New minor offers ‘Pathways in the humanities and social sciences’

The College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) has unveiled a new minor through the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, thanks to a Cornerstone Grant from the Teagle Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Pathways in the Humanities and Social Sciences minor affords an opportunity for Clemson students of any major to engage in the close study of important works of thought and culture.

"Pathways offers students the chance to delve into transformative texts that explore fundamental questions about what makes us human and how to live together in a free and democratic society," said David Coombs, an associate professor of English and faculty director of the Pathways initiative. "Recent national studies show that taking courses in the humanities makes students more likely to enjoy later career success and to report feeling personally fulfilled. It's an important part of how Clemson prepares students for life and the workforce after graduation."

The flexibility of this major can be a huge benefit to students with busy schedules who nevertheless want to read more broadly and to take discussion-based classes.

Michael LeMahieu, Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, College of Arts and Humanities

The Pathways initiative has two goals. First, it aims to "foster intellectual community among Clemson faculty by highlighting shared lines of inquiry and creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and discussion." Second, it encourages students "to explore fundamental questions about what makes us human and how we live together in a free and democratic society."

In addition to meeting the requirements for a minor, most Pathways courses also count toward Crossings general education requirements.

"The flexibility of this major can be a huge benefit to students with busy schedules who nevertheless want to read more broadly and to take discussion-based classes," said Michael LeMahieu, associate dean of undergraduate and graduate studies in CAH. "It truly offers a new pathway for students to get the most out of their Clemson Experience."

The minor's emphasis is on building human-centered skills such as persuasive reasoning and creative problem-solving, giving them advantages for careers and citizenship alike.

"Our courses stress the importance of knowledge and creativity as the foundation of a good life, and of wisdom as crucial to a civically minded public," Coombs noted. "Students who take these courses will gain a deeper understanding of the world that they live in and how to transform it for the better."

The minor is arranged into three sets of progressively higher-level courses: Gateway (3 credits), Core (9 credits) and Capstone (3 credits). The courses span a range of disciplines including anthropology, art, English, history, languages, philosophy, political science and religion. Each year, the minor also focuses on select themes. For 2024-2025, the themes are "Crisis" and "Slavery and Memory."

Students interested in the minor are encouraged to view information in the Academic Catalog, and contact David Coombs at [email protected].

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