Minor Description
Cultural Studies is a multidisciplinary minor for students pursuing a graduate degree at Indiana University Bloomington. Drawing upon recent developments in cultural, social, and literary theory, this program emphasizes the investigation of cultural production and the social construction of values, ideas, and belief systems. Focusing on both contemporary and historical phenomena, courses in this area pay particular attention to the relationship between cultural forms and power relations in society. Issues of class, race, and gender receive prominent critical attention, as do conventional divisions between “high culture” and more “popular” forms of expression. Students in this program are encouraged to fashion a course of study which meets their particular interests and needs. Cultural Studies is especially useful for those seeking to complement studies in an area of disciplinary specialization with a more interdisciplinary minor. Students minoring in Cultural Studies typically pursue financial assistance through their major department.
Minor Course Requirements
Four courses totaling a minimum of 12 credits hours, including C601: Intro to Cultural Studies and 3 sections of C701: Special Topics in Cultural Studies or C790: Independent Readings in Cultural Studies. Students must officially declare the minor during the early phase of their Ph.D. studies by completing the form below and consulting with the director of the Cultural Studies program.
C601 Introduction to Cultural Studies (4 credits). Survey of main issues, theories, and methods in cultural studies. Topics may include communications and mass culture; gender, race, and the social construction of identity; historiographic and ethnographic approaches to modern cultures and societies.
C701 Special Topics in Cultural Studies (3-4 credits). Prerequisite: C601 or consent of instructor. Advanced exploration of a specific issue in cultural studies.
C790 Independent Readings in Cultural Studies (3-4 credits). Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. Open only to students minoring in Cultural Studies. Click on the link above for instructions on arranging and registering for C790.
The Cultural Studies newsletter describes our program’s goals and activities each year. You can also subscribe to our email list for updates concerning Cultural Studies events on campus by sending a request to cstudies@indiana.edu.
Declaring and Verifying Your Minor
Minors with Cultural Studies should complete both of the forms below in consultation with their home departments. Completed forms can be submitted by email to cstudies@iu.edu.
To declare the Cultural Studies minor, please submit the following form:
Cultural Studies Minor Declaration Form
To verify the completion of the Cultural Studies minor, please submit the following form:
Cultural Studies Minor Verification Form
Awards and Support for Graduate Students
The Cultural Studies program is excited to sponsor essay and travel awards for program minors. The Bratlinger-Naremore essay prize is awarded once per year for exceptional work in the field. Submissions deadlines for this year's award will be announced later in Fall 2024. More details and submission guidelines can be found at the link above.
The Cultural Studies Program is also happy to offer graduate student travel funding. Travel funding is currently being restructured to provide more access to CULS minors. Please keep your eyes posted as we finalize submission guidelines and deadlines! More details about the award and submission guidelines can be found at the link above.
The total award limit for any student in Cultural Studies is capped at $1000 per year.
