Caribbean Studies

Caribbean Studies Minor

Coordinators: Winston Griffith and Michael Moohr

The Caribbean studies minor is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Caribbean region that moves beyond stereotypes and exoticism. In the various courses offered, students are able to explore the complexities of the region’s economy and various economic organizations, its culture, society, geo-political significance and literature.

The minor serves as an important supplement for those students who are studying international relations, sociology, anthropology, economics, literature and politics, among other disciplines. Combining Caribbean studies with a major in one of the aforementioned areas contributes not only to the broadening of the horizon of the student but provides a strong basis for pursuing graduate opportunities in such areas as development planning, development economics, international relations, sociology, anthropology, postcolonial literature, cultural studies, gender studies, and area studies. Other students may find that a background in Caribbean studies is useful in seeking employment in the foreign service, AID agencies, in many international organizations and in non-governmental organizations.

The interdepartmental minor in Caribbean studies consists of five courses selected from the following list. No more than two courses may be taken in any one department. Students must undertake a Capstone independent study course (IDPT 319/320 Interdepartmental Independent Study: Caribbean Studies).

ECON 222 Economic Topics: Economic History of the Caribbean

ECON 266 Political Economy of the Caribbean

ENGL 227 Caribbean Literature

FREN 236 Topics in Francophone Literature and Culture (when relevant)

FREN 395 Seminar in French Studies: Culture and Literature des Caribe

HIST 290 European Imperialism and Colonialism

IREL 230 International Relations of the Caribbean

SOCI 213 Race in Historical and Comparative Perspective

SOCI 290 The Sociology of Caribbean Society

SOCI 310 The Sociology of Developing Societies

Students, however, may count toward the minor only one of the following: HIST 290 European Imperialism and Colonialism, or SOCI 310 Sociology of Developing Societies.