The Intercollegiate Department of Africana Studies (formerly Black Studies) offers a multidisciplinary curriculum that examines the experiences of African, African American and Caribbean people from the liberal arts perspective. Courses accommodate the needs of majors and non-majors, providing significant preparation for careers in education, social work, public policy, law, medicine, business, international relations and advanced research.
Major requirements ensure that students are thoroughly exposed to the broad range of research and scholarship in the subject area. Africana Studies majors must complete at least 10 courses chosen from the following list, plus a senior exercise (project, thesis, or comprehensive examination). While six of these courses are expected to be at the upper-division level, credit will be given where appropriate to courses numbered lower than 100. Some flexibility is allowed in the selection and distribution of courses; however, ID 10AF and the Senior Exercise are required for all students.
* ID10AF. Introduction to Africana Studies; one course.
* Literature (African, African American, or Caribbean); two courses.
* History (African, African American, or Caribbean); two courses.
* Social Science (e.g., Politics, Psychology, or Sociology); two courses.
* Interdisciplinary (e.g., ID 50AF, Caribbean Society and Culture; or ID 60AF, Politics of Race); one course.
* Art, Music, or Religion; two courses.
* Senior Exercise in Africana Studies.
Upon approval by the department, substitutions in the major requirements can be adjusted to respond to an individual student’s interests and needs.
Students majoring in Africana Studies are strongly encouraged to spend a semester or a year abroad, preferably in countries in Africa or the Caribbean.
Minor: Students are required to complete 6 letter-graded courses in Africana Studies, one of which must be ID10- Introduction to Africana Studies and 5 courses that represent at least three disciplines. The preferred minor in Africana Studies should reflect the Department’s global perspective of Africa and its Diaspora.