Belmont Abbey College

Academic Minors

A minor is a way for students to pursue an interest, or find recognition of their studies, in a specific area even as the main focus of their academic career lies elsewhere. For example, a Theology major might take a minor in Psychology or a Sociology major find herself on the way to an interdisciplinary minor in Justice and Peace Studies. Some people even choose to minor in more than one subject.

To minor in a subject here at the Abbey, a student generally needs to have a minimum of 15 credits of upper-level courses in a subject. Most majors offer a minor, and there are also some programs which only offer a minor. These minor-only programs tend to be interdisciplinary in nature, or aren’t yet large enough to offer a major. You will find a list of those in the navigation bar at the left, as well as below.

Justice and Peace Studies

The interdisciplinary minor in Justice and Peace Studies is offered as an opportunity for students to develop a knowledge of many of the world’s major problems together with a responsible social conscience guided by Catholic social teaching. This takes place through a program involving scholarly inquiry, social analysis, interdisciplinary exchange, and direct experience. Courses included in the concentration incorporate the broader perspectives of just action, the common good, and environmental concern by satisfying at least one of the following criteria: study of socio-economic conditions or potential changes in those conditions affecting justice/peace (e.g., SO351 Social Problems); study of socio-political philosophies or movements (e.g., PO402 Modern Political Philosophy); and study of the relationships between individual human existence and the larger social or natural world (e.g., PC360 Social and Cultural Psychology). The program is administered by a Coordinator drawn from the interdisciplinary Justice and Peace Studies faculty committee.

The minor consists of fifteen hours of upper-level study, comprising two required and three elective courses, and is open to students of any major concentration; participating students are expected to maintain some level of active involvement with issues of justice and peace outside the classroom. The two required courses are TH340 Catholic Social Teaching, which functions as an introduction, and a concluding internship placement conducted according to College rules and worth three academic credits, where students will have an opportunity for sustained work in an area pertaining to social justice. The three elective courses may be drawn from a list of courses in Biology, Business, Economics, Education, English, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Theology approved for the Justice and Peace Studies minor. Interested students should contact the Coordinator of the program.

Faculty

Russell OSF, Sr. Jane - Associate Professor of Theology, Coordinator of Justice and Peace Studies
B.A. Alverno College, M.A. University of San Francisco, Ph.D. University of Notre Dame

Pre-Law

Certain majors are usual precursors to law school. Specifically, a major in English, History, Political Science, or Philosophy is recommended in that these disciplines especially hone the very skills needed for success in law school. Since a high cumulative grade point average in your undergraduate studies considerably improves chances for admission to any law school, you should major in a discipline in which you are genuinely interested and in which you will do well.

In addition to selecting an academic major, students intending to go to law school may also undertake an interdisciplinary minor in Pre-Law.. The minor consists of a 15 credit-hour curriculum of courses carefully selected to hone the skills necessary to gain admission to law school and do well once there.

Program of Study

• PL 200 Pre Law Prep I (1 credit)
• PL 201 Pre Law Prep II (1 credit)
• PL 202 Pre Law Prep III (1 credit)
• PH 323 Advanced Logic
• PO 309 Constitutional Law
• BU 312 Business Law
• SS 300 Statistics

Faculty

David Williams - Chair and Associate Professor of Theology, Pre-Law Advisor
B.A. Georgetown University, M.A. Boston College, Ph.D. (Political Science) Boston College, Ph.D. (Theology) Boston College

Physics / Mathematics

The program is offered as an opportunity for students interested in Physics and Mathematics who would like to study these subjects in some depth. The ways of looking at and understanding the physical world and the mathematical language used for this purpose not only have an innate intellectual value but can also be extended to study other systems in various spheres of knowledge. The program is open to all students but should be especially attractive for Biology majors. Practitioners of the life sciences working in many different areas benefit from an understanding of the physical aspects of biological systems and increasingly rely on mathematical models of these systems.

A student pursuing a B.S. in Biology is required to take two physics courses and PY 301 and 302 of this program will fulfill the requirement. Biology majors are also already required to take MA 208. Thus, in order to obtain a minor in Physics/Mathematics such students will have to take only two additional classes.

A minor in Physics/Mathematics consists of a grade of “C” or better in the following courses:

MA 201 Calculus I

MA 202 Calculus II or MA 208 Statistics or CS 361 Computer-based Modeling and Simulation or a course approved by the program coordinator

PY 301 Calculus-based Physics I

PY 302 Calculus-based Physics II

PY 303 Modern Physics

Faculty
Dr. Rajive Tiwari, Professor of Physics, Coordinator of Physics/Mathematics minor
B.Sc. St. Stephen's College, M.S. Rutgers University, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Spring 2006 - Organizer, NC Physics Teachers meeting.

Mr. Stephen Brosnan, Associate Professor of Mathematics / Physics
B.A. University of Colorado, M.S. University of Michigan

Dr. Lesley O’Connor, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.Sc. University of London, M.A. University of California-Los Angeles, Ph.D University of California-Los Angeles

Mathematics

The mathematics minor is designed for students who have an interest in mathematics. Students completing the minor will have a strong background in mathematics and will have gained experience in quantitative and analytical reasoning. The course requirements for the minor are designed to appeal especially to Biology, Business and Computer Science majors. For many of these students, completion of the minor requires taking only one or two additional mathematics courses beyond those required for the major.

Requirements for the minor: A grade of “C” or better in MA 201 (Calculus I) and MA 202 (Calculus II). Also, a grade of “C” or better in any three of the following: CS 325, CS 361, MA 208 or BU 306, MA 222, MA 321, or a course approved by the Mathematics/Physics Department.

Faculty
Mr. Stephen Brosnan, Associate Professor of Mathematics / Physics, Coordinator of Mathematics minor
B.A. University of Colorado, M.S. University of Michigan

Dr. Lesley O’Connor, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.Sc. University of London, M.A. University of California-Los Angeles, Ph.D University of California-Los Angeles

Theatre Arts
The Abbey Players theatre company is one of the college’s signature traditions, with a history running back more than a century. A number of Abbey graduates have gone on to build careers in theatre and/or the teaching of theatre. Minoring in Theatre Arts offers students the academic background they need to compete in graduate school, or to be effective teachers.

The minor consists of 18 credit hours, organized between two separate tracks, one for the technically-minded student, and the other for the student actor/director. The tracks will conjoin during the student's senior year, when they engage in a practicum to stage a fully-realized production. A student who completes either of these tracks will have a good basic knowledge of theatre. Each track includes historical components, and the development of basic research skills within the discipline.

Faculty
Simon Donoghue - Associate Professor of English / Fine Arts, Director of the Abbey Players
B.A. University of Virginia, M.S.L.S. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Gary Sivak - Technical Director of Theatre
B.A., University of North Carolina-Charlotte, 1994

Program of Study

Artistic Track

• FA 108. Introduction to Theatre Arts. Pre-requisite for Musical Theatre, Directing.
• FA 2**. Musical Theatre (see proposed sample syllabus).
• FA 2**. Introduction to Acting. (see proposed sample syllabus).
• FA 3**. Acting II. Pre-requisite, Introduction to Acting.
• FA 3**. Directing. Text analysis as the building-block of theatre.
• FA 4**. Practicum: A student team will stage a fully-realized production. Those students who have pursued the artistic track will have to be involved as director or actors. In addition to the actual production, the student will be required to produce a journal detailing work done to execute it, including dramaturgy and research about the playwright and play. No student will be permitted to participate without completion of all other track courses.

Technical Track

• FA 110. Introduction to Technical Theatre.
• FA 2**. Sound/Light Design.
• FA 2**. Set Construction.
• FA 3**. Set Design.
• FA 3**. Stage Management.
• FA 4**. Practicum: A student team will stage a fully-realized production. Those students who have pursued the technical track will have to be involved as designers, construction workers, electricians, sound engineers and technical directors. In addition to the actual production, the student will be required to produce either a journal or a portfolio detailing the work done to execute it, including research materials.