Prospective Students

Undergraduate Program

African American Studies (AAS) brings together an interdisciplinary community of scholars to offer courses leading to a minor in the discipline. The AAS program and minor offers students an opportunity to study history, literature, politics and other aspects of Black life and culture. Our faculty is committed to exploring creative approaches to research and teaching by making the study of African Americans a central element in their scholarship and courses. The interdisciplinary methodology of AAS informs students within a variety of disciplines, including, anthropology, economics, education, history, literature, music, political science, psychology, and sociology.

All of our courses offer students the opportunity to explore the history and culture of African descended people across the globe. Students who declare the minor will gain knowledge and develop skills and sensitivities that help them to function and navigate effectively in today’s global world. While many of our courses examine the history and culture of African Americans, the minor enables students to study Africans in the homeland and the Diaspora. The African American Studies undergraduate minor and courses are open to all students!

Students who are interested in receiving the AAS minor must complete 18 credit hours offered in African American Studies and with the cooperation of several departments within the College of Arts and Sciences. The breakdown of course requirements is as follows:

  • Complete the required introductory course: AAS 1063 (Intro to African American Studies)
  • Complete at least 3 credit hours in the categories of Literature and Fine Arts and Social Sciences
  • Complete at least 6 credit hours in category of Humanities
  • Complete a 3-credit hour elective course at the 3000 to 4000 level