The academic program focuses mainly on Africa and Afro-America, but due attention is paid to the Caribbean and Latin America. It not only deepens knowlegde of the history and culture of African peoples in the United States, but also provides a useful background for professionals in this field. Essentially interdisciplinary, the major enables students to interprete historical and contemporary experiences of African-American peoples in the United States, both broadly and specific to a certain region, historical period, or cultural manifestation. The flexibility of the course and the opportunity for fieldwork encourage students to engage in independent study, if possible, in a Black community.
Most courses are also open to nonmajors.
A list of these courses is available from the department. Students should complete this requirement by the sophomore year. Students major in either the African or the African-American concentration, and preparatory courses must be appropriate to the concentration. The department may consider substitutions. B.A. majors in this concentration also must take 16 hours of an African language and any required related culture courses.