The Major

The major in Afro-American Studies requires that a student complete a minimum of 33 credit hours in the Du Bois Department in addition to the Junior Year Writing requirement. Independent study credits do not count toward the major requirements.

I. Introductory Courses (15 cr.)

The following required courses introduce the discipline of Black Studies; the concepts, skills, and tools of modern scholarship; and the history, literature, and culture of Black people from their African origins to contemporary times.

A. 101 Introduction to Black Studies.

B. At least two courses in the Humanities group:

111 Survey of African Art

113 Aesthetics of Afro-American Art

117 Survey of Afro-American Literature I

118 Survey of Afro-American Literature II

151 Culture and Literature

155 Concepts in Afro-American Music I

156 Concepts in Afro-American Music II

MUSIC 102 Afro-American Music

MUSIC 103 History of Jazz

C. At least two courses in the History and Social Science group:

132 Afro-American History, 1619-1860

133 Afro-American History, Civil War to 1954

161 Introduction to Afro-American Political Science

ECON 144 Political Economy of Racism

HISTORY 160 History of Africa to 1500

HISTORY 161 History of Africa since 1500

II. Advanced Courses

Twelve credits hours in courses numbered above 200. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in a particular area (history, social sciences, literature, arts), or may select from a number of areas. Courses include:

232 History of Black Nationalism

234 Literature of the Harlem Renaissance

235 Black Sociological Thought

236 History of the Civil Rights Movement

264 Foundations of Black Education in the U.S.

318 Black Music and Theater

331 Life and Writings of W.E.B. Du Bois

345 Southern Literature

354 Contemporary African Novel

361 Revolution in the Third World

394 Seminar in African Art

Special problems and Honors courses, which may be applied to this requirement, are also offered by the department.

Courses Outside the Department

Students may receive permission to apply to this requirement courses taught in other Five College Black Studies departments or in other departments at the university. Written approval for this must be obtained from a Du Bois Department adviser prior to enrollment in the outside course. The departments of Anthropology, History, Journalism, Music, Political Science, Sociology and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies regularly offer such courses; a list is available at the Du Bois Department. These include:

ANTHRO 382 Caribbean Cultures

ANTHRO 470 Cultures of Africa

FRENCHST 564 Literature of Africa and the Caribbean

POLISCI 307 Black Politics

POLISCI 341 Government and Politics of Central America and the Caribbean

POLISCI 343 Government and Politics of East Africa

POLISCI 345 Revolutionary Nationalism and Imperialism in the Caribbean

POLISCI 346 Government and Politics of West Africa

POLISCI 397 Comparative Politics of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti

SOCIOL 340 Race Relations

SOCIOL 397 Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement

WOMENSST 394 Black Feminist/Womanist Thought

WOMENSST 297 Afro-American Women in the Civil Rights Movement

III. Junior Year Writing

365 Composition: Style and Organization

IV. Senior Thesis (6 cr.)

All majors are required to write a six-credit senior thesis or equivalent under the supervision of a faculty member, and to attend a related senior seminar. Students ready to undertake their thesis projects must contact the department secretary to begin the process. For May graduation the process begins at the beginning of the preceding fall semester, for February graduation at the beginning of the preceding spring semester. At that time students must read and sign a copy of the “Senior Thesis Project Rules, Regulations and Deadlines.”