NEH grant will combine STEM, humanities in new minor at SIU

A group of faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently received a grant that will help broaden the perspective of students who are involved in objective disciplines – such as science, engineering and technology and mathematics – by attracting them toward the humanities. The effort also will result in a new, unique minor in ancient practices, which will help students appreciate and apply the wisdom of such classical cultures from around the world.

Starting this summer, the Humanities Connections Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will bring $100,000 to SIU to formulate a few new, highly interdisciplinary courses to complete the offerings for the minor. The grant, which was one of only four funded nationwide by the NEH out of 51 proposals, will run for three years.

The minor officially won’t be available until next fall, but once it’s approved, current students can apply courses they are taking right now to the minor. To earn the ancient practices minor, students will take three lecture courses – nine credit hours – from among a diverse selection of those offered by the eight participating faculty, as well as a capstone project, typically as seniors. The capstone project will be from a subject within their major, but on a topic that is relevant ancient practices. For instance, an engineering student might choose to build a catapult, or geology student might conduct a project on optical geology, studying so-called “sun stones” the Vikings used to navigate on the ocean.

The program will emphasize learning through experience and may include a study abroad component, as well.