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/Hst 170. Intro to African History |
| AAS 310. Experiences of Black Mississippians |
| AAS 325/Hst 414. African American History to 1865 |
| AAS 326/Hst 415. African American History since 1865 |
| AAS 350. Topics in AAS History |
| AAS 362/G St 418/Hst 418. African American Women's History |
| AAS 392/Hst 350. Modern Africa |
| AAS 393/Hst 371. History of Southern Africa |
| AAS 438/Hst 422. The Rise and Fall of American Slavery |
| AAS 440/Hst 420. History of African Americans in Sports |
| AAS 442. The New Negro Era |
| AAS 443/Hst 424. The Civil Rights Era |
| AAS 498. African American Studies Directed Study |
| AAS 501. African American Studies Seminar |
| AAS 509/Hst 509. Historiography: African American History |
| B. African and African American Political and Social Institutions |
| AAS 302. Judicial System and the African American Experience |
| 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/G St 328/Soc 328. African American Feminist Thought |
| AAS 330/Rel 330/Soc 330. Racism and Religion |
| AAS 337/Anth 337. Anthropology of Blues Culture |
| AAS 351. Topics in AAS Pol & Social Institutions |
| AAS 413/Soc 413. Race and Ethnicity |
| AAS 414/Soc 414/S St 314. Race, Place & Space |
| AAS 504. Research in African American Studies |
| C. African and African American Culture |
| AAS 334/S St 334. Introduction to Field Work Techniques |
| AAS 341/Eng 361. African American Literary Tradition I |
| AAS 342/Eng 362. African American Literary Tradition II |
| AAS 352. Topics in AAS Culture |
| AAS 360. Topics in African American Studies Abroad |
| AAS 363/Eng 363. African American Genres |
| AAS 364/Eng 364. Studies in African American Lit |
| AAS 366/Eng 366. African American Science Fiction Lit |
| AAS 367/Eng 367. Blues Tradition in American Lit |
| AAS 373/Eng 373. Studies in Comparative Black Lit |
| AAS 374/Eng 374. Survey of Caribbean Literature |
| AAS 375/Eng 375. Survey of African 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 421/G St 421. Readings in U.S. Black Feminism |
| AAS 468/Eng 468. Major African American Writers |
| AAS 469/Eng 469. Special Topics in African American Lit |
| AAS 473/Eng 473. Prison and the Literary Imagination |
| AAS 479/Eng 479. Special Topics Comparative Black Lit |
| AAS 481/Eng 481. Special Topics in Caribbean Literature |
| AAS 483/Eng 483. Special Topics in African Literature |
| AAS 493/Eng 493. Special Topics in Race and Ethnicity |
| AAS 517/Mus 517. African American Musical Tradition |
| AAS 518/Mus 518. History of Jazz |
| AAS 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.