African American and African Diaspora Studies (BA)

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Offered by the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies , College of Arts and Sciences , the African American and African Diaspora Studies (BA) is a rigorous interdisciplinary program that examines the experiences of African-descended peoples in the continental United States & the broader African Diaspora, including Africa & the Caribbean. The program provides students with an understanding of the rich history and contemporary work of African Diasporic peoples, with opportunities to explore social movements and institutions, theories of racial ideology and race politics, and the distinctive artistic, literary and cultural practices of African people worldwide.

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the program requires a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and the approval of the program director.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

36 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 18 credit hours at or above 300-level

Course Requirements

Core (3 credit hours)

AFAM-200 African Americans in the Diaspora (3)

Foundation (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

Knowledge and Power (3 credit hours)

CRGC-360 Knowledge and Power: Critical Interdisciplinary Theory and Method (3)

Electives (18 credit hours)

Complete 18 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Foundation, or other coursework approved by program director. Complete at least 12 credit hours at or above 300-level, and minimum of 9 credit hours from approved coursework offered by the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies :

AFAM-250 Topics in African American and African Diaspora Studies (3)
AFAM-296 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)
AFAM-335 Studies in African American Literature (3) (approved topic)
/ LIT-335 Studies in African American Literature (3) (approved topic)
AFAM-350 Topics in African American and African Diaspora Studies (3)
AFAM-396 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)
AFAM-415 Islam in America (3)
/ AMST-415 Islam in America (3)
/ AWST-415 Islam in America (3)
AFAM-435 Advanced Studies in African American Literature (3) (topics)
/ LIT-435 Advanced Studies in African American Literature (3) (topics)
AFAM-450 Advanced Studies in African American and African Diaspora Studies (3) (topics)
AFAM-491 Internship in African American and African Diaspora Studies (1-6)
AFAM-496 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)
AMST-320 American Cultural History (3) (approved topic)
AMST-330 Contemporary American Culture (3) (approved topic)
ANTH-210 Race and Racism (3)
ANTH-439 Culture, History, Power, Place (3) (approved topic)
COMM-275 Dissident Media: Voices from the Underground (3)
COMM-420 Topics in Mass Media (1-3) (approved topic)
GOVT-325 Minority Politics in the United States (3) (approved topic)
GOVT-336 Topics in Sub-Saharan African Politics (3) (approved topic)
GOVT-423 Advanced Studies in Public Policy (3) (approved topic)
GOVT-432 Political Institutions and Processes in Selected Countries (3) (approved topic)
HIST-208 African American History: to 1877 (3)
HIST-209 African American History: 1877 to Present (3)
HIST-210 Ethnicity in America (3)
HIST-305 Topics in Race and Ethnicity in the United States (3) (approved topic)
HIST-385 Topics in African History (3)
LIT-225 African Literature (3)
LIT-235 African-American Literature (3)
PERF-225 The African American Experience in the Performing Arts (3)
PERF-321 Evolution of Jazz and Blues (3)
PERF-441 Advanced Studies in Music History and Ethnomusicology (3) (approved topic)
PHIL-417 Philosophy of Race (3)
PSYC-497 Topics in Psychology (3) (approved topic)
RELG-476 Religion and Black Bodies of Resistance (3)
RELG-486 Topics in Religious Discussion (3) (approved topic)
SISU-211 Civilizations of Africa (3)
SISU-340 Topics in Global Inequality and Development (3) (approved topic)
SISU-360 Topics in Identity, Race, Gender, and Culture (3) (approved topic)
SOCY-210 Power, Privilege, and Inequality (3)
WGSS-350 Interpreting Gender in Culture (3) (approved topic)

Capstone (3 credit hours)

CRGC-460 Capstone Research Seminar (3)

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.