Black Studies

Undergraduate Curriculum

ADVISORY COMMITTEE: McLendon (Program Director), Cooper (English/Linguistics), Ely (History), Gavaler (Dance), Gundaker (Anthropology/American Studies), Lowry (English/American Studies), Phillips (History), Pinson (English), Royster (Sociology), Sanford (Women's Studies/Black Studies) and Weiss (American Studies/English).

Black Studies provides an interdisciplinary framework for examining the experiences of people of African heritage. The curriculum engages students in the critical examination of black diasporic cultural traditions and race relations in Africa, the Caribbean Basin and especially North America; Black Studies regards black people and their cultures as essential, organic components of the societies in which those people live. The concentration draws on fields such as history, sociology, economics, anthropology, literature, music, drama, dance, film, and the visual arts.

Requirements for Major/Minor
> A major in Black Studies requires the successful completion of at least 37 credit hours, as follows:

1. Four required courses, totaling 10 credits: BLS 205, HIST 251 or 252, BLS 301 (Junior Seminar) and BLS 407 (Senior Colloquium).

2. An additional 27 credits selected from two sets of courses in consultation with a BLS advisor to form a coherent plan of study. Of these, at least 18 credits must be in courses above the 200 level.

A list of possible courses will be published each semester and available from advisors. Students may also choose to enroll in several individualized courses, including Independent Study and Senior Honors.

A student who satisfies all requirements for a major/minor in BLS also satisfies the major writing requirement.

Each major must fulfill the Computing Proficiency Requirement by earning a grade of C- or better in a course within the program designated by the student. The Advisory Committee must approve the designation of courses which fulfill this requirement.

Major/minor application forms are available in the Black Studies Office, Morton 322. These must be submitted along with the completed Declaration of Concentration form available from the Office of Academic Advising and a current transcript or DARs report.

Language Requirement
Students are strongly encouraged to gain proficiency in at least one foreign language. Students interested in building a language component into their program of study should consult with a member of the Advisory Committee.

Minor Requirements
The minor in Black Studies requires 18 credits, including the following core courses: BLS 205, HIST 251 or 252, and BLS 301 (Junior Seminar). The remaining credits will be fulfilled through courses which should be selected from the electives list in consultation with an advisor. Courses from the department in which the student is concentrating cannot be counted toward the minor.