Statement of Purpose: The minor in Southern Studies is a multidisciplinary concentration of courses and academic experiences that seeks to promote a better understanding of the American South and, thereby, to prepare students to be more responsible citizens and more effective leaders of that increasingly important region of the United States.
Administration: The minor in Southern Studies is supervised by a Steering Committee that consists of one representative from each of the constituent departments within the minor. Each department will choose its representative on the Steering Committee. In consultation with the committee, the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences will appoint one of its members to serve as overall Director of the Minor. The Director and the Steering Committee will meet at least once each semester (fall and spring) to plan activities related to, and set appropriate policies for, the minor. The Director will have primary responsibility for administering those activities and policies, will serve a term of three years, and may be renewed by the Dean for an additional term with the advice and consent of the Steering Committee. Directors will submit annual reports on the minor to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Internship or Independent Research Project: As part of the 18 hours of course work, students minoring in Southern Studies are required to complete successfully at least one of the following two academic experiences:
- Internship in Southern Studies: an academic internship in some aspect of southern studies with an appropriate agency or institution. Examples include: the South Carolina Historical Society; the Historic Charleston Foundation; the Charleston Museum; and the offices of federal, state, and local government.
- Independent Research Project: on a topic dealing with the American South. The research project should lead to a paper of approximately thirty (30) pages in length that is based on both primary and secondary sources and directed by a professor with expertise in the subject under investigation. The paper must be read and approved by, and defended before, faculty members from two different departments with expertise in the area of study.
Students must submit their proposals to undertake internships or independent study projects in advance to the Director of the program for his or her approval. No student will be allowed to receive credit for these exercises without the approval of the Director.
Declaration of Minor: Students who wish to earn the minor in Southern Studies must file a declaration of intent with the Director of the program by the beginning of their junior year. This declaration must outline the projected course of study and be approved by the Director.
