Migration Studies

Program Overview

The Migration Studies minor at the Colleges of the Fenway equips students with an interdisciplinary understanding of migration and immigration. Through coursework, experiential learning, and engagement with the Boston community, students develop global awareness and skills for careers in fields such as business, education, and social work. The minor fosters a comprehensive perspective on migration and immigration, preparing students to contribute to a diverse and inclusive society.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Migration Studies minor is offered as a shared minor by the Colleges of the Fenway. It addresses the need to prepare undergraduate students for professional and civic lives in a diverse world. The program aims to enhance student understanding of migration, emigration, and immigration through scholarly foundations, interdisciplinary case studies, and engagement with the Boston community. Students will explore the complexities of diversity and the meaning of living in a "country of immigrants," while developing global awareness. The minor is designed to benefit students pursuing careers in various fields, including business, education, social work, healthcare, the arts, policy and government, law, non-governmental organizations, and nonprofit administration. By incorporating an interdisciplinary understanding of immigration, students will be well-equipped to succeed in these fields and contribute a comprehensive perspective on migration and immigration to their professional and civic lives.

Outline:

The Migration Studies minor requires students to complete the following:

• One Required Course:
provides students with a foundational understanding of the major issues, methods, and frameworks of migration and immigration studies. It is offered annually in the Spring semester with rotating instructors and campuses.
• Three Electives from the List of Approved Classes:
• Electives must meet the following requirements:
• At least one course must be taken outside the student's home institution within the Colleges of the Fenway.
• Students must take at least one advanced seminar (3000-level at Emmanuel, 300-level at Simmons, etc.)
from the list of approved courses.
• Students must take one elective that is not in their declared major's discipline.
• The list of approved electives includes courses from various departments, such as:
• Literature (LTWR161, LTWR179)
• History (HIST213, HIST214, HIST217, HIST240)
• French (FREN265, FREN316)
• Political Science (POLS215)
• Sociology (SOCI330)
• Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGST210)
• One Required Experiential Learning Component:
• Students are required to engage in experiential learning, which can take the form of a service-learning class (e.g., SOC101) or a supervised internship (e.g., HU370).
• This component will be determined in consultation with the student's Migration Studies home-campus advisor, following guidelines established by the Migration Studies faculty.
• Students may receive credit for experiential learning courses taken towards their majors if the service or internship involves significant work with an immigrant community or an organization focused on migration, immigration, or immigrant communities.

Careers:

The Migration Studies minor prepares students for careers in various fields that involve working with or serving immigrant communities. These fields include:

• Business
• Education
• Social work
• Healthcare
• The arts
• Policy and government
• Law
• Non-governmental organizations
• Nonprofit administration

Other:

The program emphasizes the importance of connecting students to the wider Boston community through experiential learning opportunities.