Western Studies Minor

The Charles Redd Center offers a Minor in Western American Studies at Brigham Young University. The program is administered by the American Studies Program and the College of Humanities Advisement Center.

The Western American Studies Minor looks at one area of the United States, offering depth and breadth by applying the insights of several disciplines to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the natural history, human heritage, and contemporary issues and challenges of a particular region. The minor draws on the perspectives of natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and fine arts.

Why declare a Western American Studies Minor?

As undergraduates, students focus on one discipline. In the "real world," however, research often crosses those artificial discipline boundaries. This minor gives a case study of many ways to study the American West. Those interested in graduate studies or jobs relating to the West will find the cross-disciplinary approach helpful. Those interested in other regional studies can learn the techniques for the region in which they currently reside.

Western Studies Minor Requirements

The Western American Studies Minor requires 18 hours of coursework. The coursework must include the following components:

1. AM ST 200 THE AMERICAN WEST AS A REGION (3 HRS.)

An introduction to various disciplines’ views of the American West. Jessie Embry, Associate Director of the Charles Redd Center, will instruct the class with assistance from professors from the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, and the fine arts. The class is offered Winter Semester.

2. ONE COURSE IS REQUIRED FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT:

GEOL 101: Introduction to Geology
BIOL 150: Environmental Biology
PWS 215: Principles of Range Management
PWS 225: Principles of Wildlife Science and Ecology (Prerequisite: BIOL 100 or 130)

ARTS AND LITERATURE:

ENGL 364: Literature of the American West
ENGL 368: Literature of the Latter-day Saints
ENGL 392: American Folklore
SPAN 365: Mexican-American Culture (Prerequisite: SPAN 202 or equivalent)

HUMAN HERITAGE:

HIST 360: The American West to 1900
HIST 361: The American West since 1901

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT:

ANTHR 345: American Culture
ANTHR 346: Anthropology of Mormonism
ANTHR 350: Archaeological Cultures of North America
ECON 274: American Economic History (Prerequisite: ECON 110 or equivalent)
SOC 327: Sociology of the LDS Church and its People

3. ELECTIVES

Additional elective courses dealing with the West totaling 18 hours are also required. Electives may be chosen from courses listed above not used to fill cluster requirements, from additional courses listed below or from topical courses on Western themes offered through academic departments or the Honors Program.

ANTHR 530: Great Basin Archaeology (Prerequisite: ANTHR 350)
ANTHR 535: Southwest Seminar (Prerequisite: ANTHR 350)
ARTHC 345: American Art
GEOG 250: U.S. and Canada
GEOG 306: Public Land Conservation
REL C 342: Latter-day Saint History, 1845-1900
REL C 343:Latter-day Saint History, 1901-present
HIST 363: The Spanish Frontier in North America
HIST 364: Utah History
HIST 382: Mormonism in the American Experience
HIST 385: Latinos in the U.S.
HIST 386: 19th century American Indian History
HIST 387: 20th century American Indian History
POLI SCI 317: Public Opinion and Voting Behavior
PWS 375: Environmental Policy of the West
PWS 411: Watershed Management
PWS 425: Fisheries and Wetlands
SPAN 461: Spanish-Speaking American (Mexican-American) Literature (Prerequisite: SPAN 339)

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