Students and community members pose for a picture with traditional pottery

Cross-Cultural Studies helps international and U.S. students compare regional and global dynamics. Courses are designed for students who are studying a specific area of the world or a field with an international focus. The program gives students a broad, cross-cultural perspective on their area of interest.

Students and community members pose for a picture with traditional pottery

About Cross-Cultural Studies

In our courses, Cross-Cultural Studies means comparing and contrasting two or more cultures in order to identify phenomena that are more universal or more culturally specific, as well as examining outcomes when two or more culturally different groups interact. In the minor, we engage in both trans-cultural and intercultural work through a blend of personal experience, reflection, theory, and analysis.

Requirements for the Cross-Cultural Studies Minor

The minor consists of a minimum of 36 credits, at least 12 of which are at the 200 level, distributed across the following categories (with no courses applied to more than one category):

A.  Seeing and Being Cross-Cultural (minimum of 6 credits): 

  • AMST 115: Introduction to American Studies
  • CCST 100: Growing Up Cross-Culturally
  • RELG 110: Understanding Religion
  • RELG 222: Trauma, Loss, Memory: Holocaust and Genocide · not offered in 2024-25
  • SOAN 110: Introduction to Anthropology
  • SOAN 111: Introduction to Sociology

B. Reflecting on Cross-Cultural Experience (minimum of 4 credits):

  • CCST 208: International Coffee and News
  • CCST 270: Creative Travel Writing Workshop
  • IDSC 103: Student Conversations about Diversity and Community · not offered in 2024-25
  • IDSC 203: Dialogue Across Differences

(Certain OCS program courses may also apply to this category. CCST 208 can be retaken once, for a total of four credits).

C. Principles of Cross-Cultural Analysis (minimum of 12 credits, no more than 6 from any one program):

  • CCST 180: Crossing Borders: Global Contexts of Migration and Immigration · not offered in 2024-25
  • CCST 233: The Art of Translation in the Age of the Machine · not offered in 2024-25
  • CCST 245: Meaning and Power: Introduction to Analytical Approaches in the Humanities
  • CCST 275: I’m A Stranger Here Myself · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 120: Democracy and Dictatorship
  • POSC 215: Comparative Political Communication: News Coverage of Elections · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 247: Comparative Nationalism · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 358: Comparative Social Movements · not offered in 2024-25
  • PSYC 248: Cross-Cultural Psychology · not offered in 2024-25
  • PSYC 358: Cross-Cultural Psychology Seminar in Prague: Psychopathology
  • RELG 300: Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion
  • SOAN 330: Sociological Thought and Theory

D. Cross-Cultural Encounters (minimum of 12 credits): Can include, with approval of director, any course dealing substantively with the intersection of two or more cultures including but not limited to:

  • ASLN 111: Writing Systems
  • CAMS 218: Contemporary Global Cinemas · not offered in 2024-25
  • ENGL 238: African Literature in English · not offered in 2024-25
  • ENGL 250: Indian Fiction 1880-1980 · not offered in 2024-25
  • ENGL 251: Contemporary Indian Fiction · not offered in 2024-25
  • ENGL 252: Caribbean Fiction · not offered in 2024-25
  • ENGL 350: The Postcolonial Novel: Forms and Contexts · not offered in 2024-25
  • ENGL 395: Postcolonial Novel: Forms and Contexts
  • FREN 206: Contemporary French and Francophone Culture
  • FREN 236: Francophone Cinema and the African Experience
  • FREN 245: Francophone Literature of Africa and the Caribbean
  • FREN 253: The French Revolution, Then and Now
  • FREN 255: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Islam in France: Historical Approaches and Current Debates
  • FREN 259: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Hybrid Paris
  • FREN 350: Middle East and French Connection
  • FREN 359: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Hybrid Paris
  • FREN 360: The Algerian War of Liberation and Its Representations · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 141: Europe in the Twentieth Century
  • HIST 165: A Cultural History of the Modern Middle East · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 184: Colonial West Africa · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 232: Renaissance Worlds in France and Italy · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 254: Migration in Asia-Pacific History · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 260: The Making of the Modern Middle East · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 264: A History of India Through Food
  • HIST 266: History of Islam in South Asia · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 270: Nuclear Nations: India and Pakistan as Rival Siblings
  • HIST 281: War in Modern Africa · not offered in 2024-25
  • HIST 360: Muslims and Modernity · not offered in 2024-25
  • MELA 230: Jewish Collective Memory
  • POSC 215: Comparative Political Communication: News Coverage of Elections · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 238: Sport and Globalization in London and Seville Program: Globalization and Development: Lessons from Int’l Football · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 247: Comparative Nationalism · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 265: Public Policy and Global Capitalism
  • POSC 268: Global Environmental Politics and Policy · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 295: Central and Eastern European Politics Program: Nation-Building in Central and Eastern Europe between Politics and Art · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 296: Central and Eastern European Politics Program: Challenges to the Nation-State in Eastern and Central Europe: Immigrants and Minorities · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 348: Strangers, Foreigners and Exiles
  • POSC 358: Comparative Social Movements · not offered in 2024-25
  • POSC 378: Political Economy & Ecology of Southeast Asia: Social Changes in Southeast Asia
  • POSC 379: Political Economy and Ecology of S.E. Asia: Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia
  • RELG 110: Understanding Religion
  • RELG 155: Hinduism: An Introduction
  • RELG 213: Religion, Medicine, and Healing
  • RELG 222: Trauma, Loss, Memory: Holocaust and Genocide · not offered in 2024-25
  • RELG 227: Liberation Theologies
  • RELG 234: Angels, Demons, and Evil · not offered in 2024-25
  • RELG 237: Yoga: Religion, History, Practice · not offered in 2024-25
  • RELG 287: Many Marys
  • RELG 289: Global Religions in Minnesota · not offered in 2024-25
  • RUSS 205: Russian in Cultural Contexts
  • RUSS 228: Russophone Studies in Central Asia: Contemporary Kazakhstani Culture and Post-Colonial Identity
  • SOAN 108: In & Out of Africa: How Transnational Black Lives Matter · not offered in 2024-25
  • SOAN 256: Africa: Representation and Conflict · not offered in 2024-25
  • SPAN 209: Radio and News in Spanish · not offered in 2024-25
  • SPAN 242: Introduction to Latin American Literature
  • SPAN 320: Death and Dying under Capitalism: An Ecological and Humanistic Perspective
  • SPAN 345: Culture, Capitalism and the Commons · not offered in 2024-25

E. Capstone (2 credits):

  • EUST/CCST 398: The Global Panorama: A Capstone Workshop. After participating in selected co-curricular activities, students will curate work from their CCST courses and experiences in an instructor-guided e-portfolio, including a reflective essay. (Other capstone options may be approved by director.)

Participation in at least one OCS program, while not required, is strongly encouraged. Courses from OCS programs may be applied to categories A through E, with approval of the director (and subject to rules of the Registrar).

Cross-Cultural Studies Courses

  • CCST 100 Growing Up Cross-Culturally

    From cradle to grave, a cultural lens shapes our sense of who we are. Yet, as we grow older, we also become creators of culture. This course proposes “seeing cross-culturally” to explore the ways societies view birth, infancy, adolescence, marriage, adulthood, and old age. Using fairy tales, movies, and articles, we investigate how humans talk about identity and belonging. We then discuss the myriad ways of “being cross-cultural.” First-year students interested in the Cross-Cultural Studies program are strongly encouraged to enroll in this seminar.  While not required for the minor, the course will count as one of the electives.

  • CCST 180 Crossing Borders: Global Contexts of Migration and Immigration

    This course will grapple with the issue of immigration and migration from both global and interdisciplinary perspectives. Through several different case studies (including such regions as the Americas, Africa, Europe, and more), taught by faculty from different departments, students will gain a deeper understanding of one of the burning issues of our time.

    Not offered in 2024-25

  • CCST 208 International Coffee and News

    Have you recently returned from studying or living abroad? This course is designed to help you keep in touch with the culture you left behind, while deepening your understanding of current issues across the globe. Relying on magazines and newspapers in the local language or in English-language media, students will discuss common topics and themes as they play out in the countries or regions where they have lived or studied. Conducted in English. Recommended preparation: Participation in an off-campus study program (Carleton or non-Carleton), substantial experience living abroad, or instructor permission.

  • CCST 233 The Art of Translation in the Age of the Machine

    In an era when AI tools can produce a translation that is indistinguishable from the work of a professional translator, what role is left for humans? In this course students study the history and theory of translation, while gaining practical experience in literary translation. Topics include the visibility of the translator, questions of identity, authority, and power, and challenges to Eurocentric traditions of translation. Students will become familiar with available translation tools and practice using them ethically and effectively in a workshop setting. The final project will be an annotated translation into English of a literary text of the student’s choice. Recommended preparation: Proficiency in a modern language taught at Carleton (204 or above). Native or near-native fluency in English.

    Not offered in 2024-25

  • CCST 245 Meaning and Power: Introduction to Analytical Approaches in the Humanities

    How can it be that a single text means different things to different people at different times, and who or what controls those meanings? What is allowed to count as a “text” in the first place, and why? How might one understand texts differently, and can different forms of reading serve as resistance or activism within the social world? Together we will respond to these questions by developing skills in close reading and discussing diverse essays and ideas. We will also focus on advanced academic writing skills designed to prepare students for comps in their own humanities department.

  • CCST 270 Creative Travel Writing Workshop

    Travelers write. Whether it be in the form of postcards, text messages, blogs, or articles, writing serves to anchor memory and process difference, making foreign experience understandable to us and accessible to others. While examining key examples of the genre, you will draw on your experiences off-campus for your own work. Student essays will be critiqued in a workshop setting, and all work will be revised before final submission. Some experimentation with blended media is also encouraged.

  • CCST 275 I’m A Stranger Here Myself

    What do enculturation, tourism, culture shock, “going native,” haptics, cross-cultural adjustment, and third culture kids have in common? How do intercultural transitions shape identity? What is intercultural competence? This course explores theories about intercultural contact and tests their usefulness by applying them to the analysis of world literature, case studies, and the visual arts, and by employing students’ intercultural experiences as evidence. From individualized, self-reflective exercises to community-oriented group endeavors, our activities will promote new intercultural paradigms in the classroom and the wider community. Course designed for off-campus returnees, students who have lived abroad, or who have experienced being outsiders.

    Not offered in 2024-25

  • CCST 398 The Global Panorama: A Capstone Workshop for European Studies and Cross-Cultural Studies

    The work of Cross-Cultural Studies and European Studies traverses many disciplines, often engaging with experiences that are difficult to capture in traditional formats. In this course students will create an ePortfolio that reflects, deepens, and narrates the various forms of experiences they have had at Carleton related to their minor, drawing on coursework and off-campus study, as well as such extracurricular activities as talks, service learning, internships and fellowships. Guided by readings and prompts, students will write a reflective essay articulating the coherence of the parts, describing both the process and the results of their pathway through the minor. Considered a capstone for CCST and EUST, but for anyone looking to thread together their experiences across culture. Course is taught as a workshop.