Four new minors -- Near Eastern studies; creative writing; minority, indigenous and third world studies; and English -- have just been approved in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Near Eastern studies minor is designed to serve students with an interest in Near Eastern history, literature, religion and archaeology or in antique, late antique, classical Islamic or modern Near Eastern history and society across disciplines. "Because the minor doesn't require the same rigorous commitment to study a Near Eastern language as does the major, we expect it will be an appealing option to students interested in the field," says acting department chair Ross Brann.

The minor requires five courses in Near Eastern studies, three of which must be courses that explore the history, archaeology, literature or religions of the Near East. Students may choose to focus on one of these disciplines or on the ancient, late antique, medieval or modern periods across the disciplines.

The other three minors, all in the Department of English, are intended to provide sustained learning in literary methods and techniques, through a combination of reading and writing, according to department chair Roger Gilbert. "We hope that they will be of special appeal to students whose primary field of study is far removed from the realm of literature and who wish to broaden their intellectual development by engaging with the powers and pleasures of language and imagination."

Gilbert says that because the English curriculum is so varied, a single minor in English would not have addressed the needs and interests of all students. He expects the minors to benefit students who are currently double majoring in English as well as students from other colleges who don't have the option to major in English. He notes that while the basic English minor can be fulfilled using any English courses, the two other minors are more specialized and meant to highlight areas of the curriculum that students might not otherwise know about.

The creative writing minor consists of five required courses, ranging from classes in creative, narrative and verse writing to literature and cultural studies. Students may choose to concentrate in a single genre (fiction or poetry) or may freely study both.

The minority, indigenous and third world studies minor requires the "Freedom Writes: The Literature of Global Social Justice Struggles" course, as well as one course that focuses on indigenous subject matter. This minor aims to foster comparative thinking, so students are encouraged to choose courses that study a variety of ethnic and national traditions, including Native American, African-American, Asian-American, U.S. Latino/a and Anglophone African, Asian and Caribbean literature.

The English minor in literature and writing requires five courses that can be taken in literature, creative writing or critical writing/creative nonfiction at the 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels.

Linda B. Glaser is staff writer for the College of Arts and Sciences.