African American and African Diaspora Studies, B.A.
The African American and African Diaspora Studies major gives students an integrated and critical understanding of the experiences and contributions of peoples of African descent throughout the world.
African American and African Diaspora Studies students will be able to apply these theories and methods to better understand the social, political, and economic problems facing people of African descent. In addition, students graduating with the major will be well prepared for leadership in the African American community, in particular, and American society in general. The African American and African Diaspora Studies Program is committed to offering an academically challenging curriculum coupled with a solid foundation of liberal arts education.
The Cultural Arts concentration is for majors interested in developing their knowledge of African American performance, art, film, and music. Students who pursue this concentration will enhance their understanding of how culture, history, politics, gender, and art intersect.
Overall Requirements
- 122 credit hours, to include at least 36 credits at or above the 300 course level
Degree Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | ||
| General Education Core Requirements (GEC) | ||
| College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (LEC) | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 18 | |
Required | ||
| Introduction to African American Studies † | ||
| Blacks in American Society: Social, Economic, and Political Perspectives †† | ||
| Theories and Paradigms in African American Studies | ||
| Seminar in African American Studies | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Africana Literature | ||
| Early African American Writers | ||
| African American Writers after the 1920s | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| The Making of the African Diaspora | ||
| Race and Slavery | ||
| West Africa during the Atlantic Slave Trade | ||
African American Studies Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the courses listed below. | 12 | |
| African American Art History | ||
| Understanding Race | ||
| African American Poetry | ||
| Special Topics in African American Studies | ||
| The Portrayal of African Americans in Film | ||
| The African American Athlete | ||
| Black Women in the U.S. | ||
| Black Music as Cultural History: 1960-1980 | ||
| Race and Gender in Black Performance | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship in African American Studies | ||
| Independent Black Politics 19th Century | ||
| Art and the African-American Presence | ||
| African Art | ||
| The TransAtlantic: Cross-Cultural Representations | ||
| Colliding Worlds: Forming America | ||
| African Dance I | ||
| African Dance II | ||
| African Dance III | ||
| Postcolonial Literatures | ||
| History of Africa to 1870 | ||
| History of Africa since 1870 | ||
| Race and Segregation | ||
| Islam and Popular Culture in Africa | ||
| Images of Africa in Film | ||
| African American History: Selected Topics | ||
| Twentieth-Century U.S. History: Selected Topics | ||
| African History: Selected Topics | ||
| Jazz Appreciation | ||
| Contemporary Moral Problems | ||
| African Political Systems | ||
| The Politics of South Africa Through Film and Literature | ||
| Introduction to African American Religions | ||
| Contemporary African American Religious Thought | ||
| Sociology of Deviant Behavior | ||
| Race and Ethnic Relations | ||
| African American Social Thought | ||
| African American Perspectives on Crime | ||
| Contemporary Gangs in America | ||
| Postcolonial and Transnational Feminisms | ||
Cultural Arts Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12 credits as detailed below | 12 | |
Required | ||
| Independent Study | ||
Select 9 credits from the following: | ||
| African American Art History | ||
| The Portrayal of African Americans in Film | ||
| Black Music as Cultural History: 1960-1980 | ||
| Race and Gender in Black Performance | ||
| † | Counts toward GEC GHP requirement. |
| †† | Counts toward GEC GSB requirement. |
Electives
Electives sufficient to complete the 122 credit hours required for degree.
African American and African Diaspora Studies as a Second Major
Students who wish to declare a second major in African American and African Diaspora Studies must complete all requirements for the African American and African Diaspora Studies major.