Students who choose to declare a concentration in African American Studies experience a fuller account of the field, preparing them for a range of professions, as well as graduate work in African American Studies.
The steps to complete the concentration are as follows:
- Students complete two core survey courses listed below. At least one of these must be a Pre-20th century course.
- AAS 245 Introduction to 20th Century African American Art
- AAS 353 African American Literature: Origins to 1910 (Pre-20th century)
- AAS 359 African American Literature: Harlem Renaissance to Present
- AAS 366 African American History to 1863 (Pre-20th century)
- AAS 367 African American History Since Emancipation
- In the fall of their junior year, concentrators take AAS 300 Junior Seminar: Research and Writing in African American Studies. This course introduces students to theories and methods of research design in African American Studies in preparation for the junior paper.
- At the end of their fall semester, juniors declare a subfield to pursue, selecting from:
- Four courses must be taken in the chosen subfield with two additional courses as follows:
- If the chosen subfield is AACL or RPP, then two GRE courses.
- If the chosen subfield is GRE, then one AACL and one RPP.
Students may choose up to two approved cognate courses in other departments. In total, nine courses are required for the concentration. PDF courses cannot be counted toward your concentration requirements (not including P/D/F Only courses).
During semesters of online instruction due to the pandemic, students may count P/D/F courses toward the concentration requirements.
Students should plan to complete independent work for a letter grade. During the semesters of pandemic-related disruptions, however, it may be necessary for students to opt for the P/D/F grading option for independent work. The decision to P/D/F independent work must be approved by the adviser, and the student must then choose the P/D/F option during the regular selection period (usually weeks 7-9 of the term).
Demonstrate proficiency by completing independent writing and research.
- In the spring of their junior year, students complete independent research in order to write a junior paper that incorporates African American Studies.
- Seniors complete independent reading and research to develop a senior thesis that incorporates African American Studies and their chosen subfield.
- Seniors take a comprehensive exam derived from the work of their thesis.