Major Concentrations

American Studies | Environmental Policy and Planning | Individually-Designed | Labor Studies | Internet Studies | Liberal Studies: Modern

American Studies Checksheet

Focus on the U.S. and/or Western Hemisphere. The American cultural matrix will be studied through a conscious application of interdisciplinary methods to an analysis of the interrelationships among historical, economic, political, artistic, literary, geographic and other factors which define the American experience. The goal will be both theoretical and practical understanding of American culture.

  1. Intermediate proficiency in a foreign language: Spanish is recommended.
  2. Required courses:
    • ANT 2400 North American Indians
    • ENG 2310 American Literature or
    • ENG 2320 American Literature
    • GHY 3012 U.S. and Canada
    • HIS 2201 Survey of American Civilization to 1876
    • HIS 2204 Survey of American Civilization since 1876
    • PS 4710 American Political Thought 
  3. Select 6 or more hours from the following:
    ANT 2235, ANT 2420, ANT 2600, ANT 4120; ART 3330, ART 3730; ECO 2040, ECO 3551; ENG 2120, ENG 3710, ENG 4580, ENG 4710, ENG 4720, ENG 4770, ENG 4780, ENG 4790, ENG 4795, ENG 4810; FDN 3800; GHY 3320; any history course in American history (including South and Central America, and Canada); HIS 3422 (if topic is in American History); IDS 2420 or IDS 2421; MUS 2014, MUS 2015; P&R 3050; any political science course in American Politics (esp. PS 3130, PS 3230, PS 3330); SOC 2040, SOC 4560.

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Environmental Policy and Planning Checksheet

By combining a background in science with the perspectives of economics, planning, and political science, students will have the opportunity to consider public responses to ecological issues. They will learn to formulate and implement creative but practical public policy and procedures regarding the environment.

  1. Students choosing this concentration must complete a minor in biology, chemistry, or geology.  The minor in Biology must include BIO 3302 and BIO 3312. For the minor in Geology, it is recommended that GLY 1103 be taken and either GLY 3333 and GLY 4620 or GLY 2735, GLY 3150, GLY 4620, and GLY 4703 (Advanced Environmental Geology).
  2. Required Planning Core:
    • PLN 2410 Introduction to Planning
    • PLN 3431 Planning Techniques
    • PLN 3730 Land Use Regulations
  3. Select 13 or more hours from the following courses:
    (Select at least two courses from each area).
    • Area I: Economics/Anthropology
      • ECO 2030 Principles of Economics - Price Theory
      • ECO 3800 Urban and Regional Economics
      • ECO 4620 Environmental Economics
      • ANT 3150 Human Ecology of the Southern Appalachians
      • ANT 4565 Political Economy, Globalization and Rural Development
      • ANT 4570 Sustainable Development in the Modern World System
    • Area II: Philosophy & Religion/Political Science
      • P&R 2000 Social Issues & Ethics
      • P&R 4300 Ethical Theory
      • PS 2130 State and Local Government
      • PS 3280 Public Policy Analysis
      • PS 4175 Public Opinio
  4. Recommended cognates: with a minor in biology, CHE 1101, CHE 1110, CHE 1102, CHE 1120, CHE 2201, CHE 2203; GLY 1101, GLY 1103. With a minor in chemistry, BIO 1101 and BIO 1102, OR BIO 1110, BIO 3302, BIO 3312; GLY 1101, GLY 1103. With a minor in geology, BIO 1101 and BIO 1102, OR BIO 1110, BIO 3302, BIO 3312; CHE 1101, CHE 1110, CHE 1102, CHE 1120, CHE 2201, CHE 2203.

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Individually-Designed Checksheet

This concentration allows students to tailor a major to their particular academic and career goals. Students selecting this concentration must design a clear, defensible statement of goals explaining why such goals can best be met through interdisciplinary means. Additionally, the student must complete a Program of Study Contract consisting of a minimum of 24 semester hours selected from two or more disciplines with at least 12 semester hours at the 3000 level or above. The contract must be approved by an IDS advisor; the contract may be changed, but only with the approval of the IDS advisor and the IDS chair. A copy of the contract must be on file in the office of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Internet Studies Checksheet

The concentration in Internet Studies under the B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies provides students with the opportunity to study and explore the social, political, technical, cultural, and artistic dimensions of the Internet. The goal is to help students gain an understanding of the impacts this emerging technology is having on our world, as well as provide practical experience in Internet technologies. The concentration consists of 24 semester hours, with at least 12 semester hours at the 3000 level or above. Students must take a minimum of 9 s.h. from the list of Technical/Design courses; a minimum of 9 s.h. from the list of Culture/ Politics courses; IDS 3250, Internet Studies (3 s.h.), a required seminar for this concentration; plus an additional 3 s.h. from either list. A minor is also required for this concentration.

  1. Technical/Design courses: (Select a minimum of 9 s.h. from the following list of courses.)
    • ART 1011, Design Fundamentals I
    • ART 1012, Design Fundamentals II
    • CI 4810, Introduction to Sight and Sound
    • CI 4840, Beginning Video Production

    Either

    • CIS 1025, Computer Skills for Business,

    Or

    • CS 1410, Introduction to Computer Applications,

    but not both

    • CIS 3050, Fundamentals of Management Information Systems
    • CS 1425, Overview of Computer Science
    • CS 1440, Computer Science I
    • CS 2440, Computer Science II
    • CS 4570, Human-Computer Interfaces
    • TEC 1017, Communications Technology
    • TEC 3702, Electronic Imaging
    • Approved Selected Topics courses as available.
  2. Culture/Politics courses: (Select a minimum of 9 s.h. from the following list of courses.)
    • ANT 2420, Gender, Race and Class
    • ANT 4570, Sustainable Development in the Modern World System
    • ART 2230, History of Graphic Design
    • CI 4830, Media Literacy
    • COM 3200, Internet Communication
    • COM 3300, Mass Media and Society
    • P&R 3400, Contemporary Continental Philosophy
    • P&R 3600, Philosophy of Science
    • PS 4220, Globalization
    • SOC 2040, Popular Culture
    • TEC 2029, Society and Technology
    • Approved Selected Topics courses as available.
  3. Required: IDS 3250, Internet Studies (a required seminar for this concentration); plus an additional 3 s.h. from either the list of Technical/Design courses or the list of Culture/Politics courses noted above.
  4. A minor is required. Students choosing this concentration must also complete a minor (12-20 semester hours credit). A minimum of 9 s.h. of courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be courses offered by Appalachian.

For more information see the Internet Studies Website .

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Labor Studies Checksheet (Effective Spring 2006)

The Labor Studies concentration under the B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies provides academic leadership to the Appalachian State University community on historical, theoretical, and contemporary issues of labor. Leadership in the classroom is expressed through a progressive curriculum that encourages integration of theory and practice. Work is a major life activity, indeed a defining activity of adulthood. The study of work and workers, from the perspective of the liberal arts, brings together a variety of social science and humanities disciplines including anthropology, economics, English, history, management, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Outside the classroom, leadership is expressed through a variety of venues. On campus, we serve as a reservoir of expertise and support on issues pertaining to labor. Off campus, our outreach efforts open opportunities for integrating classroom work with practical experience in the labor community.

    1. Required courses: (9 s.h.)
      • MGT 4630 Labor Relations
      • SOC 3550 Sociology of Work and Organizations
      • PSY 3207 Organizational Psychology
    2. Choose one: (3 s.h.)
      • IDS 2440 Introduction to Sustainable Development
      • ANT 4570 Sustainable Development in the Modern World System
    3. Electives: (12 s.h.)
      •  ANT 4220 Globalization (Same as PS 4220)
      • ANT 4565 Political Economy, Globalization, and Rural Development
      • ECO 3720 Economics of Personnel
      • ENG 3120 Writing and Law
      • HIS 3526 History of American Business
      • IDS 2421 Introduction to Women's Studies, Social Sciences
      • MGT 3620 Human Resource Management
      • MGT 4570 Compensation and Human Resource Management Systems
      • P&R 3400 Contemporary Continental Philosophy
      • PS 3410 Marxism
      • PS 4220 Globalization (Same as ANT 4220)
      • PSY 4206 Industrial Psychology
      • SOC 4750 Social Stratification
      • SOC 4850 Globalization and Population
      • Other special topics courses as approved or promoted.
    4. An approved Labor Studies Internship may substitute for 3 semester hours of electives.

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Liberal Studies: Modern Period Checksheet

A study of the causes and consequences of the Enlightenment - the movements, revolutions, reactions and revivals which led to and derived from it. Appreciating the elements of Western Culture that preceeded the Enlightenment, the student will have the opportunity to trace the progress of liberalism, nationalism, romanticism, socialism and evolutionary theory. From this intellectual basis, the student will have the opportunity to engage contemporary discussions about post-modernity, pluralism, and the prospects for achieving a global cultural system.

  1. Required courses: select 24 hours from the following courses (select at least one course from each area).
    • Area I: history/philosophy and religion
      • HIS 3130, HIS 3132, HIS 3134, HIS 3142, HIS 3422, HIS 3530*, HIS 3922; P&R 3600
    • Area II: English
      • ENG 2040, ENG 2100, ENG 3710, ENG 4730, ENG 4760, ENG 4790, ENG 4795, ENG 4860, ENG 4870, ENG 4880, ENG 4890, ENG 4895
    • Area III: Fine Arts
      • ART 2013/THR 2013/P&R 2013; ART 2130, ART 3330, ART 3430; THR 3735     
    • Area IV: Economics/Philosophy and Religion/Political Science/Psychology
      • ECO 4630; P&R 3300; PS 3210, PS 4710; PSY 4658
    • Area V: Geography
      • GHY 1020, GHY 3011, GHY 3200, GHY 4200, GHY 4230
    • For students who meet prerequisites, the following are possible:
      • FL 4020; FRE 3065, GER 3025, GER 3050; SNH 3015, SNH 3025, SNH 3050, SNH 3055.
      • *Selected topics - as available.

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