Secondary Field in African or African American Studies

The secondary field enables students whose concentration is outside the field of African and African American Studies to gain a basic understanding of the history, cultures, politics, and social problems of Africans and peoples of African descent. Africans and peoples of African descent have developed cultural forms and traditions that are worthy of study in their own right and that also have profoundly shaped the fine arts and popular culture in the Americas and all around the planet. Black struggles for freedom, both on the continent of Africa and throughout the Western hemisphere, have served as a model for other oppressed groups throughout the world. Comparative and cross-cultural studies of Africa and its diaspora contribute enormously to our understanding of race and ethnicity, and in addressing the ethical, social, and political consequences of racial and ethnic antagonism, the field of African and African American Studies raises questions relevant to the experiences of all peoples. The Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) is offering two secondary field pathways, African Studies and African American Studies.

1. African Studies

   5 half-courses (at least one of which must be at the 100-level)

   • Requirements
     1. One introductory half-course in African Studies.
     2. One half-course in African history. (See attached file "History Courses" in the sidebar)
     3. Three additional half-courses in African Studies, two of which may primarily be focused on language study.
2. African American Studies

   5 half-courses (at least one of which must be at the 100-level)

   • Requirements
     1. One introductory half-course in African American Studies.
     2. One half-course in African American history. (See attached file "History Courses" in the sidebar)
     3. Three additional half-courses in African American Studies.