Loyola is offering a new minor this semester for students interested in New Orleans. Don’t get caught up in the idea that this minor is only beneficial here in New Orleans.

The depth of exposure most people have when visiting New Orleans barely touches the surface of what this great city has to offer.

As a result, Loyola University has designed a new degree program that focuses on educating students on the complexity and diversity of New Orleans.

Not only does New Orleans have so much to offer, but we have so much to offer this city.

Leslie Parr, director of the Center for the Study of New Orleans and Loyola professor felt that nothing could have been more frightening than the idea of the city being washed away.

Parr said, “After Katrina, the people of New Orleans have been concerned with helping this city rebuild.

One of the things we can do is to focus scholarly attention on the city,” she said.

“We think that this will help New Orleans by making people more aware of what a rich, diverse, culturally fascinating city we live in. I think it would help by getting students more interested in the city by gaining a deeper understanding of it,” Parr said.

This interdisciplinary minor includes classes from New Orleans History to Social Justice to Biology.

Parr stressed that this minor can fit any interest and any career path.

Parr said, “The knowledge you gain can pertain to any number of endeavors. It can be helpful for teaching, social work, for political engagement, cultural organizations, nonprofits.”

“There are lots of areas that a deep knowledge of this city could be seen as a real benefit.”

Parr described New Orleans as a microcosm of cultural, historical and social developments in this country.

When promoting the class, she explained that students will learn a more critical and deeper understanding of the history of our country.

Parr said, “Students will discover the exploration of the United States, Civil War and Reconstruction, Jim Crow and segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement.

All of those important landmarks in human history can be learned about by looking at New Orleans specifically,” Parr said.

Kicking off its first year, the New Orleans Studies minor hopes to attract a lot of attention.

This department plans to continually design new courses that will broaden the study and deepen our appreciation.

Parr expressed her love for the city.

“I think it is just a fascinating place to live and i think it is so complex and so diverse that it creates an opportunity to learn about not only the city but a lot of history as well,” Parr said.

Alexandra Dacy can be reached at [email protected]