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Housing and Society Minor

The Housing and Society Pathways minor will introduce students to the multiplicity of ways in which the availability of adequate and affordable housing options, or the lack thereof, affects people and communities. The 18-credit hour curriculum introduces students to the fundamental relationships between housing producers, consumers, and policymakers, while also allowing students to specialize in one housing-related area of their choosing: data analysis, economics, family and community, social justice, or sustainability.

Why do it?

The Housing and Society Pathways minor offers students an opportunity to examine housing through an array of theoretical lenses, gaining a richer appreciation for the impact it has on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. The minor will not only position students for careers in housing-related fields, but also prepare them to participate in the public discourse surrounding housing issues.

Requirements

The 18-hour minor in Housing and Society includes three 3-hour required introductory courses, 6 hours of electives chosen from one of five available tracks, and a required 3-hour capstone course.

Pathways diagram of minor

RED 2644: Housing and the Consumer
PM 3634: Affordable and Specialized Housing
RED 4664: Universal Design
PM 4744: Housing Challenges and Policies in the United States

Based on their majors, interests, and personal career goals, students select 6 credits hours of elective courses from one of five available tracks: Data Analysis, Economics, Family and Community, Social Justice, or Sustainability. Students choose two courses from their chosen track, for a total of 6 credit hours. For a complete list of elective courses, consult the Registrar checksheet (follow the link, click on ‘checksheets,’ scroll down to Minors, and find the Housing and Society checksheet).

Who is it for?

The Housing and Society minor is open to students pursuing any major, and may prove particularly attractive to students pursuing undergraduate degrees in building construction, community economic development, geography, human development, property management, real estate, residential environments and design, smart and sustainable cities, and urban studies.

This minor is hosted by the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management in collaboration with numerous departments across Virginia Tech.

Pathways Concepts

Core Concepts*
2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities
3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences
4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences
5f - Foundational Quantitative and Computational Thinking
5a - Advanced/Applied Quantitative and Computational Thinking
6d - Critique and Practice in Design
7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the U.S.
*Students are guaranteed to meet at least three of the core concepts listed