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: 120
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) |
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| AAS 201 African American Experience I |
| AAS 202 African American Experience II |
| II. Areas of Specialization (33 credit hours) |
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| A. African and African American History |
| AAS 170/His 170. Introduction to African History |
| AAS 310. Experiences of Black Mississippians |
| AAS 322/His 322/G St 322. Race, Gender, Science in Early America |
| AAS 325/His 307. African American History to 1865 |
| AAS 326/His 308. African American History since 1865 |
| AAS 350. Topics in AAS History |
| AAS 362/G ST 362/His 339. African American Women's History |
| AAS 392/His 387. Modern Africa |
| AAS 437/His 326. The Atlantic Slave Trade and 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 316/Anth 315. The African Diaspora |
| AAS 320/Pol 320. African American Politics |
| AAS 328/GSt 328/Soc 328. African American Feminist Thought |
| AAS 351. Topics in AAS Pol & Social Institutions |
| AAS 413/Soc 413. Race and Ethnicity |
| AAS 414/Soc 414/SST 314. Race, Place & Space |
| AAS 423/G St 423/His 324. Black Women's Enterprise & Activism |
| 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 343/Engl 343 African American Science Fiction Lit |
| AAS 352. Topics in AAS Culture |
| AAS 360. Topics in African American Studies Abroad |
| AAS 371/Engl 371. African Literature |
| AAS 373/Engl 373. Caribbean Literature |
| AAS 386/AH 386. African and African American Arts |
| AAS 395/AH 369. Survey of Black American Art |
| AAS 412. Studies in Black Popular Culture |
| AAS 420/Engl 465. Major African American Writers |
| AAS 421. Readings in U.S. Black Feminism |
| AAS 422/Engl 422. Prison and the Literary Imagination |
| 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.