B.A. in African American Studies
Description
Students who pursue the major in African American studies will get a broad-based understanding of research in a variety of academic disciplines, with a particular focus on African and African American topics. Students will be provided with historical and contemporary data that will enable them to develop a comprehensive understanding of the life experiences of African Americans.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 124
Goals/Mission Statement
The mission of African American studies is to research and teach about the history and culture of African Americans as members of American society. More specifically, the objectives of the program are to encourage students and faculty to examine the black experience, to facilitate a cultural and intellectual atmosphere on campus that will be favorable to such studies, and to undertake a program of research and service.
General Education Requirements
Although other general education requirements for the B.A. degree must be met, the African American studies major does not require a minor.
Course Requirements
The African-American studies interdisciplinary major consists of 42 semester hours, including 6 hours of basic core courses, 33 hours from the areas of specialization listed below, and the 3-hour senior seminar course. At least 12 of the 33 credits of required upper-division work must be in a designated area of specialization. In addition, 12 hours must be chosen from one or both of the other two areas outside of the designated area of specialization.
I. Basic Core (6 credit hours)
AAS 201 African-American Experience I
AAS 202 African-American Experience II
II. Areas of Specialization (33 credit hours)
Areas of Specialization (12 credit hours minimum)
A. African and African-American History
AAS 170/His 170 Introduction to African History
AAS 310 Experiences of Black Mississippians
AAS 324/G St 321/ Race, Gender, Courtship-African Am Hist
His 324
AAS 325/His 307 African-American History to 1865
AAS 326/His 308 African-American History since 1865
AAS 362/G ST 362/ African-American Women’s History
His 339
AAS 392/His 387 History of Sub-Saharan Africa
AAS 438/His 327 Historical Perspectives on Slavery in the Americas
AAS 440/His 328 History of African Americans in Sports
AAS 442 The New Negro Era
AAS 443/His 329 The Civil Rights Era
His 460 Undergraduate Research Seminar in African History
AAS 498 African-American Studies Directed Study
AAS 501 African-American Studies Seminar
AAS 509/His 509 Historiography of African-American History
B. African and African-American Political and Social Institutions
AAS 302 Judicial System and the African-American Experience
AAS 307/Anth 307 Peoples of Africa
AAS 308/Pol 307 Politics of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
AAS 315/Pol 323 Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
AAS 320/Pol 320 African-American Politics
AAS 350/AAS 351 Topics in African-American Studies
AAS 413/Soc 413 Race and Ethnicity
AAS 504 Research in African-American Studies
C. African and African-American Culture
AAS 334/S St 334 Introduction to Field Work Techniques
AAS 337/Anth 337 Anthropology of Blues Culture
AAS 341/Engl 322 African-American Literary Tradition I
AAS 342/Engl 323 African-American Literary Tradition II
AAS 360 Topics in African-American Studies Abroad
AAS 371/Engl 371 African Literature
AAS 373/Engl 373 Caribbean Literature
AAS 386/AH 336 African and African-American Arts
AAS 395/AH 369 Survey of Black-American Art
AAS 412 Studies in Black Popular Culture
AAS 420 Major Afrcian American Writers
AAS 421 Readings in U.S. Black Feminism
AAS 441/Engl 441 Comparative Black Literatures
AAS 517/Mus 517 African-American Musical Tradition
AAS 518/Mus 518 History of Jazz
AAS 593/Engl 593 African-American Literature
III. Senior Seminar (3 credit hours)
AAS 480 African-American Studies Senior Seminar
Other Academic Requirements
A minimum grade of C is required in all courses applied toward the African American studies major.