African American Studies, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in African American Studies
African American Studies is a field that systematically explores the life and culture of African American peoples and their African Diaspora relationships, patterns, and ties. Those who major in African American Studies will learn about the historical, political, ideological, legal, social, artistic, and economic issues affecting African Americans. They will learn about the dignity-affirming struggles of African American people to have their humanity acknowledged, valued, and understood.
The major in African American Studies (AAS) is to provide students with a transdiciplinary perspective on the origin, role and policy implications of race in the United States and world political economy, society and culture, over time. AAS students will learn diverse concepts, theories and methodologies for analyzing the experiences and perspectives and the cultural and intellectual production of African Americans and African descended people, largely though not exclusively in the United States. An African American studies major will be encouraged to achieve excellence in developing vital creative and critical competencies, including oral and written communication, computer and statistical skills. Students majoring in AAS will also be encouraged to join a new generation of leadership grounded in African American studies knowledge and committed to public engagement to meet the continuing challenges of a diverse democratic society; and to foster national discourse to produce public policy aimed at achieving social justice.
This program is designed to serve undergraduate students primarily interested in the social sciences and humanities, though all students are welcome and encouraged to enroll in the program. This program prepares students for graduate study and research in traditional disciplines and interdisciplinary fields and for careers in the private or public sectors such as teaching, social work, human resources, criminal justice, management and administration, city planning, marketing, policy-making, medicine and law.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in African American Studies
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.
Departmental distinction:
To graduate with distinction, students must complete the following:
- 3.3 overall G.P.A
- 3.6 program G.P.A
- Complete AFRO 495 Senior Thesis Seminar with a grade of 3.3 or better
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Equates to 48 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level African American Studies courses must be taken on this campus.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| I. Core course requirements | ||
| AFRO 100 | Intro to African American St | 3 |
| AFRO 220 | Intro to Research Methods AfAm | 3 |
| AFRO 490 | Theory in African American St | 3 |
| AFRO 495 | Senior Thesis Seminar | 3 |
| II. Theory and Methods Requirement | ||
| At least one theory and one methods course beyond the core. The courses must be selected from a list maintained in the Department's advising office. | 6 | |
| III. Thematic Areas | ||
| Students must take at least one course each from the following five areas. At least 6 of the remaining hours must be taken from only one of any of the five areas. A list of courses is maintained in the Department's advising office. | 21 | |
A. Comparative Race, Racialized Communities and Identities | ||
B. Cultural Production and Cultural Movements | ||
C. Political Economy, Public Policy and Contemporary Issues | ||
D. Global Interconnections: Black Transnationalism and the African Diaspora | ||
E. Black Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies | ||
| IV. Cognate or Supporting Coursework | ||
| Students must complete 9 hours of supporting coursework. Supporting coursework courses consists of a set of courses which are logically grouped, and which reflect or support a student's interests outside of the African American Studies major. Supporting coursework courses must be approved by the Department's undergraduate advisor. | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in African American Studies
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | AFRO 220 | 3 |
| AFRO 100 | 3 | Theory course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Methods course | 3 | Thematic Area B course | 3 |
| Thematic Area A course | 3 | Thematic Area C course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Thematic Area D course | 3 | Thematic Area E course | 3 |
| Thematic Area course | 3 | Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| AFRO 490 | 3 | AFRO 495 | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 | Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| Thematic Area course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in African American Studies
Upon completion of the major in African American Studies, students will be able to:
- DESCRIBE the main stages in the historical development of the African American experience that reflects both continuity and change, and the different component parts of the human experience.
- ASSESS the historical development of peoples of African descent in broad global context, emphasizing historical, contemporary, and future implications.
- ANALYZE the experiences of Black people using the perspectives, data, and interpretations from two or more disciplinary fields (e.g., historical studies, cultural studies, social studies).
- EVALUATE successes and failures as people have used their values to initiate efforts to achieve social justice for African Americans and people of diverse social backgrounds.
- DESIGN a strategies and tactics that provide a solution to a major civic or social challenge facing Black communities in various parts of the world, illustrating how "Academic Excellence and Social Responsibility" in Black Studies have contributed to this process.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in African American Studies
department website: https://afro.illinois.edu/
department faculty: African American Studies Faculty
email: afro-advising@illinois.edu
overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences
college website: https://las.illinois.edu/