African American Studies, BA

Department Chair

Haywood Rolling, Jr.
Interim Chair
200 Sims Hall
Email: aas@syr.edu
315 443-4302

Faculty

Joan Bryant, Horace Campbell, Vlad Dima, Kishi Animashaun Ducre, Tanisha Jackson, Jennifer O'Reilly, Herbert Ruffin II, Danielle T. Smith

This interdisciplinary department offers the opportunity for study, research, and community involvement in African American Studies and enables students to explore cultural, literary, historical, political, socioeconomic and other issues affecting African Americans, as well as links with continental Africa and the Caribbean. The department offers a minor and a major, leading to a B.A. degree, and enables students to explore the field through courses in the social sciences and the humanities. Students seeking a B.A. degree in African American Studies must successfully complete AAS 112 Introduction to African American Studies /ANT 112 Introduction to African American Studies before formal admission to the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

Explain major cultural figures, texts, expression, and movements in Black Studies
Explain knowledge of major social and political issues in Black Studies
Develop knowledge of major social, cultural, & political factors that have defined the Black experience across time and/or space (Diasporic orientation)
Learn how race, class, gender, and/or sexualities functions within the contours of the Black experience (intersectionality)
Develop critical thinking skills applicable to issues in Black Studies
Develop ability to conceive & execute independent inquiries in Black Studies
Develop effective written and oral communications

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Prerequisite
Students must complete the prerequisite before admission to the major:
AAS 112	Introduction to African American Studies	3
Core Credits
One course is required from each Group		15
Group A: Literature (Choose One)
AAS 231	African American Literature to 1900: An Introduction
AAS 232	African American Literature: 20th and 21st Centuries
Group B: Art, Music, Religion (Choose One)
AAS 206	Introduction to African American Music
AAS 345	African American Religious History
AAS 361	Art of the Black World
Group C: History (Choose One)
AAS 332	African American History: Through the 19th Century
AAS 333	African American History: After the 19th Century
Group D: Political Science & Sociology (Choose One)
AAS 306	African American Politics
AAS 309	Race, Gender and Sexuality in the African Diaspora
AAS 341	Politics of Africa
AAS 353	Sociology of the African American Experience
Group E: Major Capstone
AAS 401	Research in African American Studies
Electives
Students must complete twelve elective credits of AAS courses for the major. Students who take two 200-level courses in the AAS Core may not count more than one 200-level elective course toward the AAS major.		12
Total Credits		30

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

For all Arts and Sciences|Maxwell students, successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in this major requires a minimum of 120 credits, 96 of which must be Arts and Sciences|Maxwell credits, completion of the Liberal Arts Core requirements, and the requirements for this major (30 credits) that are listed above.

Dual Enrollments:

Students dually enrolled in Newhouse* and Arts and Sciences|Maxwell will complete a minimum of 122 credits, with at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences|Maxwell coursework and an Arts and Sciences|Maxwell major.

*Students dually enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences|Maxwell as first year students must complete the Liberal Arts Core. Students who transfer to the dual program after their first year as singly enrolled students in the Newhouse School will satisfy general requirements for the dual degree program by completing the Newhouse Core Requirements.

Undergraduate University Requirements

The following requirements and experiences apply to all Syracuse University Undergraduate matriculated degree programs.

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