History Minor Programs
Minor in History
The minor in History (reference number 392) requires a minimum of 21 credit-hours of coursework, and combines well with a wide variety of programs across WKU.
Required courses (6 hrs) for the minor are:
- HIST 101 or 102
- HIST 240 or 241
Geographic and Chronological Electives (6 hrs): Minors must also take two Geographic and Chronological Electives, one class in "The Global South" category, and one in the "Ancient to Early Modern History" category (see the History Major page for a list).
Elective Courses (9 hrs): For the remaining three elective courses, students may select any 200, 300, or 400-level history course not already counted toward the major. A maximum of three hours across all elective categories (including Geographic and Chronological Electives) may be at the 200 level.
Note: Students may select up to three hours of elective courses from outside of History in consultation with a department undergraduate advisor and with approval of the department’s lead advisor, program coordinator, or department chair. Additionally, other History courses may be approved for elective categories with approval of department’s lead advisor, program coordinator, or department chair.
Minor in Religious Studies
The minor in Religious Studies (reference number 447) requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework; at least 12 hours must be taken in courses numbered 300 or above. Note that many of these courses count towards WKU's Colonnade general education requirements, as noted (in square brackets) on the list below.
Required courses for the minor are:
| I. World Religions (3 hrs) |
| RELS 102: World Religions [Colonnade: Explorations, Arts & Humanities] |
| II. Religious Traditions (9 hrs) |
| RELS 304: Judaism |
| RELS 305: Christianity [Colonnade: Connections, Social & Cultural] |
| RELS 306: Islam [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 302: Buddhism [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 303: Hinduism |
| RELS 317: Confucianism [Colonnade: Connections, Systems] |
| RELS 318: Daoism [Colonnade: Connections, Social & Cultural] |
| III. Comparative Approaches to the Study of Religion (3 hrs) |
| RELS 103: Religions of Asia |
| RELS 200: World Religious Literature [Colonnade: Foundations, Literary Studies] |
| RELS 222: Christians, Jews, & Pagans [Colonnade: Connections, Social & Cultural] |
| RELS 242: Meanings of Life: Atheism to Zen [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 308: East Asian Religious Traditions |
| RELS 320: Religions of the Middle East |
| RELS 333: Women & Religion [Colonnade: Connections, Social & Cultural] |
| RELS 341: Religion and Ecology [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| III. Electives (9 hrs) |
| At least 6 hrs must be in RELS. These can include any of the courses listed above, if students take more courses than are required in a given category. Other frequently taught RELS electives include the following: |
| RELS 100: The New Testament [Colonnade: Explorations, Arts & Humanities] |
| RELS 101: The Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures [Colonnade: Explorations, Arts & Humanities] |
| RELS 154: Introductory Greek [Colonnade: Language Requirement] |
| RELS 155: Intermediate Greek [Colonnade: Language Requirement] |
| RELS 211: Jesus in Film [Colonnade: Connections, Social & Cultural] |
| RELS 300: Life of Jesus |
| RELS 309: Global Christianity [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 315: Philosophy of Religion (cross-listed with/equivalent to PHIL 315) |
| RELS 322: Pilgrimage, Islam & Modernity [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 323: Social Ethics (equivalent to PHIL 323) [Colonnade: Connections, Social &
Cultural] |
| RELS 331: Islam in America [Colonnade: Connections, Social & Cultural] |
| RELS 340: Pop Culture & Religion in the Marketplace [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 455: Saints, Monsters & Superheroes [Colonnade: Connections, Local to Global] |
| RELS 499: Independent Research in Religious Studies |
| Students may also take up to 6 hrs from the following list or any study-abroad and/or language courses (up to one yr) approved by the dept head: |
| ANTH 446: Anthropology of Religion |
| ART 316: Medieval Art & Architecture |
| ART 407: Islamic Art & Architecture |
| ENG 396: Mythology |
| ENG 487: Dante |
| HIST 318: Age of Reformation |
| HIST 407: The Crusades |
| HIST 454: Religion in America |
| PHIL 343: Medieval Philosophy |
| PSY 485: Psychology of Religion |
| SOC 322: Sociology of Religion |
| NOTE: To convert from a minor to a major in Religious Studies, just add two more electives and the 1-credit-hour Senior Seminar. |
Advisor: David Serafini (david.serafini@wku.edu)
African American Studies Minor
The African American Studies Program offers Western Kentucky University an enhanced cultural perspective and increased awareness of the African American experience. The program fosters an understanding of African American culture by
- Offering students an African American Studies Minor, which when viewed from the cross-disciplinary perspective, provides a comprehensive and honest picture of the life and institutions of American people of African ancestry, and of their role in the development of the United States.
- Sponsoring workshops, dialogues, and other activities throughout the academic year that foster critical thinking about our history, highlights our accomplishments in regards to the African American experience, and nurtures an understanding and presence of community.
Advisor: Andrew Rosa (andrew.rosa@wku.edu)
Asian Studies Minor
The Asian Studies Minor requires 21 semester hours. Students must pursue one of two tracks — either the track in Asian Religions and Cultures or the South and East Asian track.
Asian Religions and Cultures Track:
| Religion (9 hrs) |
| RELS 102: World Religions |
| RELS 302: Buddhism |
| RELS 303: Hinduism |
| RELS 306: Islam |
| RELS 317: Confucianism |
| RELS 318: Daoism |
| RELS 319: Religions of Asia |
| RELS 322: Pilgrimage, Islam & Modernity |
| RELS 335: Islam, Sexuality, and Gender |
| History and Politics (6 hrs) |
| HIST 110: Introduction to Asian Civilization |
| HIST 370: Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations |
| HIST 378: History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice |
| HIST 379: Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy |
| HIST 460: Traditional East Asia |
| HIST 461: Modern East Asia |
| HIST 462: History of the Middle East |
| HIST 466: The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Local and Global Influences |
| HIST 471: Modern China |
| HIST 472: Modern Japan |
| PS 352: International Relations of the Middle East |
| PS 359: Politics of North Korea |
| PS 364: Chinese Politics |
| PS 365: Government and Politics of the Middle East |
| PS 366: Government and Politics in East Asia |
| Electives (6 hrs) |
| Select two courses not already counted toward the minor, from previous categories
or list below |
| ANTH 333: The Archaeology of Ancient China |
| ARBC 101: Elementary Arabic I |
| ARBC 102: Elementary Arabic II |
| ARBC 201: Intermediate Arabic I |
| ARBC 202: Intermediate Arabic II |
| ARBC 301: Advanced Arabic I |
| ARBC 302: Advanced Arabic II |
| ARC 401: Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures |
| ARC 498: Study in Asian Religions and Cultures |
| ART 407: Islamic Art and Architecture |
| CHIN 101: Elementary Chinese I |
| CHIN 102: Elementary Chinese II |
| CHIN 201: Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHIN 202: Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHIN 301: Advanced Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHIN 302: Advanced Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHNF 101: Intensive Elementary Chinese I |
| CHNF 102: Intensive Elementary Chinese II |
| CHNF 201: Intensive Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHNF 202: Intensive Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHNF 301: Intensive Advanced Chinese I |
| CHNF 302: Intensive Advanced Chinese II |
| CHNF 420: Media Chinese |
| CHNF 430: Chinese Culture |
| CHNF 440: Chinese Tradition |
| CHNF 450: Classical Chinese |
| GEOG 465: Geography of East Asia |
| JAPN 101: Elementary Japanese I |
| JAPN 102: Elementary Japanese II |
| JAPN 201: Intermediate Japanese I |
| JAPN 202: Intermediate Japanese II |
| RELS 100: The New Testament |
| RELS 101: The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures |
South and East Asian Track:
| Culture and History (12 hrs) |
| ANTH 333: The Archaeology of Ancient China |
| HIST 110: Introduction to Asian Civilization |
| HIST 370: Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations |
| HIST 378: History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice |
| HIST 379: Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy |
| HIST 460: Traditional East Asia |
| HIST 461: Modern East Asia |
| HIST 471: Modern China |
| HIST 472: Modern Japan |
| RELS 102: World Religions |
| RELS 302: Buddhism |
| RELS 303: Hinduism |
| RELS 306: Islam |
| RELS 317: Confucianism |
| RELS 318: Daoism |
| RELS 319: Religions of Asia |
| RELS 322: Pilgrimage, Islam & Modernity |
| RELS 335: Islam, Sexuality, and Gender |
| Electives (9 hrs) |
| ARBC 101: Elementary Arabic I |
| ARBC 102: Elementary Arabic II |
| ARBC 201: Intermediate Arabic I |
| ARBC 202: Intermediate Arabic II |
| ARBC 301: Advanced Arabic I |
| ARBC 302: Advanced Arabic II |
| ARC 401: Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures |
| ARC 498: Study in Asian Religions and Cultures |
| CHIN 101: Elementary Chinese I |
| CHIN 102: Elementary Chinese II |
| CHIN 201: Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHIN 202: Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHIN 301: Advanced Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHIN 302: Advanced Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHNF 101: Intensive Elementary Chinese I |
| CHNF 102: Intensive Elementary Chinese II |
| CHNF 201: Intensive Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHNF 202: Intensive Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHNF 301: Intensive Advanced Chinese I |
| CHNF 302: Intensive Advanced Chinese II |
| CHNF 420: Media Chinese |
| CHNF 430: Chinese Culture |
| CHNF 440: Chinese Tradition |
| CHNF 450: Classical Chinese |
| GEOG 465: Geography of East Asia |
| JAPN 101: Elementary Japanese I |
| JAPN 102: Elementary Japanese II |
| JAPN 201: Intermediate Japanese I |
| JAPN 202: Intermediate Japanese II |
| PS 359: Politics of North Korea |
| PS 364: Chinese Politics |
| PS 366: Government and Politics in East Asia |
Advisor: David Serafini (david.serafini@wku.edu)
Legal Studies
The Legal Studies minor provides students an interdisciplinary perspective while fostering greater understanding of the law as it relates to history, the sciences, and ethics in the United States and around the world. While this minor will appeal to pre-law students, it can also serve as a background for a wide variety of careers, including public administration, academics, government, homeland security, non-governmental organizations and law enforcement.
Advisor: Dr. Patricia Minter (patricia.minter@wku.edu)
Latin American Studies
The Latin American Studies Program offers WKU students an interdisciplinary overview of the people, culture, and history of the Latin American region, whether to fulfill personal interests or to build valuable communication and analytical skills for the job market after graduation. Students will be able to choose between a traditional academic minor or a planned certificate program to demonstrate more concrete skills (currently awaiting approval); in either case students are strongly encouraged to consider study abroad opportunities in Latin America or outreach projects with Hispanic communities in the U.S.
Advisor: Marc Eagle (marc.eagle@wku.edu)
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