Appalachian Studies
Patricia D. Beaver, Director and Professor
Ph.D., Duke University
Cultural Anthropology, Social Organization, Gender, Appalachia, China
Graduate Faculty: Teaching faculty in the Appalachian Studies curriculum are
drawn from a variety of academic departments on campus.
The Center for Appalachian Studies coordinates curriculum offerings, projects,
and research relating to the Appalachian region. A 36 semester credit hour
Master of Arts degree program is offered in Appalachian Studies, with
concentrations in the Appalachian Culture Area and in Sustainable Development.
MASTER OF ARTS IN APPALACHIAN STUDIES
Major Code: 204*
Concentrations: Appalachian Culture Area (Code: 204B)
Sustainable Development (Code: 204C)
The Master of Arts Degree in Appalachian Studies offers two interdisciplinary
concentrations: A. The Appalachian Culture Area concentration focuses on
scholarship and research in the social sciences, humanities, and fine and
applied arts, seeking to deepen understanding of the Appalachian socio-cultural
and historical experience. B. The Sustainable Development concentration is
based on applied research and interdisciplinary course work spanning the social
and natural sciences as well as the humanities. It provides a foundation for
those students who seek to develop the means for meeting the legitimate needs
of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their needs. For students interested in Appalachian and other
highland and rural peoples, as well as other peoples threatened by the results
of unsustainable practices and patterns, this course of study provides the
background in the search for sustainable solutions.
Requirements:
A. Appalachian Culture Area (Code: 204B)
Prerequisites:
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Basic Criteria for Consideration
Cumulative GPA: 3.0
GRE Verbal score: 500 or higher
GRE Writing score: 3.5 or higher
Other Criteria for All Applicants
3 letters of reference addressing applicants academic potential
2-page statement of intent explaining applicant's academic and
professional goals in chosen concentration (Appalachian Culture, Sustainable
Development, or both) and the value of regional studies to the contemporary
world
Deadline
1 July for Fall/ 1 November for Spring/ 1 April for Summer
An undergraduate major or minor in the social sciences or
humanities. Additional courses (up to 15 hours maximum) in the social sciences
may be required if so indicated by the student's deficiencies.
Hours: 36 semester hours
Required Courses:
1. Core Courses:
A S 5000 Bibliography & Research...............................3
A S 5020 Colloquium in Appalachian Studies.....................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS..............................................6
2. Regional Courses: Choose 4 courses (12 hours):
ANT 5120 Appalachian Culture & Social Organization.............3
ENG ---- (consult with advisor) a choice of one course offering
with Appalachian materials as the primary subject
(e.g. ENG 5720 Appalachian Literature, ENG 5710
Advanced Folklore)....................................3
HIS 5208 Seminar in Appalachian History........................3
P&R 5400 Religion in Appalachia................................3
P S 5130 Appalachian Political Perspectives....................3
SOC 5300 Appalachia in Social Contex...........................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................12
3. Electives: Choose 4-5 courses (12-15 hours) from Regional courses
above or Elective list below (with approval of student's advisor)
ANT 5200 Sustainable Development: Theory, Method and Case......3
ANT 5600 Medical Anthropology..................................3
ANT 5610 Ethnographic Field School...........................2-6
A S 5500 Independent Study.....................................3
A S 5530 Selected Topics.......................................3
BIO/GHY
5530 Selected Topics: Biogeography of the Southern
Appalachians..........................................3
ENG ---- Course offerings with Appalachian topics as the focus
(e.g. literature, folklore, Hollywood/Appalachia).....3
GHY 5301 Regional Geography....................................3
GHY 5400 Planning Process......................................3
HIS 5002 Seminar in Public History.............................3
HIS 5204 Interpreting American History.........................3
HIS 5660 Topics in Public and Applied History..................3
P S 5060 Seminar in Public Administration......................3
P S 5330 Problems in State and Local Government................3
TEC 5638 Contemporary Problems in Appropriate Technology.......3
SUBTOTAL HOURS..........................................12-15
Note: Other electives may be selected upon approval of student's
academic advisor. No more than twenty-five percent of the
student's degree program may be taken in a combination of
selected topics and independent studies.
4. Final Project:
A S 5900 Internship..........................................3-6
OR
A S 5999 Thesis..............................................3-6
SUBTOTAL HOURS............................................3-6
TOTAL HOURS................................................36
Thesis: Optional
Language Proficiency: A reading knowledge of a foreign language, or
demonstrated competency in statistics and/or computer science, subject to
approval by the student's advisor, is required.
Comprehensive: A comprehensive examination is required.
Product of Learning: None required
B. Sustainable Development (Code: 204C)
Prerequisites:
1. 8 s.h. in biology, chemistry, geology or physics - the courses may be in
the same discipline or different disciplines,
2. A course in the scientific understanding of human-environmental
interactions,
3. Three courses in the social sciences other than economics,
4. An economics course equivalent to ECO 2030/2040, and
5. A statistics course equivalent to Statistics 2810.
Students who are deficient in one or more of the above areas are expected to
take undergraduate courses at Appalachian to make up the deficiency. These
courses will not count toward the graduate program of study.
Hours: 36 semester hours
Required Courses:
1. Core Courses:
A S 5000 Bibliography and Research..............................3
ANT 5200 Sustainable Development: Theory, Method and Case.......3
G S 5510 Environmental Problems.................................3
GHY 5110 Special Topics in Regional Analysis....................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................12
2. Regional Courses:
Select two courses from the list below:
ANT 5120 Appalachian Culture and Social Organization............3
BIO/GHY
5530 Selected Topics: Biogeography of the
Southern Appalachians..................................3
HIS 5208 Seminar in Appalachian History.........................3
P S 5130 Appalachian Political Perspectives.....................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS..............................................6
3. Interest Areas and Electives:
Possible areas of interest can be:
1. Environmental Sciences
2. Planning and Management
3. International Development
4. Sustainable Enterprise
5. Appropriate Technology
In consultation with the program director and thesis committee, choose a
minimum of 6 hours from list A. and a minimum of 6 hours from list B.
below:
A. Natural Sciences and Geographic Analysis:
BIO 5212 Population Ecology..................................4
BIO 5222 Communities and Ecosystem Ecology...................4
BIO/GHY
5530 Selected topics: Biogeography of the
Southern Appalachians...............................3
GHY 5620 Synoptic and Regional Climatology...................3
GHY 5800 Quantitative Methods................................3
GHY 5820 Geographical Hydrology..............................3
GHY 5100 Special Topics in Physical Environmental Analysis...3
GLY 5620 Hydrogeology........................................4
SUBTOTAL HOURS...........................................6
B. Social Sciences, Humanities, and Technology:
ANT 5565 Political Economy, Globalization and Rural
Development.........................................3
ECO 5532 Selected Topics: Environmental Economics............3
GHY 5400 Planning Process....................................3
HIS 5660 Topics in Public and Applied History................3
MBA 5410 Marketing Strategy and Applicaions..................3
MGT 5770 Social Responsibilities of Management...............3
P S 5060 Seminar in Public Administration....................3
P S 5665 Public Management...................................3
P S 5722 U.S. Foreign Policy.................................3
P S 5748 Latin American Politics.............................3
PLN 5700 Project Management..................................3
TEC 5638 Contemporary Problems in Appropriate Technology.....3
HIS 5106 Studies in European History.........................3
OR
HIS 5306 Studies in Latin American History...................3
OR
HIS 5406 Studies in Asian History............................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS...........................................6
4. Final Project
A S 5900 Internship..........................................6
OR
A S 5999 Thesis..............................................6
SUBTOTAL HOURS...........................................6
TOTAL HOURS.............................................36
Thesis: Optional
Language Proficiency: A reading knowledge of foreign language, or
demonstrated competency in statistics and/or computer science, subject to
approval by the student's advisor, is required.
Comprehensive: A comprehensive examination is required.
Product of Learning: None required
Graduate Minor in Appalachian Studies (Code: 203)
Students will elect a total of 9 semester hours from the following:
A S 5000 Bibliography & Research...............................3
ANT 5120 Appalachian Culture & Social Organization.............3
BIO/GHY
5530 Selected Topics: Biogeography of Southern Appalachia..3
ENG ---- Course with Appalachia as the central focus (e.g.,
ENG 5710-Advanced Folklore; ENG 5720-Appalachian
Literature)...........................................3
HIS 5208 Seminar in Appalachian History........................3
P&R 5400 Religion in Appalachia................................3
P S 5130 Appalachian Political Perspectives....................3
SOC 5300 Appalachia in Social Context..........................3
(For a description of the course abbreviations used in the following list of
courses, see page 46.)