Marxist and Socialist Studies Minor

Minimum number of credits required to earn minor: 18

GPA requirements to earn minor: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward minor: C-

Department Residency Requirement: At least 9 credits must be earned from the University of Maine.

Contact Information:  Assisant Professor Donald Beith, Coordinator of Marxist and Socialist Studies, donald.beith@maine.edu or Professor Douglas Allen, 207.581.3860; dallen@maine.edu

The Marxist and Socialist Studies curriculum encourages students to look at the world from a variety of Marxist and Socialist perspectives. Many departments offer approaches that have their foundation in the work of such economic theorists as Adam Smith and such political philosophers as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Such approaches seem to assume that capitalist values are “natural,” “according to human nature,” progressive, just, or simply the only way that rational people would view the world. Marxist and Socialist perspectives challenge such assumptions and judgments and such a world outlook.

All students who elect the Marxist and Socialist Studies curriculum should take PHI 342, Marxist Philosophy I: The Philosophy of Karl Marx, and at least two other courses from the “core courses” and three courses from the “elective courses.” In addition, these courses should be taken from at least three different disciplines.

For complete information about Marxist and Socialist Studies, visit the coordinator at The Maples, or contact Donald Beith at donald.beith@maine.edu. Several of the courses listed below may or may not count toward this curriculum depending on which professor is teaching the course. Other courses not listed may be acceptable. Interested students should consult with the faculty coordinator for a decision on such matters. Please visit catalog.umaine.edu for course descriptions.

Required

  • PHI 342 – Marxist Philosophy I: The Philosophy of Karl Marx Credits: 3

Core Courses (6 credits)

  • ENG 470 – Topics in Literary Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
  • HTY 467 – Early 20th Century America, 1914-1945 Credits: 3
  • HTY 468 – America Since 1945 Credits: 3
  • LST 201 – Work and Labor in a Global Economy Credits: 3

Elective Courses (9 credits)

  • ARH 262 – Early Modern Art: From Fauvism to Surrealism Credits: 3
  • ARH 263 – Late Modern Art: From Abstract Expressionism Through New Forms Credits: 3
  • ARH 451 – Art Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
  • ARH 452 – Critical Methods in History of Art Credits: 3
  • ARH 362 – Medieval Art and Architecture Seminar Credits: 3
  • ARH 363 – Renaissance Art and Architecture Seminar Credits: 3
  • CMJ 410 – Social Influence of Mass Communication Credits: 3
  • ECO 335 – History of Economic Thought Credits: 3
  • HTY 241 – History of Globalization, 1900-Present Credits: 3
  • HTY 407 – The Age of Monarchs and Revolution: Europe, 1648-1815 Credits: 3
  • HTY 409 – Twentieth Century Europe I, 1914-1945 Credits: 3
  • HTY 424 – History of Russia II:The Russian Revolution, 1881-1991 Credits: 3
  • HTY 442 – The United States and Vietnam: A History Credits: 3
  • HTY 473 – History of U.S. Foreign Relations I Credits: 3
  • HTY 474 – History of U.S. Foreign Relations II Credits: 3
  • HTY 477 – The American Worker Credits: 3
  • PHI 240 – Social and Political Philosophy Credits: 3
  • PHI 344 – Theories of Justice Credits: 3
  • POS 336 – Government and Politics in Russia Credits: 3
  • SOC 201 – Social Inequality Credits: 3
  • SOC 460 – Major Ideas in Sociology Credits: 3
  • WGS 340 – Transnational Feminisms Credits: 3
  • WGS 410 – Feminist, Gender and Queer Theory Credits: 3