functions from different disciplinary perspectives.

As part of the minor, students take courses that look at law through the lenses of philosophy, psychology and sociology, while also examining the nature of case law through courses in Constitutional Law or Individual Rights and Civil Liberties.

A minimum of 18 hours are required for the legal studies minor. Courses must be selected from at least three different disciplines with no more than nine hours coming from any one discipline. While students interested in a legal career will naturally be interested in this minor, students should understand that the minor is not intended as a pre-law program or as a preparation for law school.

If you are interested in a pre-law course of study instead of the Legal Studies minor, please contact the Pre-Law Program Coordinator.

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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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