Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies

The Black Studies department currently offers a major leading to the B.A. with an African-American emphasis or African emphasis as well as a minor program with the same options.

The central mission of the Black Studies program is to prepare students to critically understand, conduct research, and interpret the complex histories, societies, and cultures of people of African descent in the United States, Africa, and the Diaspora. Black Studies unapologetically facilitates the creation of a self conscious body of capable and committed intellectuals who choose to use their knowledge in the service of the African American community, and by consequence and extention, in the interest of a new and better society and world.

A degree in Black Studies therefore equips students not only with the skills to contribute to augmenting humanity’s understanding of itself, using the African experience as a pragmatic example of human struggle and achievement, but the agency to critique, resist and reverse one of the greatest problems of our time, the progressive application of Eurocentric thought and practice in the development of human consciousness.

Degree Requirements

Black Studies majors must complete 30 hours of course work in the discipline. BLST 3980 and BLST 4900 may each be selected twice.

African-American Emphasis

The Black Studies major with an African-American studies emphasis may be earned by completing the following requirements:

BLST 1000	Introduction to Black Studies	3
BLST 2100	Black American Culture	3
BLST 1260	Survey of Black Literature	3
	And
BLST 2410	African American History to 1865	3
	Or
BLST 2420	African American History Since 1865	3
	Total Credit Hours:	12

Plus 18 addditional hours selected from upper division departmental courses (3000 and 4000 level)

African Emphasis

The Black Studies major may earn an emphasis in African Studies by completing the following requirements:

BLST 1000	Introduction to Black Studies	3
BLST 1050	Ancient African Civilization	3
BLST 1340	Introduction to Contemporary Africa	3
BLST 4700	African Philosophy	3
	Total Credit Hours:	12

The remaining 18 hours shall be selected from upper division departmental courses (3000 and 4000 level).

Minor in Black Studies

A Black Studies minor may be obtained by successful completion of fifteen credits of course work, of which at least 9 hours must be composed of upper division (3000 and 4000 level) departmental courses.

Upper Division Course Contingency

In the event that an insufficient number of courses are available at the upper division level for a student to complete a major or minor, the chair of the department may, at his or her discretion, accept alternative departmental courses, external courses dealing with subject matter related to the major or minor or external experiences in course settings like internships, study abroad, and/or community engagement as acceptable for meeting the requirements.