British minor new to campus

By Reagan Duplisea
Skiff Staff

What initially began as a discussion group among faculty in various disciplines on campus has now resulted in a new minor. British and Colonial/Post-Colonial Studies came to fruition as a collaboration of several faculty members from art history to English who spun their visions at professors’ homes and appropriately, a local pub.

According to the proposal, the minor will provide students with an understanding of Great Britain’s past and present and will provide a framework for investigating issues of globalization, such as the impact of colonization.

The program was passed by University Council in December, and students can officially declare a British studies minor in the fall.

Although program courses will be drawn from various colleges on campus, the program will make its home in the AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

About three years ago, many of the faculty members began meeting regularly, united by their common interest in British studies. Twice a semester, they gather to discuss a book or article and eat at one of their homes, said Anne Helmreich, an associate professor of art history.

History instructor Sara Sohmer said she has enjoyed the group, because it allows her to meet people from other departments on campus with whom she may not otherwise come into contact.

“We realized what depth we had in the wealth of personnel at TCU who were interested in British studies,” she said. “We really have the expertise already in place.”

From those faculty, a committee was formed and a proposal was drawn up.

The program is not limited to incoming freshmen, Helmreich said. Many students who have taken courses related to Great Britain should check the requirements to see if they could complete the minor, she said.

The committee has put together a list of 55 course already taught at TCU that can be incorporated into the program.

While the courses are in the catalog, they aren’t offered every semester. However, the program will try to make sure enough courses are offered on a regular basis, Helmreich said.

“We can’t dictate to every department how often they should have a course,” she said.

Interdisciplinary programs give students a broader and richer perspective, Sohmer said.

“You’re not getting a sense of the period if you don’t have the visual or are not familiar with the literature or economics,” Sohmer said. “Interdisciplinary studies make the subject three-dimensional instead of one-dimensional.”

While many universities across the United States do offer British studies programs, many of them, such as Florida State University, require students to study abroad. With TCU’s British and Colonial/Post-Colonial Studies, however, students don’t have to go to Great Britain.

“We do understand that not everyone will necessarily be able to go,” Sohmer said.

However, the classes at the TCU London Centre will be eligible for credit.

Susan Layne, London Centre coordinator, said students who decide to minor in British studies and study abroad in Great Britain will find the two enhance one another.

“If you’re interested in British studies, how can you possibly have a good grasp of it if you don’t spend any time in London?” she asked. “And, for students who go to London but who don’t have the educational background, it just makes it more real if you have delved into it further.”

Holly Carless, a freshman education major, will be attending the TCU London Centre in the fall. She said she plans to soon become a British studies minor.

“Otherwise, some of the credits don’t go to anything or just count as an elective,” she said.

Helmreich said she hopes students who do study abroad will bring back their experiences and be able to collate them with knowledge gained in the classroom.

Response from faculty members and students has already been proven strong. Sohmer said the widespread interest in British studies usually stems from a personal connection.

“We used to be told that British heritage was American heritage, but I’m not sure if British studies has that privileged a place any more,” she said.

Often interest is peaked during travels, Sohmer said.

Although much of Britain’s history will be studied in the program, Helmreich said she hopes students will learn how to draw connections between the past and the present.

“A lot of people argue that the United States is in the same position Britain was at the height of its empire,” she said. “Maybe we can learn lessons from Britain’s past 100 years.”

Helmreich said the committee hopes to hire a program director next year. Eventually, the group also hopes to service the Dallas-Fort Worth area by offering public lectures and bringing in speakers.

Reagan Duplisea
r.l.duplisea@student.tcu.edu