Category: Degree

U.S. ethnic studies at UNC Asheville investigates the role of community, history, and politics on racial identity and the experience of race and ethnicity in the historical and contemporary United States, often connecting local and domestic issues with their larger global contexts.

The interdisciplinary nature of the minor is consistent with the nature of the field of ethnic studies and facilitates a holistic approach to the study of race and ethnicity. Courses focus on issues around race in three thematic categories: Arts and Culture, History and Politics, and Power and Institutions.

The U.S. ethnic studies minor entails least 18 hours including the Introduction to Ethnic Studies course (ETHN 100) and additional elective courses, to include at least one course each from the Arts and Culture list (which includes courses in art history, literature and music); the History and Politics list (including anthropology, history, philosophy, political science and sociology), and the Power and Institutions list (which includes courses from the classics, economics, health & wellness promotion, history, religious studies and sociology departments).

Courses must be chosen from at least three disciplines, and no more than two courses used to fulfill the requirements of other majors, minors, or concentrations may be used for this minor.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

UNC Asheville’s minor in Latin American and transatlantic studies employs the lens of multiple disciplines to bring a more holistic understanding of Latin America and interactions across the Atlantic.

Touching on issues such as structures of power, representation, appropriation and adaptation, syncretism, identity, gender, ecology, and religion, students will develop an increased awareness and a more global perspective on cultural and biological differences.

Studies focus on the diverse regions of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean as well as Latinos in the United States. Fluency in French, Portuguese, or Spanish, as well as experiential learning (study abroad in Latin America and related transatlantic connections) is encouraged.

Students must complete at least 18 hours including at least one course in French, Portuguese or Spanish at or beyond the 200 level, and additional courses chosen from at least three disciplines.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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