The undergraduate degree program in African American Studies exposes students to the social, political, and cultural history of African-descended people in the modern world. While its primary focus is on the United States, the program’s conceptual framework places African Americans within a broader global, diasporic dialogue about the evolving function of race in history as well as in the contemporary moment
Major Requirements
To declare the major in African American Studies, students must complete three prerequisite courses. To complete the major students must take four upper division core courses and four upper division elective courses.
Pre-requisite Requirements:
1. AAS 4A: Africa: History and Culture
2. AAS 5A: African American Life and Culture in the United States
3. AAS 5B: African American Life and Culture in the United States
Upper Division Core Requirements:
1. AAS 100: Black Intellectual Thought
2. AAS 101: Interdisciplinary Research Methods
3. AAS 116: Colonialism, Slavery, and African Life before 1865
4. AAS 195: Senior Seminar
Elective Requirements:
Students must comlete four additional upper division elective courses focused on a specific area of concentration (cluster). At least 3 courses must come from within the department
For students who are doing an honors thesis. H195A will serve as en elective. The remaining courses may be taken from other departments
The cluster must be pre-approved by the department’s academic advisor
Minor Requirements
To complete the minor students must:
Complete and turn in the departmental minor application (application may be obtained from 660 Barrows.)
Complete at least one lower division course (AAS 4A, 5A, 5B) AND five upper division courses in African American Studies
