2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Appalachian Cultures and Environments (APCE) Minor

I. Required Foundational Course (3 credits)
APS/HUM 1704Introduction to Appalachian Studies (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (IG))3
Subtotal3
II. Elective Courses (12 credits)
Choose four courses from any of the categories below. (One course must be from a Pathways category.) 112
Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse
ALS 2204
Sustainable Food Systems (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (IG))
ENGL 2634
Writing and Social Justice (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (E) (PREREQ)) Designated Appalachian Cultures and Environments sections only
ENGL/SOC/RLCL 3144
Language and Ethnicity in the United States (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (IG) (PREREQ))
LAR 4034
Evolution of the American Landscape (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (IG))
TA 2404
Introduction to Applied Collaborative Techniques (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (IG))
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities
APS 2434
The Cultural Politics of Music in Appalachia (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
FREC/NR/LAR 2554
Leadership for Global Sustainability (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (E) (IG))
HTM 3484
Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (IG))
LAR 4034
Evolution of the American Landscape (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (IG))
SPAN 2764
Introduction to Latino American Studies (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (E) (IG))
STS 3334
Energy and Society (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (IG))
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences
NDIG 1104
Introduction to American Indian Studies (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences)
AFST 1714
Introduction to African American Studies (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
ALS 4204
Concepts in Community Food Systems (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG) (PREREQ))
APS/STS 3124
Societal Health in North America (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
ENGL/RLCL/SOC 3144
Language and Ethnicity in the United States (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG) (PREREQ))
FREC/NR/LAR 2554
Leadership for Global Sustainability (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (E) (IG))
GEOG 1116
Seeking Sustainability (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG) (PREREQ))
HTM 3484
Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
LAR 3264
People Community and Place (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (PREREQ))
RLCL/SOC 2054
Ethnography: Studying Culture (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
RLCL/HUM 3204
Multicultural Communication (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
SOC 2034
Diversity and Community Engagement (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
SPAN 2764
Introduction to Latino American Studies (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (E) (IG))
STS 3334
Energy and Society (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences
FREC 2114
Ecology of Appalachian Forests (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (E))
LAR 1254
Environment and Natural Systems (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences or Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (IG))
MINE 2114
Energy and Raw Materials: Geopolitics and Sustainable Development (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (IG))
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking
LAR 1254
Environment and Natural Systems (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences or Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (IG))
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts
APS/HUM 2404
Folk Cultures in Appalachia (Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
LAR 1264
Seeing, Understanding and Representing Landscape and the Built Environment (Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (E))
MUS/APS 2124
Music Traditions in Appalachia (Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (IG))
TA 2404
Introduction to Applied Collaborative Techniques (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (IG))
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States
AFST 1714
Introduction to African American Studies (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
APS/HUM 2404
Folk Cultures in Appalachia (Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
APS 2434
The Cultural Politics of Music in Appalachia (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
APS/STS 3124
Societal Health in North America (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
ENGL 3624
Appalachian Literature (PREREQ)
SOC 2034
Diversity and Community Engagement (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (IG))
Additional options (non-Pathways)
APS/AHRM/GEOG/HUM/SOC/UAP 3464
Appalachian Communities (PREREQ)
APS 4034/SOC 4054
Appalachian Languages and Cultures
APS/SOC 4094
Appalachian Community Research
GEOG 3224
Geography of Appalachia
HIST 3214
History of Appalachia
HORT 4794
Medicinal Plants and Herbs (PREREQ)
HUM/AINS 2104
Oral Traditions and Culture
LAR 2254
Social and Cultural Landscapes
NDIG 4004
Topics in American Indian Studies
PHS 3654
Rural Health
Subtotal12
III. Required Capstone Course (3 credits)
APS/HUM 4414Issues in Appalachian Studies (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (E) (PREREQ))3
Subtotal3
Total Credits18
1
  • At least one elective (3 credits) must be at the 3000 level or above
  • At least one elective must be a Pathways elective.
  • Courses listed in more than one Pathways area may be counted for either area but not for both areas.
  • Up to six credits of Independent Study or Undergraduate Research may be used to fulfill elective requirements with approval from the director of Appalachian Studies.
  • Substitutions may be made with approval from the director of Appalachian Studies.
  • Courses marked PREREQ have prerequisites. Consult the timetable, course catalog, or your advisor.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA for all classes taken for the minor is 2.0.
  • A minimum of 18 credit hours must be completed for the minor. 

Graduation Requirements

Steps for completing the APCE minor:

  1. Complete the CLAHS Request to Change minor form, available at https://liberalarts.vt.edu/forms.html

  2.  Include minor information when updating the application for degree in Hokie Spa.

  3. Students cannot graduate until they have either (a) satisfied the requirements for the minor or (b) withdrawn from the minor.

For more information, contact the Director of Appalachian Studies, Dr. Emily Satterwhite, satterwhite@vt.edu.