The minor consists of a minimum of 5 full courses (or the equivalent).
Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the minor.
Book studies has emerged in the 21st century as an exciting and inherently interdisciplinary field of study. It encompasses the social and cultural history of books/texts and their transmission as well as artisanal and artistic approaches to the book as represented by book artists, illustrators, graphic designers, binders, fine press printers, and others engaged in studying the relationships between text and image. The “book” in book studies is multiform, extending beyond the printed codex to embrace all formats, from cuneiform tablets to electronic media. The study of the book–as a material, cultural, sociological, religious, and artistic artifact–reaches all corners of the globe and extends into all eras and attends to both hegemonic and divergent voices, while book history and book arts are mutually reinforcing.
Tracing technologies of reading and writing throughout history, across the globe, and in a variety of media, book studies provides a rich context in which to understand the cultural significance of current forms of communication and information storage, from social media to data mining. It fosters skills of critical thinking while placing equal emphasis on thinking practically about employment opportunities by alerting students and preparing them for careers in new media, art and design, academia, education, conservation, publishing in various media, archives, and librarianship.
Visit the minor’s web page for more information.
