Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Popular Culture Studies, which is administered by the Department of English, is designed to provide students opportunities for in-depth study of popular culture texts, trends, and topics across a range of media.  The minor introduces critical approaches and methods of research in popular culture studies, as well as opportunities for practical experience with the Journal of Popular Culture or by engaging in scholarly conferences or public conference events that center on science fiction and fantasy, comics, gaming, and pop music.  The minor draws on the extensive resources in MSU Libraries’ Special Collections and other library collections such as detective fiction, video games, and comic art, offering students options to explore in depth the world-renowned resources available at MSU.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Popular Culture Studies. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to apply to the program should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of English.

Requirements for the Minor in Popular Culture Studies

Complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following:

1.	All of the following courses (13 credits):
	ENG	142	Introduction to Popular Literary Genres						4
	ENG	340	Theory and Methods of Popular Culture Studies						3
	ENG	342	Readings in Popular Literary Genres						3
	ENG	440	Seminar in Popular Culture Studies						3
2.	A minimum of 3 credits from the following courses:
	ENG	308	Readings in Literature for Young Adults						3
	ENG	324	Readings in Epic						3
	ENG	325	Readings in Graphic Narrative						3
	ENG	394	Popular Culture Experience						3
	ENG	493	English Internship						1 to 3
	FLM	255	Stars and Directors						3
	Students who choose ENG 493 need to complete the internship with  the Journal of Popular Culture or an approved sponsor.
	Students may also choose an approved elective from the following courses when the topic includes sufficient content on popular culture. Students should consult with the academic advisor to confirm offered courses will fulfil the requirement. Additional courses may be available in other College of Arts and Letters units.
	ENG	314	Readings in North American Literatures						3
	ENG	315	Readings in British Literatures						3
	ENG	316	Readings in Irish Literature and Culture						3
	ENG	318	Readings in Shakespeare						3
	ENG	319	Readings in Michigan Literature						3
	ENG	326	Readings in Drama and Performance Studies						3
	ENG	328	Readings in Novel and Narrative						3
	ENG	329	Readings in Poetry and Poetics						3
	ENG	350	Readings in African, African-American, or African Diaspora Literature						3
	ENG	351	Readings in Chicano and Latino Literatures						3
	ENG	352	Readings in Asian/Asian American/Asian Diaspora Literature and Visual Culture						3
	ENG	353	Readings in Women Writers						3
	ENG	354	Readings in Native American Literature						3
	ENG	355	Readings in Sexuality and Literature						3
	ENG	356	Readings in Jewish Literature						3