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
Sustainable Food Systems (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (IG))
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
Language and Ethnicity in the United States (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (IG) (PREREQ))
Evolution of the American Landscape (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (IG))
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
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))
Leadership for Global Sustainability (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (E) (IG))
Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (IG))
Evolution of the American Landscape (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (IG))
Introduction to Latino American Studies (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences or Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (E) (IG))
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
Introduction to American Indian Studies (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences)
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))
Concepts in Community Food Systems (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG) (PREREQ))
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))
Language and Ethnicity in the United States (Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG) (PREREQ))
Leadership for Global Sustainability (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (E) (IG))
Seeking Sustainability (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG) (PREREQ))
Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
People Community and Place (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (PREREQ))
Ethnography: Studying Culture (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
Multicultural Communication (Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (IG))
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))
Introduction to Latino American Studies (Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities or Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (E) (IG))
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
Ecology of Appalachian Forests (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (E))
Environment and Natural Systems (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences or Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (IG))
Energy and Raw Materials: Geopolitics and Sustainable Development (Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (IG))
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking
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
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))
Seeing, Understanding and Representing Landscape and the Built Environment (Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (E))
Music Traditions in Appalachia (Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (IG))
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
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))
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))
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))
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))
Appalachian Literature (PREREQ)
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)
Appalachian Communities (PREREQ)
Appalachian Languages and Cultures
Appalachian Community Research
Geography of Appalachia
History of Appalachia
Medicinal Plants and Herbs (PREREQ)
Oral Traditions and Culture
Social and Cultural Landscapes
Topics in American Indian Studies
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.