Minor Requirements
What are the requirements for a minor in Multicultural Studies?
- Start by enrolling in the Multicultural Studies Program’s introductory course, MCS-110, Race, Class, and Gender in Contemporary American Society.
- Choose a themed or thread within Multicultural Studies that fits your particular interests.
- Explore your theme by taking six additional courses (MCS 220 and five electives) related to your particular theme.
How can I decide what my theme is?
- Meet with the Director of the Multicultural Studies Program to discuss your interests and goals. Together you will soon identify your theme. Then, each semester meet with the Director during course selection period to review your plans and choose courses for the next semester.
What course does the Multicultural Studies Program offer?
The Multicultural Studies Program is a new program at Rider, and we are still building our curriculum. Here are the courses currently offered through our program:
MCS-110: Race, Class, and Gender in Contemporary American Society
MCS-220: Issues in Multicultural Studies: Multicultural Education
MCS-220: Issues in Multicultural Studies: Difference: Western & Non-Western Perspectives
MCS-220: Issues in Multicultural Studies: Narratives of Human Difference: Science, Politics, Literature
MCS-220: Issues in Multicultural Studies: Privilege, Power and Change
MCS-280: Directed Study in Multicultural Studies
MCS-491: Internship in Multicultural Studies
Courses in many other departments at Rider may also count towards the MCS minor; see the list on the last two pages of this brochure.
I'm not sure a Multicultural Studies Minor is right for me. Any suggestions?
Notice that the MCS minor is very flexible—you can shape it to fit your own interests. Perhaps it will help you to see what other students are doing.
Here are the stories of 3 Multicultural Studies minors, Nicole, Bill, and Katie:
NICOLE is a double major in Elementary Education and American Studies. She’s excited about her plans to be a teacher but also a little nervous because she has had little experience with people different from herself. During her field experience in Trenton last year she realized she wanted to learn more about the kinds of students she probably will be teaching. She decided to sign up for Multicultural Studies Minor. After discussing her goals with the Director, Nicole chose as her theme “African Americans in the U.S.” This year she is taking a course on racial and ethnic relations and one on African-American history. Next year she plans to enroll in courses on Black literature and the philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
BILL, a Sociology major and Multicultural Studies minor, has the same theme as Nicole but for different reasons. As a freshman, Bill wanted to learn more about his own background and was disappointed to discover Rider has no Black Studies program. But then he realized he could design his own Black Studies program by becoming an MCS minor with “African Americans in the U.S.” as his theme. He is taking courses on Africa and the Caribbean as well as the U.S. For Bill, the MCS minor has a great deal of personal meaning; he also thinks it will help him in his career in the criminal justice field.
KATIE is majoring in Human Resource Management and wants to work for a large corporation. She is minoring in Multicultural Studies for two reasons. First, she thinks it will be helpful to her professionally—she will learn a lot and it will be a good credential on her resume. Second, she has always enjoyed interacting with people of various backgrounds and she thinks of diversity as a personal energizer. Not surprisingly, Katie declared her theme to be “multiculturalism as an energizing force.” She has taken courses on racial and ethnic relations, multi-ethnic literature, Africa, and Latin America. Katie has also become active in the new student organization, the Unity Club, established by several other MCS minors to promote unity 365 days a year at Rider.
| Multicultural Studies Minor (21 semester hours) | |
| Multicultural Studies | 6 Credits |
| MCS 110 Race, Class, and Gender in Contemporary American Society | 3 |
| MCS 220 Issues in Multicultural Studies | 3 |
| Electives | 15 Credits |
|
Five courses from the following three groups, chosen in consultation with the director: Multicultural Studies
Electives Emphasizing Multiculturalism within the United States
Electives Providing Background and Context
|
15 |
These requirements are in addition to the Core Curriculum Requirements. Please see the Academic Catalogs for more information, including course descriptions.
Disclaimer: This information is taken from a recent published version of a Rider University academic catalog or manual, though not necessarily the most recent. Please be aware that, while the University makes reasonable efforts to keep website material current and correct, this information is subject to the University's academic policy committees, relevant accreditation organizations, and (in some instances) state and federal laws and regulations. For this and other reasons it may be subject to change at any time without notice and without being immediately reflected on the Web site.
