About Capitalism Studies

Capitalism Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the history and present-day workings of the modern global economy.  The purpose of the Minor in Capitalism Studies is to encourage students to gain a broad, well-rounded understanding of business, labor, government, and economics, by considering those subjects from multiple disciplines, across the social sciences and humanities.  By demanding an interdisciplinary perspective, the minor requires students to combine quantitative and qualitative analysis; it encourages not only numeracy and financial literacy, but also historical, institutional, ethical, and cultural perspectives.  It is designed to prepare students to work in a wide range of occupations in business, government, and the non-profit sector, and for the obligations of state, national, and global citizenship, in the twenty-first century.

The Capitalism Studies program offers an interdisciplinary minor and a concentration in the IDST major at UNC Charlotte

The minor is open to all undergraduate students.  Details about the minor’s requirements and courses are available here, on the page about the minor in the university catalog. NOTE: The requirements have recently changed for new students due to the new General Education program. To declare the Capitalism Studies minor, please click here. 

We offer a major in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Capitalism Studies. For more information, please see this page. You can declare the major here.

The Capitalism Studies program is supported by generous funding provided by the Dowd Foundation, Inc., a private foundation based in Charlotte, NC.

The current director of the program is Dr. Jurgen Buchenau, Dowd Term Chair of Capitalism Studies and Professor of History and Latin American Studies.  To reach Dr. Buchenau with any questions about either the major or the minor, please email him at jbuchenau@charlotte.edu.