Mar 28, 2024  
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Minors


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Astronomy: (21 credits, 12 specified and 9 elective)


The Department Chairperson may consider exceptions to this list on a case-by-case basis.

Three or more courses from the following list:


1 These courses may be taken for 1-3 credits, as arranged.

Canadian Studies (18 credits)


UMaine offers undergraduates a wide variety of Canadian Studies courses in 18 disciplines, with the majority in Anthropology, Business, Economics, English, Forestry, French, History, and Political Science.  Students may select from more than 85 courses including 22 with 100% Canadian content, and 18 with 50-90% Canadian content. 

Given Maine’s location next to the Francophone populations in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces and also the state’s Franco American heritage, the undergraduate program includes courses in North American French.  In addition to the traditional major in French Language and Literature, a bachelor’s degree program in French with a North American option is available.  It includes courses in French Canadian and Franco American language, literature, and culture.  The Canadian-American Center and the Department of Modern Languages and Classics conduct a summer institute for intensive study of French language and culture in Quebec City.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS MAJOR WITH CANADIAN STUDIES CONCENTRATION
A student majoring in International Affairs may choose the Canadian Studies concentration from six alternatives.  A Canadian Studies academic advisor is assigned, and the student must meet the Canadian Studies requirements as well as the International Affairs core requirements to complete the major.  

CANADIAN STUDIES MINOR
The curriculum for a Canadian Studies minor requires 18 credits or 6 courses. These must include CAN 101 - Introduction to Canadian Studies, two additional Canadian core courses, and three Canadian related courses. Courses taken at a Canadian university through the Canada Year Program may be included toward the Canadian Studies minor.

CANADIAN YEAR PROGRAM
The Canadian Year Program is administered by the Canadian American Center. It offers students the opportunity to study for one or two semesters at a Canadian English-speaking university, or to study French in an immersion program. The Canada Year program is a UMaine Study Abroad program.  Contact Betsy Arntzen (barntzen@umit.maine.edu) for Canada Year scholarship and program information.


For complete information about Canadian Studies, visit the Canadian-American Center, 154 College Avenue, phone (207) 581-4220 or at www.umaine.edu/canam or contact Prof. Stephen Hornsby at hornsby@maine.edu.

Classical Studies (18 credits)


The classical period in Western history, defined as the period from the Bronze Age to the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, comprises the “roots” of modern society. In order to understand where we are and where we are going, it is necessary to know where we have been. European and American literature, philosophy, law, religion, politics, language, and art have all been either directly or indirectly formed in reaction to Classical culture. By examination and study of classical civilization, the student will develop a sense of how the ancients responded to the universal questions of human experience. Through an implicit comparison of the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome to our own, the student will also come to have a fuller understanding of the humanist and cultural impulses which have formed and which continue to form our own experience. This curriculum is particularly useful to the student with interests in ancient history, philosophy, art history, anthropology, literature and political science. It will also prove useful to the student preparing for a career in law.

A minimum of 18 credits or 6 courses is required. The student who elects this curriculum normally chooses Latin as a fulfillment of the language requirement. The advanced student may choose ancient Greek rather than Latin (as available), with permission of the instructor. The student will take either two semesters of Latin beyond the elementary level or two semesters of Greek at elementary level or above. In addition, the student will take HTY 401, History of Greece or HTY 402, Roman History, and the remaining 3 courses in one or two areas in the following listing. The list is flexible; new courses, special seminars, pertinent readings in upper level Honors courses, and independent study may be approved for Classical Studies.

For complete information about Classical Studies, visit the coordinator at 208 Little Hall, phone (207) 581-2089 or contact Prof. Kristina Passman at tina_passman@umit.maine.edu.

Communication: (18 credits)


The minor in Communication consists of CMJ 201, CMJ 202, and four CMJ electives (listed below) to total 18 credit hours. At least two of the electives must be at the 300 or 400 level. A grade of “C-” must be achieved in any CMJ course used to meet the requirement.  A minimum of nine CMJ credit hours must be taken at the University of Maine.

Communication Sciences and Disorders (18 credits)


The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers an undergraduate minor.  The opportunity to complete minor studies in CSD may appeal to students majoring in English, Education, Biology, Human Development, Music, Anthropology, Foreign Languages, Theatre, Social Work, Nursing, and other disciplines. In addition to providing students with the opportunity to engage in concentrated study in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders, a minor in CSD may provide the student with the necessary coursework to pursue graduate study in the fields of speech-language pathology and/or audiology.

A minor in CSD will consist of CSD 130 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders. Credits: 3 and 15 additional credit hours of CSD courses. Students must earn a minimum of C (2.0) in each course applied to the minor. A minimum of 12 CSD credit hours must be taken at the University of Maine. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders must approve all transfer courses applied to the minor.

For specific current contact information, please contact the department office at 581-2006.

Film and Video (18 credits)


 

The Film and Video minor provides a critical focus for interdisciplinary studies of core cultural issues, including those addressing the diversity of modes of conceptualization, social identity, questions on the cultural implications of technology, aesthetic development, and conceptualization of history, among others. The minor draws courses from several departments, including Art, Communications and Journalism, English, History, Modern Language and the Classics, and New Media.

 

Students in the minor will have options of pursing intersecting paths addressing history, theory, and practice, so that they could best focus the minor to their major and other studies. The minor requires a minimum of 18 credits, as follows:

 

One introductory course ( total of 3 credits):


Franco American Studies (18 credits)


In New England, and particularly in Maine, citizens of French Canadian and Acadian descent comprise approximately 25 percent of the population. The long-neglected story of this ethnic community represents a crucial element in the history and the current social dynamic of Maine and the Northeast, and constitutes a cultural bridge to French Canada, particularly the neighboring provinces of Québec and the Maritimes.

Franco American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that explores the French cultures of the United States and Canada, emphasizing the people of Franco American heritage in Maine and the Northeast region. It studies Franco American culture within the broader context of American ethnic communities and other French-speaking people worldwide. The curriculum is designed to teach the Franco American past and present: topics of study include problems of identity, the politics of language, literature, historical struggles, women’s issues and experience, economic structures, and the role of family.

The program offers a minor in Franco American Studies as well as courses at all levels. Students who wish to minor in Franco American Studies complete eighteen credits, including FAS 101, and at least 2 other core courses, a selection of “Related Courses” from the list below and a capstone experience. FAS 440 and FAS 442 are strongly encouraged, but not required.

For complete information about Franco-American Studies, contact Susan Pinette at 213 Little Hall, (207) 581-3791, francostudies@maine.edu.

French: (18 credits)


The requirements for a minor in French are a minimum of 18 credits in the language, 12 of which must be above the intermediate level. For more information and a list of available courses, please contact the Department of Modern Languages and Classics in 201 Little Hall, (207) 581-2072.

Geography (18 credits)


The discipline of geography is broadly based in earth sciences and humanities as well as in the social sciences. Geographers pursue research and teaching in areas as diverse as geomorphology, hydrology, transportation, urban planning, cultural ecology, and human-environment relationships and pre-history. The geography curricula will appeal to undergraduates seeking a general yet practical University education. Geographers find employment in such career fields as resource management, urban and regional planning, and environmental assessment, as well as in the traditional occupations of elementary and secondary school teaching.

The interested student should take GEO 201, Introduction to Human Geography, or GEO 425, Historical Geography of Maine. The student is also urged to discuss and plan course selection with the Coordinator.

For complete information about Geography, visit the coordinator at 154 College Avenue, phone (207) 581-4226 or contact Prof. Stephen Hornsby at hornsby@maine.edu.

Core Curriculum: 3-6 credit hours


Elective Courses: 12-15 credit hours


Most students will find it useful to select courses which lead to typical teaching and career orientations in geography. The elective courses are grouped to reflect such orientations.

Cultural-Historical


Like historians, some geographers are concerned with the past, and, like anthropologists, others are involved in the study of different cultures. In both respects, a geographical perspective adds considerable breadth of knowledge on topics such as the spread of settlements, the diffusion of cultural traits, and the nature of past landscapes. Students, particularly those selecting majors in anthropology and history, can enrich and broaden their programs of study with courses in historical and cultural geography.

Human Use of Earth


The human relationship with the environment is a matter of increasing concern to society. This theme has always been a major consideration of geography. The student interested in the human use of the earth, whether as a step to a career in environmental resource management or to gain a broader understanding of the human place in the environment, is urged to select courses from the following:

German: (18 credits)


The requirements for a minor in German are a minimum of 18 credits in the language, 12 of which must be above the intermediate level. For more information and a list of available courses, please contact the Department of Modern Languages and Classics in 201 Little Hall, (207) 581-2072.

International Affairs (18 credits)


The minor in International Affairs is designed to serve students from a broad range of fields. The requirements are:

  • Anthropology (3 credit hours)
  • Canadian Studies (CAN 101 - 3 credit hours) 
  • History (3 credit hours)
  • Modern Languages (3 credit hours, above the intermediate level) (French-German-Spanish)
  • Political Science (3 credit hours)
  • Women’s Studies (3 credit hours)

For a list of approved courses please see the core requirements and concentration requirements for the BA in International Affairs.

Latin: (18 credits)


The requirements are a minimum of 18 credits in the language, 12 of which must be above the intermediate level. For more information and a list of available courses, please contact Tina Passman (passman@maine.edu) or the Department of Modern Languages and Classics in 201 Little Hall, (207) 581-2072.

Latin American Studies (18 credits)


The minor in Latin American Studies contains courses concerning Latin America in modern languages and literature, anthropology, history and economics, and other subjects. These courses broaden students’ undergraduate education, increasing and enhancing employment opportunities.  The local and global connections among the countries of the Americas are constantly increasing and evolving.  Latin American Studies provides an interdisciplinary opportunity to focus on our hemisphere.  Language expertise is an important element in this area studies program 

The Latin American Studies curriculum combines training in various disciplines, encouraging students to begin to comprehend this very different and important part of the world. Faculty member involved with this curriculum have spent substantial time in Latin America and/or have conducted considerable research in topics related to the various countries, cultures and environments.

Language Competence. Students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish beyond the intermediate level. Proficiency may be demonstrated either by examination or by completing SPA 305 or 306 with a grade of at least “B.” To be admitted to the program, students must complete SPA 101/102.

For complete information about Latin American Studies, visit the coordinator at 201 Little Hall, phone (207) 581-2083 or contact Prof. James Troiano at james.troiano@umit.maine.edu.

Social Sciences and Literature


Students are required to take at least one course in three of the following four areas:

Anthropology


Economics


  • Course at 300 level or above

Other 400 level courses in Spanish


Students may select any other courses in Latin American Literature, Civilization, Service-Learning, or Translation.

Additional courses in Anthropology, History, Art History, Spanish and Portuguese language (currently through the Critical Languages Program) are recommended.

Study Abroad is highly encouraged.  Study programs or study tours offer options for work in Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Honduras, or Spain.  Other sites may be approved with consultation. 

Marxist and Socialist Studies (18 credits)


The Marxist and Socialist Studies curriculum encourages students to look at the world from a variety of Marxist and Socialist perspectives. Many departments offer approaches that have their foundation in the work of such economic theorists as Adam Smith and such political philosophers as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Such approaches seem to assume that capitalist values are “natural,” “according to human nature,” progressive, just, or simply the only way that rational people would view the world. Marxist and Socialist perspectives challenge such assumptions and judgments and such a world outlook.

All students who elect the Marxist and Socialist Studies curriculum should take PHI 342, Marxist Philosophy I: The Philosophy of Karl Marx, and at least two other courses from the “core courses” and three courses from the “elective courses.” In addition, these courses should be taken from at least three different disciplines.

For complete information about Marxist and Socialist Studies, visit the coordinator at The Maples, phone (207) 581-3860 or contact Prof. Doug Allen at douglas.allen@umit.maine.edu.  Several of the courses listed below may or may not count toward this curriculum depending on which professor is teaching the course.  Other courses not listed may be acceptable.  Interested students should consult with the faculty coordinator for a decision on such matters.

Elective Courses (9 credits)


Medieval and Renaissance Studies (18 credits)


The Medieval and Renaissance Studies curriculum opens to students the diverse cultures of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa that thrived within the period from the third century through the seventeenth. It incorporates offerings from the departments of English, History, Modern Languages and Classics, and Art to explore issues of social structure, philosophy, religion, politics, language, poetry, prose, and artistic expression from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Students who elect this curriculum usually begin their exploration of the period through introductory courses, such as ARH 155, HON 111, HTY 105, or HTY 202, only one of which counts towards the total credits of the curriculum. Students are encouraged to take courses from all of its disciplines.

For complete information about Medieval and Renaissance Studies, visit the coordinator at 111 Carnegie Hall, phone (207) 581-3252 or contact Associate Professor Michael Grillo at grillo@maine.edu.

Five or more Upper Level Courses (minimum of 15 credits total)


Native American Studies: (18 credits)


Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary minor committed to the study of the cultures, values, history and contemporary life of the American Indian nations and people of North America. The importance and significance of the indigenous people are critical in understanding the nations in which we live. The Native American Studies minor creates an understanding of the unique legacy of American Indians and their continuing relationship to the development of the United States and Canada. Specific emphasis is placed on the Wabanaki peoples of Maine and Canada, with a secondary focus on the Native peoples of North America. However, students may choose to further diversify their studies by including selected courses on the indigenous people of Central and South America.

Native American Studies is founded on the principles of self-determination and sovereignty. It is committed to academic scholarship and research excellence. We educate and inform all students about the Native experience and the rich cultural heritage of the sovereign Native peoples of the North American continent. Our goal is to teach students, through Native perspectives, to understand Native people, their traditions and their cultures.

In an increasingly diverse society, an understanding of distinct populations is a critical asset. A minor in native American Studies exposes students to, and provides them with, an understanding of historical, economic, social and political forces which have shaped Native experiences in the Americas. It prepares students to live in a multicultural society by giving them the skills to confront racism, discrimination and prejudice. It further empowers students to appreciate and celebrate diversity by understanding the worldviews of a distinct people. The program is designed to augment students’ major programs of study and prepares students for diverse careers in areas such as: public service, nursing, law enforcement, business, education, medicine, counseling, social work, as well as a myriad of other occupations.

The Native American Studies minor involves a minimum of 18 credits of course work focusing on Native Americans with three required NAS-designated courses.

In addition, students may submit courses with considerable Native American content for consideration for inclusion in the Native American Studies minor. The content for such courses may make them suitable as approved electives.

For more information or advising assistance, please see Maureen Smith (maureen.e.smith@umit.maine.edu), Director of Native American Studies in Aubert Hall or call (207) 581-4450.

Physics: (21 credits, 12 specified and 9 elective)


The Department Chairperson may consider exceptions to this list on a case-by-case basis.

Public Relations: (18 credits)


Religious Studies (18 credits)


Traditionally, questions about the ultimate meaning of human existence have been posed in the form of religion. Today we live in a world in which religion and religious ideas are often in serious conflict; it is thus also important to understand some of the problems connected to religion. Courses included in the religious studies curriculum are designed to help students understand what these questions are, what kind of answers people have found to them, and how societies have given institutional form to the world-views which emerge from the answers. A student who elects this curriculum should develop an awareness of the broad range of religious phenomena and an ability to analyze and elucidate the significance of such phenomena.

For complete information about Religious Studies, visit the coordinator at 208 Little Hall, phone (207) 581-2089 or contact Prof. Tina Passman at tina.passman@umit.maine.edu.

Required


All Religious Studies students must complete the following:

Option A: Religion in the Development of Western Civilization


Students must select five of the following courses (15 credits):

Option B: Theoretical Perspectives on Religion


Students must select five of the following courses (15 credits):

Spanish: (18 credits)


The requirements for a minor in Spanish are a minimum of 18 credits in the language, 12 of which must be above the intermediate level. For more information and a list of available courses, please contact the Department of Modern Languages and Classics in 201 Little Hall, (207) 581-2072.

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