Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 University Catalog 
    
2014-2015 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

African American Studies, BA


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About the Program

The African American Studies and Research Center is an interdisciplinary program offering an undergraduate major and minor in African American Studies. Courses are taught by African American Studies faculty from several departments throughout Liberal Arts at Purdue. Students may seek a major or a minor in African American Studies, or may take courses as electives. Additionally, students have the option of a double major in African American Studies and another academic area such as Communications, English, History, Psychology, and Sociology.

The major in African American Studies focuses on the experience of African Americans and their connections to the African Diaspora in the Caribbean and Latin America. Coursework addresses such topics as cultural practices, with reference to literature, history, and film as well as inequality as it relates to issues of nationality, race, class, and gender. The major provides students with a solid theoretical and research basis to pursue either graduate professional study or employment in business or industry. In addition, our faculty led study-abroad programs allow students global engagement that will benefit them upon graduation.

The research component of the African American Studies and Research Center sponsors a Harriet A. Jacobs Lecture, W.E.B. Du Bois lecture series, a Talkin’ & Testifyin’ works in progress series, Conversations on the Diaspora and our annual Symposium on African American Culture & Philosophy. The research component is structured to enhance courses and extend understanding of the African Diaspora. Scholars and artists such as John Kurewa, Houston Baker, Patricia Hill Collins, Vincent Harding, Delores Aldridge, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Darlene Clark Hine and Ntozake Shange have participated in lectures sponsored by the African American Studies and Research Center. Students are encouraged to participate in the AASRC sponsored programs.

Why should you take our courses?

You may be an engineering major from Gary, Indiana; a management major from Chicago, Illinois; or an English major from Detroit, Michigan. You may be planning a career in teaching, management, or technology. As a student in an African American Studies course, you will understand the history of interaction of peoples in a pluralistic society. This is essential for working in our diverse society, especially for those in government, journalism, human resources, business, law, education, engineering and public service.

Whoever you are and whatever you plan to become, you must have questions about yourself, your environment, your future, your culture, and society. African American Studies can provide engaging answers to these and other issues.

“Education is more than the mere imparting of information. Above all things, the effort must result in making one think and do for oneself. The only way one can function efficiently in society is to know oneself. In studying the records of others one becomes better acquainted with oneself and with one’s possibilities to live and do in the present age.”

Carter G. Woodson, 1933

Summary of Program Requirements

The Summary of Program Requirements for African American Studies  is a comprehensive list of those categories which a student must fulfill in order to earn their degree. Unlike the full Detailed Program Requirements listed below, complete lists of selectives for any given category are not shown. These summaries are intended to be printer-friendly and less expansive in detail.

Detailed Program Requirements

Please see below for detailed program requirements and possible selective fulfillments.

African American Studies-BA
AFAS
120 Credits

Students must earn a “C-” or better in a course in order for it to count towards the major.

African American Studies Major Requirements (30 credits)


A minor is not required with this major.

E. Select One of the Following Visual and Performing Arts Courses Related to Africa or the African Diaspora (3 credits)


Note


**This course may only be counted in one category

Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements (54 - 56 credits)


Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements

Electives (34 - 36 credits)


University Core Requirements


  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning

Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


15-17 Credits


Spring 1st Year


15-16 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


15-16 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


15-16 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • REQ B - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • REQ C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Gender Issues - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • REQ B - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • REQ C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Social Ethics - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • REQ D - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Global Perspective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • REQ E - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Other Cultures - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Note


Students must earn a “C-” or better in a course in order for it to count towards the major.

120 semester credits required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

32 credit hours at 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

Degree Requirements


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

Degree Works is knowledge source for specific requirements and completion

Foreign Language Courses


Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program.  For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.

Expired Course


Any course without a link to its description is one that has been expired.  However, this course could fulfill the degree requirement historically.

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