Caribbean Studies Minor

Coordinator: Winston Griffith

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.

ECON 222: Economic Topics: Economic History of the Caribbean
ECON 266: Political Economy of the Caribbean
ECON 301: Independent Study (Barbados Summer Program)

ENGL 227: Caribbean Literature

FREN 236: Topics in Francophone Literature and Culture (when relevant)
FREN 395: Seminar in French Studies: Culture et Littérature des Caraïbes

HIST 290: European Imperialism and Colonialism

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.