Explore the South. Understand its stories. Shape its future.
The Southern Studies minor at Presbyterian College invites students to explore the rich, complex history and culture of the American South. Through an interdisciplinary approach that includes literature, history, religion, and the social sciences, students gain a nuanced understanding of the region’s identity, its challenges, and its influence on the broader American narrative. This minor provides valuable context for careers in education, law, public service, and cultural advocacy.
The Power of Your Degree
- Expand your perspective.
Study the American South as a region shaped by struggle, storytelling, and resilience. - Broaden your knowledge.
Engage with issues of race, class, gender, religion, and politics in the Southern context. - Solidify your skill set.
Strengthen your research, writing, and critical thinking skills through interdisciplinary coursework. - Become a critical thinker.
Examine complex narratives and challenge assumptions about Southern culture and history.
18 Hours
Required for Southern Studies minor coursework
Interdisciplinary Approach
Courses span history, literature, religion, sociology, and the arts
12:1 Student-To-Faculty Ratio
In discussion-based classroom settings
What You’ll Study
The Southern Studies curriculum allows students to tailor their studies around a shared core. Courses cover Southern literature, African American history, Southern religious traditions, political change, and cultural movements. Students gain a critical understanding of the people, places, and ideas that have shaped the South—and continue to do so today.
Get Involved
At Presbyterian College, you can actively pursue your passion for southern studies through programs and opportunities that take your discipline out of the classroom and into the real world—all while expanding your experience, perspective, and skillsets.
- Creative Projects:
Contribute to storytelling initiatives, documentary work, or campus arts programming related to the South.
- Service Learning:
Engage with local communities on issues tied to education, history, and regional equity.
- Research:
Dive deeper into your field of interest through research and fellows programs that could lead to publications, awards, and careers.
Careers in Southern Studies
This minor prepares students for careers where regional knowledge and cultural awareness matter. Graduates pursue work in education, public policy, journalism, law, museum and archival work, nonprofit leadership, and more. Southern Studies also enhances preparation for graduate programs in American Studies, history, divinity, and cultural studies.
Career Professions
Cultural Historian
Museum Curator
Archivist
Journalist or Columnist
Public Historian
Social Justice Advocate
Documentary Filmmaker
Grant Writer or Program Officer
Secondary or Postsecondary Educator
Civil Rights Researcher
Humanities Researcher
Community Development Officer
Nonprofit Administrator
Policy Analyst (Regional or State-level)
Heritage Tourism Coordinator
Writer or Author (regional focus)
Religious Studies Scholar
University Admissions or Outreach Coordinator
Urban or Rural Sociologist
Acquired Skills
Regional cultural literacy
Historical and literary analysis
Oral history and qualitative research
Written and verbal communication
Critical thinking and ethical reasoning
Interdisciplinary synthesis of ideas
Understanding of race, class, and identity
Cultural documentation and storytelling
Public speaking and advocacy
Collaboration with community organizations
Project design and implementation
Contextual analysis of social change
Archival research skills
Program evaluation and reporting
Empathy and cultural sensitivity
Policy interpretation
Leadership in civic dialogue
Event planning and coordination
Creative writing and presentation
Academic writing and citation
Quick Stats
$50,000
Average Median Salary
Graduates with a Southern Studies degree often begin with salaries in the $40,000–$55,000 range, depending on their chosen field—such as education, cultural preservation, journalism, or public service. Higher earning potential exists with roles in academia, law, or nonprofit leadership, especially when combined with graduate education.
4-6% Growth
Projected Employment Rate
Job growth for Southern Studies graduates depends on the specific career path, with steady demand in education, public history, community advocacy, and regional planning. While not a high-growth field overall, the degree provides a strong foundation for roles linked to social justice, regional development, and cultural analysis.
Moderate Versatility
Career Diversity Index
This interdisciplinary degree equips students for a range of roles in public policy, museum work, writing, education, and activism focused on the American South. Graduates often pursue careers where historical, cultural, and social insight into the region is valuable, or they use the degree as a stepping stone to law or graduate school.
Source(s): Facing South
