African American Studies Specialization

A specialization in African American Studies requires 12 semester hours and is open to students in any field. Courses may consider African American, African diaspora, or related topics. Students must select at least one course from each of the groups below or from courses that have been designated, for a specific semester, as fulfilling the requirements of a course with an African American focus (such courses will be designated as either Arts and Humanities or Behavioral and Social Sciences). A minimum of 6 semester hours of these must be upper-level courses. Students must also complete an experiential component (an internship, practicum, or research experience) worth 0-3 semester hours of academic credit. This experience will be used to help the student reflect upon their coursework in the specialization. Students may use coursework to simultaneously satisfy requirements in the specialization and in their major/minor/general education.

Students are encouraged to create meaningful experiences outside of the classroom (such as travel, performance, performance attendance, accompanied by reflection, or research) that will complement the coursework completed to satisfy the requirements.

African American Studies Specialization Requirements

Students must choose at least one course from each group below.

Experiential Component

0-3 semester hours in RES 290, an approved internship experience, or an approved practicum experience

0-3

At least 3 semester hours from Arts and Humanities

 
AAS 210African American Theatre, Film, Performance

3

AAS 295African American Rhetoric

3

COM 290Communication, Culture & Identity

3

AAS 245/DNC 245World Dance

1

AAS 304/ART 304Visualizing Social Justice

3

AAS 322/HIST 222The African American Experience

3

HIST 233The American Civil War

3

MUS 240American Music: Traditions & Identities

3

DNC 240Pathways & Themes in Dance History

3

AAS 350Afro-Hispanic Literature and Culture

3

At least 3 semester hours from Social and Behaviors Sciences

AAS 441/CRIM 441/SOC 441Race, Racism, and American Law

3

AAS 302Intergroup Relations

3

CRIM 358Race, Class and Crim Just

3

Students must complete 6 additional hours selected from the courses above

Total Credit Hours: 12-15

Note: AAS X99 (Special Topics) and AAS 410 (Directed Readings) will be assigned to the groups above at the discretion of the program coordinator.

Total Credit Hours: 12-15