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Academics
Classroom :: Professor and Students

Interdisciplinary Studies

Christian Education | Environmental Studies | European Studies |
Human Services
Heritage | International Studies | Women's Studies | Interdisciplinary CoreOther Interdisciplinary Courses

American Studies

American Studies is an interdisciplinary program focused upon the multi-faceted culture and civilization of United States. The program integrates the study of fields such as history, literature, politics, art, philosophy, and religion in an effort to create a better understanding of the nation we call united.

The concentration in American Studies is like a minor; but, unlike a minor that is contained in one specific discipline, the American Studies concentration is interdisciplinary. If you complete a concentration in American Studies, your transcript will reflect this upon graduation.

Requirements for Area of Concentration: A student may elect an area of concentration in American Studies(along with his or her major) by completing the following requirements with a minimum grade of C.

  • HIST2100: History of the U.S. to 1877 (4 sem. hours).
  • HIST2110: History of the U.S. from 1877 (4 sem. hours).
  • Any English Course in American Literature (4 sem. hours). Different courses are offered each semester.
  • Two Electives Approved for American Studies credit (8 sem. hours). Any two courses in any participating department(s), including IDST courses. A list of approved courses is sent out via email each semester.

Questions about American Studies? If you have any questions about the American Studies concentration, please contact Dr. MacMaster in the English department or Dr. McElvaine in the History department.


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Christian Education

The area of concentration in Christian Education helps prepare students to plan, organize, lead, and teach in religious education programs. For further information, see the chair of the Religious Studies Department or the college chaplain.

Requirements for Area of Concentration:

  • Religious Studies 2000: Introduction to Religious Studies;
  • Religious Studies 2210: Hebrew Scriptures or RS 2220: New Testament and Early Christianity;
  • Religious Studies 3110: History of Christian Thought or RS 3120: Modern and Contemporary Theology;
  • Religious Studies 4850-4852: Religious Studies Internship
  • IDS 1600: The Human Experience: A Cross-Cultural Perspective;
  • Education 3200/3210: Classroom Methods & Management;
  • Psychology 3130: Abnormal Psychology or Education 3130: Education for the Exceptional Population;
  • Psychology 3170: Social Psychology or Sociology 1010: Social Problems.

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Environmental Studies
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An understanding of the complex relationships between people and the environment is becoming increasingly necessary for the exercise of responsible citizenship. Because environmental problems are multifaceted, students can best prepare to solve these problems by acquiring a broad background in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities while developing the skills of critical analysis and communication that are fundamental to a liberal arts education.

The area of concentration in Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program that may be pursued by students majoring in any discipline. The required course-work provides students the opportunity to consider the relationship between people and the environment from social, cultural, economic, political, ethical and scientific perspectives. A distinctive feature of Millsaps' Environmental Studies Concentration is its emphasis on hands-on experience in the form of field courses, environmental research, or internships. Field courses at Millsaps offer a variety of experiences, from research on geology and stream chemistry at Yellowstone to archeological explorations in the Yucatan to research on the ecology and archaeology of Virginia's Blue Ridge. There are also various opportunities for environmental internships in the Jackson area where many environmental agencies and organizations maintain state or regional offices.

Some students may concentrate in Environmental Studies simply because they are interested in environmental issues. Others may pursue the concentration in order to prepare for graduate study and careers in environmental law, environmental policy and planning, environmental geology, environmental chemistry, marine biology, forestry, wildlife biology, fisheries, conservation biology, environmental medicine or other environmental fields.

Requirements for Area of Concentration: Seven courses are required: (1) Geology 1100: Environmental Issues; (2) one of the field courses listed below or an internship course or research course approved by the director of the concentration; (3) two of the Humanities and Social Sciences courses listed below; (4) two of the Natural Sciences courses listed below; (5)Biology 4911: Environmental Studies Seminar

Field Courses:

4911 Environmental Studies Seminar (1 sem. hour) An interdisciplinary colloquium in which students share the results of the environmental research, internship or field course work they have undertaken as a requirement of the Environmental Studies concentration. Ordinarily taken in the senior year. Prerequisite or co-requisite: field course, research course or internship course approved by the director of the concentration.

The Environmental Studies Seminar is scheduled for the spring semester and will meet at 11:00 a.m. on Fridays.

For more information:
Debora L. Mann, Ph. D.
Director of Environmental Studies Concentration
Millsaps College
PO Box 1500307
1701 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39210-0307
manndl@millsaps.edu
601-974-1415

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European Studies

The program in European Studies is designed for those students who are keenly interested in European affairs. The major or minor in European Studies cuts across traditional departmental and divisional boundaries and allows the student to work with faculty to design a program of study which integrates those aspects of European affairs which best meet the student's interests. European art, business, history, languages, literatures, music, philosophy and political science are among the areas of study available to students in European Studies.

Requirements for Major: Students complete a major in European Studies with a total of 40 semester hours, including the following four components.

1. The Introductory Course (4 sem. hours). History 2210 (European Civilization Since 1789).

2. The Language Component. Students are required to study one European language. In addition to satisfying the BA requirement in that language, the ES major must complete at least 12 semester hours beyond the BA requirement in that language.

3. The Multidisciplinary Component (20 sem. hours). Students will take 20 semester hours, beyond those described above, from a list of elective courses provided by the director of the European Studies Program. No more than 12 semester hours may be in the same department. No more than 4 semester hours may be from the core. No more than 8 semester hours of language courses, beyond those that are required for the European Studies major, may be counted as elective courses toward the major.

4. The Colloquium and Comprehensive Exams (4 sem. hours). Students will take written and oral examinations administered by the European Studies Committee.

Requirements for Minor: Students may complete a minor in European Studies with a total of 20 semester hours, including the following three components. First, students are required to study one European language. In addition to satisfying the BA requirement in that language, the ES minor must complete at least 8 semester hours beyond the BA requirement in that language. Second, minors must complete the introductory course for European Studies (History 2210; 4 sem. hours). Third, minors must take 8 semester hours, beyond those described above, from a list of elective courses provided by the director of the European Studies Program. Those two elective courses may not be in the same department, and none of them may be from the core.

4000 European Studies Colloquium (4 sem. hours). An interdisciplinary research forum in which students pursue an individual, directed reading and writing project within their areas of concentration. This project will lead to the completion, during the spring semester of the student's senior year, of an interdisciplinary senior thesis.

Some form of financial aid may be available for certain European Studies programs. Students interested in financial aid for any of these programs should contact the Student Aid Financial Planning staff for more information.


Heritage Program

The Heritage program is an innovative and stimulating curriculum designed to give students a broad perspective of the Western world. Heritage is a four-course, multi-disciplinary humanities program designed for freshmen as an alternative to topics courses. The program, which fulfills the requirements for core 2-5 and the fine arts, has received praise from the John Templeton Foundation as a comprehensive window into world history and culture.


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Human Services

Human Services is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with academic experiences relevant to a number of postgraduate employment and graduate study opportunities such as: Social Work, Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Family Therapy, Child Protective services, Guidance and School Counseling, and Community activism. Students planning a career in Human and helping services will find the concentration invaluable.

Requirements for Area of Concentration:

The interdisciplinary Human Services Concentration consists of six courses. All students are required to complete IDS-1600: Introduction to Human Services. The Introduction to Human Services course provides an integrated interdisciplinary structure for connecting the various courses students can take to satisfy the concentration.

Additionally, students must complete one semester (4 sem. hours) of internship, and four of the following courses from at least two disciplines.

Internship: Approved and supervised by the concentration director


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International Studies

The Concentration in International Studies is designed to reward students who want to learn about contemporary global affairs in an interdisciplinary fashion.

The Concentration in International Studies will require the following courses:

Required Introductory Course (Choose One Four-Hour Course) 

Required Study Abroad : Students must participate in one study abroad program that is approved by the college.  In consultation with faculty advisors, students may choose a program that takes place during a summer, a semester, or a year. 

The program must provide at least four hours of approved credit.  Those credits may be used to fulfill the distribution requirements for the concentration.  In case of programs that are interdisciplinary in nature,  the Director of International Studies will determine, in consultation with the student, which disciplinary distribution requirements are fulfilled by that program.  Additional requirements of the concentration, with the approval of the Director. 

Programs are available in almost every country and discipline. The Millsaps Study Abroad Office will assist students in identifying and selecting programs.  Some of the best options are listed below, under distribution requirements.

Financial aid is now available for study abroad.  Students may apply for loans to support study abroad.  The Study Abroad Office will work with students who are interested in applying for loans.  Outside scholarships may also be available to students.     

Distribution Requirements: Students must choose courses worth 24 HOURS, in at least THREE departments, in at least TWO divisions.

Courses are to be approved by the Director of International Studies, in consultation with the members of the faculty who are offering the courses in question.

Approved courses will focus substantially on foreign, international, or cross-cultural issues that have developed since the beginning of the twentieth century.  By "substantial" focus on this time period, we mean that at least half of the course will address the period since 1900.  For example, the survey of modern European history begins in 1789, but typically students in the course spend half of their time studying the history since 1900.  That course, and others like it, will count toward the concentration, in addition to courses that focus exclusively on the twentieth century.

Eight hours of credit may be double-counted from the student's major department, provided that the courses being double-counted have a substantial focus on contemporary and international issues.

"Special topics" courses not listed in the catalog may also be counted, provided that they also have a substantial focus on contemporary and international issues. 

                    Courses in the Arts and Letters

     

              Courses in the Sciences 

              Courses in Business


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Women's Studies

Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to promote the study of gender, of women's experiences, and of various feminist theories across the college curriculum.

Requirements for Area of Concentration: A student may elect an area of concentration in Women's Studies (along with the major) by completing the following requirements: Introduction to Women's Studies, Senior Project, and three approved Women's Studies courses with multidisciplinary breadth. A minimum grade of C is required.

2000 Introduction to Women's Studies (4 sem. hours). This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to the field of Women's Studies; to the questions raised by the study of women's experiences; to the intellectual debates surrounding the issue of gender; and to the role of Women's Studies in the various liberal arts disciplines.

4000 Senior Project (4 sem. hours). This project consists either of an independent study with an instructor in the student's major or a teaching practicum in the Introduction to Women's Studies course. See coordinator of Women's Studies for information about this course.

Electives: (4 sem. hours). In addition to the Introduction to American Studies, students must take the equivalent of four whole credit courses of approved American Studies classes with multidisciplinary breadth. (This means that at least one of these four electives must come from a different academic department than the others. All four courses cannot come from the same department.)


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Interdisciplinary Core

1000 Introduction to Liberal Studies (4 sem. hours). This course is designed to introduce students to the academic community, to provide opportunities for intellectual growth through critical thinking and writing on subjects of general interest, and to initiate a process of self-reflection that will continue to graduation. It is a writing-intensive course that takes the place of English Composition.

1020 Writing and Thinking (4 sem. hours).This course is designed to provide additional writing experience to students who have already taken Introduction to Liberal Studies. (It may also be used by transfer students to meet Core 1.) Prerequisite: Liberal Studies 1000 and recommendation of instructor.

1118-1128 Heritage of the West in World Perspective (8 -8 sem. hours). Beginning with the ancient period and continuing to the present, this program brings together history, literature, philosophy, religion and the arts in an integrated approach to the study of Western culture within a global context. It is the equivalent of eight semester hours each semester extending throughout the year. This course meets the requirements of Core 2-5 and the fine arts requirement.

1200 Topics of the Ancient World (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address developments in the period from 1000 B.C.E. to 300 C.E. from a variety of perspectives, including history, literature, philosophy, religion and the fine arts. This course meets the requirements of Core 2.

1300 Topics of the Premodern World (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address developments from 300 to 1600 from a variety of perspectives, including history, literature, philosophy, religion and the fine arts. This course meets the requirements of Core 3.

1600 Topics in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address issues relating to society and the individual by applying the methods of psychology, sociology, politics, and economics. This course meets the requirements of Core 6.

1700 Topics in the Natural Sciences with Lab (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address issues relating to the natural world by applying the methods of biology, chemistry, geology and physics. This course includes a laboratory and meets the requirements of Core 7 and 9.

1800 Topics in Mathematics (4 sem. hours). This course is interdisciplinary in nature and is designed to show the place of mathematics within the liberal arts. (Same as Mathematics 1000). It meets the requirements of Core 8 for students pursuing the BA degree.

1900 Topics in Science, Mathematics and Computer Science (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address issues relating to science, mathematics and computer science. This course does not include a laboratory and therefore does not meet the Core 7 requirement, but it does fulfill the Core 9 requirement.

2400 Topics of the Modern World (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address developments from 1600 to 1900 from a variety of perspectives, including history, literature, philosophy, religion, and the arts. This course meets the requirements of Core 4.

2500 Topics of the Contemporary World (4 sem. hours). Courses with different topics address developments in the twentieth century from a variety of perspectives, including history, literature, philosophy, religion, and fine arts. This course meets the requirements of Core 5.

4002 Senior Honors Colloquium (Spring, 2008). The Honors Colloquium, held in the spring semester of the senior year, is an exciting opportunity for all honors students to share their completed projects with each other and with the Millsaps community.  The course also provides a forum in which participants may reflect on their growth as scholars with other Honors students. Honors Colloquium 4002 meets for one 2-hour session weekly and will be coordinated by the Honors Program Director, Dr. Eric Griffin.


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Other Interdisciplinary Courses

1000 Introduction to American Culture I-IV (4-16 sem. hours). This course is specially designed for international students to help them practice and refine their communication skills through the study of American history, literature and language. Enrollment by permission of the instructor.

2000 Topics in Southern Studies (4 sem. hours). A course for the general student to be offered by the Eudora Welty Professor of Southern Studies. It may be cross-listed with one or more departments and may be repeated for credit with different topics.

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