Director, Professor Cheryl Townsend Gilkes

Program Faculty and Advisory Committee: Professors Jeffrey Anderson (Anthropology), Charles Bassett (American Studies and English), Catherine Besteman (Anthropology), Patrick Brancaccio (English and Performing Arts), Cedric Bryant (English), Henry Gemery (Economics), Gilkes (African-American Studies and Sociology), Thomas R.W. Longstaff (Religious Studies), Paul Machlin (Music), Phyllis Mannocchi (English), Margaret McFadden (American Studies), David Nugent (Anthropology), Maritza Straughn-Williams (African-American Studies and Anthropology), John Sweney (English), James Webb (History), and Robert Weisbrot (History); also Frances Parker (assistant director, library), Geraldine Roseboro (associate dean of students and director of intercultural affairs), and two student representatives

The African-American Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program of courses organized to provide an overview and introduction to the experiences of African Americans in the United States and to connect those experiences to the literatures, histories, and cultures of Africa and of Latin America and the Caribbean. Courses in the program expose students to classical and contemporary literature, to issues of public policy, to critical debates in history and social science, and to main currents of historical and contemporary cultural expression. Students may elect a major in African-American/American studies or they may elect a minor in African-American studies built upon courses in anthropology, history, literature, economics, government, music, religious studies, and sociology. The program exposes students to the history and culture of Africans and people of African descent throughout the Americas. However, the primary focus of the program is on the literature, history, and culture of African Americans in the United States.

Requirements for the Major in African-American/American Studies
Fifteen courses selected from American studies, literature, social science, and music, including American Studies 276 or African-American Studies 276, American Studies 271, 493, English 255, 256, 343, History 131, 132, and 247; one course selected from Music 232, 238, or American Studies 282; either History 342 or 442; two courses selected from American Studies 493, Anthropology 211, 217, 231, 254, Religious Studies 356, Sociology 214, 252, 354, 355, 357, or Womenís Studies 221; and at least one course focused on Africa or the Caribbean, preferably selected from Anthropology 231, 237, 254, History 364. Course substitutions and exchanges may be made in consultation with the advisor.

Requirements for the Minor in African-American Studies
Seven courses including African-American/American Studies 276; either English 343 or 413 (when appropriate); History 247; one course selected from Music 232, 238, or American Studies 282; at least one course focused on Africa or the Caribbean; and two courses selected from American Studies 493, Anthropology 217, 231, 254, Religious Studies 356; Sociology 214, 252, 354, 355, 357, or Womenís Studies 221 (when appropriate). Course substitutions and exchanges may be made in consultation with the advisor.

Interested students may also consider an independent major in African-American studies or an independent major that combines African-American studies with another relevant discipline. Minors and majors are instructed to inform faculty that they are African-American studies minors or African-American/American studies joint majors when seeking the permission of the instructor to register for courses or when asking that prerequisites be waived.

COURSE OFFERINGS

231s    Caribbean Society and Culture    Listed as Anthropology 231 (q.v.). Four credit hours.  S, D.    STRAUGHN-WILLIAMS

[238]    Burnt Biscuits and Green Onions: From Rhythm and Blues to Soul     Four credit hours.  A, D.    

254f    Women of the African Diaspora    Listed as Anthropology 254 (q.v.). Four credit hours.  S, D.    STRAUGHN-WILLIAMS

276s    African-American Culture in the United States    Listed as American Studies 276 (q.v.). Four credit hours.  S, D.    GILKES

491f, 492s    Independent Study    Individual study of special problems in African-American studies in areas where the student has demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and of the program director. One to four credit hours.    FACULTY