Significant attention is also given to various mainstream paradigms in the social sciences and humanities which students can expect to encounter in other disciplines. Through the vehicle of these paradigms, the course provides a rigorous examination of the historical construction, political uses, and social meanings of race as a determinant factor in the distribution of power, status and resources throughout the African Diaspora. Students engage seminal texts ranging widely across the intellectual spectrum and levels of abstraction. This course provides students adequate preparation to conduct supervised research on a wide range of topics within the field of Black Studies. Based on the theory and method studied in BKST 389, students pursue a term-long independent research project.
Research is presented to the group during the term and written up as a research paper.
A wide range of research projects is possible, from library or archival research to community action projects. See College Honors Program.