Africana Studies, an academic discipline, offers an intellectual approach to the study of African people both nationally and globally. Thus, it seeks to provide historically accurate assessments of the roles and contributions of people of African descent to America and to human history. As as interdisciplinary program, this minor offers students the opportunity to communicate more effectively across cultural lines as well as to explore the social, political, and economic reality of the black experience in the United States. In addition, the minor encourages creative research, the acquisition of practical experiences, and the development of intellectual expertise in Africana Studies. 

Sociology is a social science that involves the study of human society. Sociologists examine aspects of society and social behavior, including cultures, social institutions, groups and more. Anthropology also involves the study of people but focuses on humans and their immediate ancestors. Anthropologists examine patterns of culture and behavior in order to understand human diversity in the present and past. Students in the sociology and anthropology undergraduate program have the unique opportunity to take core classes in both disciplines, then select a concentration in either applied and clinical sociology or anthropology. The graduate program focuses on applied sociology, a field in which sociological knowledge is used to analyze real-world situations.

English majors are good writers and effective communicators and possess the ability to process complex ideas and understand and successfully communicate with others. The English program at Valdosta State University builds upon the basic knowledge, skills and values provided by the core curriculum while preparing students for a wide range of careers and for graduate study in numerous fields

French is the second most spoken language in the European Union and the seventh worldwide with more than 230 million native and non-native speakers.  It is the official language of 29 countries throughout the globe. College graduates who are proficient in French and who have a deep understanding of the richness and diversity of French and Francophone cultures have many advantages in the workforce and can pursue careers in education, humanities-related fields, fashion, and business, to name just a few.

Official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, German is the first language of the largest number of citizens of the European Union and a major world language.  High proficiency in the German language and a deep understanding of the richness and diversity of German culture will broaden your horizons and give you a competitive edge on the job market. They will prepare you for successful careers in education, the humanities, foreign service, sciences, and business, to name just a few.

History is the study of past events, people and eras. The discipline involves research, reading and writing, with an emphasis on interpreting and analyzing information. The history program at Valdosta State University is a good choice for students interested in the discipline who want to broaden their educational horizons and prepare for a number of careers or graduate school.

The programs in the English Department build upon the basic knowledge, skills, and values provided by the University Core Curriculum while preparing students for a wide range of careers as well as for graduate study in numerous fields. The Journalism minor prepares students for careers in print journalism, editing, and in-house news writing. The minor in Journalism at Valdosta State offers courses in writing for newspapers, magazines, sports and features, with opportunities for publication through a close curriculum relationship with the student newspaper, The Spectator.

The programs in the English Department build upon the basic knowledge, skills, and values provided by the University Core Curriculum while preparing students for a wide range of careers as well as for graduate study in numerous fields. The Literature and Language minor provides a pre-law and pre-theology education as well as prepares students for graduate study in English.

Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world with 420 million native and non-native speakers.  It is the official language of 28 countries throughout the globe and the liturgical language of Islam.  College graduates who are proficient in Arabic and who have a deep understanding of the richness and diversity of the cultures in the Arab world have many advantages in the workforce and can pursue careers in civil service, intelligence, the military, humanities-related fields, and business, to name just a few.

The Native American Studies minor is committed to an interdisciplinary approach in the study of Native American cultures and their contributions to the global community. The program serves students of Native American descent as well as members of the larger University community. Course offerings include anthropology, art history, history, philosophy, religion, literature, and languages, providing the basis for a greater understanding of Native American cultures.

Philosophy is the discipline of learning about different ways of life and gaining an appreciation for the richness of culture. Religious studies focuses on the diversity of religious thought and practice from multicultural perspectives. Students in these two disciplines at Valdosta State University develop critical and objective thinking skills, become clear and effective writers and persuasive speakers, hone their organizational and analytical skills, and expand their political awareness.

Political science is the study of systems of government, politics, political behavior and public policies. Political scientists study the stages of government, the process by which political decisions are made and various matters that affect government behavior. Political science students at Valdosta State University focus on subfields of the discipline, including the American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, political theory, public law and public administration.

A minor in Professional and Applied Ethics provides students with skills for critical and objective thinking, clear and effective writing skills, the ability to present a convincing case, organizational & analytical skills, and political awareness.

The programs in the English Department build upon the basic knowledge, skills, and values provided by the University Core Curriculum while preparing students for a wide range of careers as well as for graduate study in numerous fields. The Professional Writing minor prepares students for graduate study as well as careers in law, business, advertising, and publishing. The Professional Writing minor emphasizes the importance of critical thinking skills, encourages an appreciation of diverse cultural perspectives, and develops a greater understanding of the cognitive, emotive, and aesthetic dimensions of language as an avenue of self-knowledge, cultural understanding, and social responsibility while providing the necessary skills to write for professional publication.

In a fundamental sense, public administration involves the implementation of government policies. As an academic discipline, public administration trains students to become effective leaders responsible for implementing policies in any type of public or private organization. Students in the public administration program at Valdosta State University learn administrative skills that may be used in a variety of administrative careers and settings in both the public and private sectors.

Philosophy is the discipline of learning about different ways of life and gaining an appreciation for the richness of culture. Religious studies focuses on the diversity of religious thought and practice from multicultural perspectives. Students in these two disciplines at Valdosta State University develop critical and objective thinking skills, become clear and effective writers and persuasive speakers, hone their organizational and analytical skills, and expand their political awareness.

Spanish, a Romance language, is the primary language of Spain, Mexico, and most countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. It is the second most spoken language worldwide as well as in the United States. Fluency in Spanish is an invaluable tool for those living and working in the United States and abroad. Valdosta State University students who are proficient in Spanish have numerous advantages in the workforce and can pursue a number of careers in areas such as teaching, translation and interpretation, health care, social services, law and law enforcement, and more.

A Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) minor prepares students for life, work, and service in the 21st century. Students learn from women’s history, feminist theory, and gender analytics, how gender as a form of cultural identity shapes human thought, experience, expectations and interactions. Courses in the WGST minor focus on the historical and contemporary experiences of women as well as other populations vulnerable because of race, class, gender, or sexual identity often regarded in the mainstream as unconventional. Employers and graduate schools are actively seeking candidates who understand the positive value of diversity. Alumni minors report many practical applications of what they learn in their WGST coursework, field work, service learning projects and internships.