Major in Afro-American Studies
The major in Afro-American Studies requires that a student complete a minimum of eleven (11) courses in the Du Bois Department in addition to AfroAm 365: Junior Year Writing. In their final year, students take a two-semester capstone sequence: AfroAm 494DI: The Du Bois Senior Seminar (offered in the FALL only), and AfroAm 496: The Du Bois Senior Project. Senior projects can be thesis papers or another type of project designed in consultation with a faculty advisor from the department. Independent study credits do not count toward the major requirements.*Note: Only one departmental course may satisfy the Gen. Ed. Requirement (for Primary Majors only)
I. Introduction (1 course)
- 101 Introduction to Black Studies
II. Introductory Sequence (4 courses)
Humanities Group (2 courses required)
- 111 Survey of African Art
- 113 Aesthetics of Afro-American Art
- 117 Survey of Afro-American Literature I
- 118 Survey of Afro-American Literature II
- 151 Culture and Literature
- 155 Concepts in Afro-American Music I
- 156 Concepts in Afro-American Music II
- MUSIC 102 Afro-American Music
- MUSIC 103 History of Jazz
History & Social Sciences Group (2 courses required)
- 132 Afro-American History, 1619-1860
- 133 Afro-American History, Civil War to 1954
- 161 Introduction to Afro-American Political Science
- ECON 144 Political Economy of Racism
- HISTORY 160 History of Africa to 1500
- HISTORY 161 History of Africa since 1500
III. Advanced Sequence (4 courses)
Four courses at the 200-400 level (History, Social Sciences, Literature, Creative and Performing Arts)
IV. Junior Year Writing (1 course)
- 365 Composition: Style and Organization
V. Senior Seminar Sequence (2 courses)
Both courses required for primary and secondary AfroAm majors: open to juniors and seniors
- 494DI Du Bois Senior Seminar, 3 credits (IE designation, Fall offering only)
- 496 Independent Project, 3 credits
Courses taught in other Five College departments or programs may count towards the major. Please contact department office or Chief Undergraduate Advisor.
- ANTHRO 382 Caribbean Cultures
- ANTHRO 470 Cultures of Africa
- ANTHRO 497AA African American Anthropology
- FRNCH STDS 564 Literature of Africa and the Caribbean
- JOURN 310 The Press and the Third World
- POLSCI 307 Black Politics
- POLSCI 341 Government and Politics of Central America and the Caribbean
- POLSCI 343 Government and Politics of East Africa
- POLSCI 345 Revolutionary Nationalism and Imperialism in the Caribbean
- POLSCI 346 Government and Politics of West Africa
- POLSCI 397 Comparative Politics of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti
- SOC 340 Race Relations
- SOC 397 Martin Luther King Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement
- WOST 292 Black Women in U.S. History
- WOST 394 Black Feminist/Womanist Thought
- WOST 297 Afro-American Women in the Civil Rights Movement