Requirements
Suggested Programs of study
Using Electives Effectively
Areas of Concentration
Seminars & Independent Study
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Majoring in African and African American Studies

The Department of African and African American Studies offers a major in African and African American Studies through the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Graduate of this versatile liberal arts major earn a B.A. degree and have pursued a wide range of career paths. Some have gone to law school, to medical school, and to masters and doctoral programs in community planning, Women’s Studies, urban studies and education. Others have pursued doctoral programs in sociology, communications, literature and other traditional liberal arts disciplines. Still other graduates have moved directly into the workforce in fields such as teaching, criminal justice and business.

Using Electives Effectively

Majors must take 24 credit hours of electives, preferably in 300 to 500 level courses. The majority of electives should be taken during the junior and senior years and should be taken after completing core requirements. We also recommend that all majors take Research in African and African American Studies (505).

Electives should be used to develop specific skills that will be needed for employment and/or graduate school. Electives should also be used to develop an area of expertise or specialization concerning some aspect of the African and African Diaspora experience. Having a specialization will make majors more competitive for graduate school and/or for employment after graduation.

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Areas of Concentration

To assist students in developing a specialization, the Department has clustered courses into suggested areas of concentration.  These areas can be used to guide course selection and identify unique student interests. For the 2000-2001 year, the Department will offer three areas of concentration. They are:

• Black Cultural Studies
• Black Social Organization
• Globalization and the African World

Students wishing additional information about course offerings in an area of concentration should consult faculty members teaching and doing research in those areas. Students should also seek faculty advisors who most closely match their area of specialization.

To assist students in developing areas of specialization, the Department has also begun cross-listing courses with other academic units. Currently, the Department cross-lists courses with the Department of English and Comparative Literature and with Women’s Studies.  

A printable version of the major requirements is available.

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