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Department of African-American Studies
B.A. with a Major in African-American Studies
Minor in African-American Studies
Distinction
1223 University Hall (UH)
312–996–2950
carlap@uic.edu
http://www.uic.edu/las/afam/aasthome.html
Administration: Head, Beth Richie
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Lynette Jackson
African-American Studies, a comprehensive study of the African-American people’s experience, combines the approaches of the humanities and the social sciences. Students may take African-American Studies to enhance their knowledge and/or pursue it as a major to provide a well-rounded approach to understanding problems through the African-American example. The major also imparts skills in critical thinking, research methods, theory building, analysis, and written and oral expression.
Training in African-American Studies is useful for graduate work in literature, American studies, law, history, sociology, social work, government, business, journalism, and employment in the public sphere.
B.A. with a Major in
African-American Studies
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of African-American Studies degree requirements are outlined below. Students should
consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| B.A. with a Major in African-American Studies Degree Requirements |
Hours |
| LAS Course Requirements |
43–64 |
| Major Requirements |
33 |
| Electives |
23–44 |
| Minimum Total Hours—B.A. with a Major in African-American Studies |
120 |
LAS Course Requirements
See Course Requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on this requirement.
Major Requirements
| Courses |
Hours |
| AAST 100—Introduction to African-American Studies |
3 |
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| One 100- or 200-level literature course: |
3 |
AAST 110 —Introduction to African-American
Literature, 1760-1910 (3) |
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AAST 111—Introduction to African-American Literature
Since 1910 (3) |
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AAST 191—African and Caribbean Francophone
Literature in Translation (3) |
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AAST 212—Techniques of African-American Creative
Writing (3) |
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AAST 250—Comparative Black Literatures (3)
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| One 100- or 200-level social science course: |
3 |
| AAST 103—African-American Politics and Culture (3) |
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| AAST 120—African-American Religious Traditions (3) |
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| AAST 141—African Civilization (3) |
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| AAST 200—History of Race Relations in America (3) |
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| AAST 201—The Psychology of African-Americans (3) |
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| AAST 202—African-American Behavioral Patterns(3) |
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AAST 203—The African-American Family in the United
States (3) |
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| AAST 241—Pre-Colonial Africa (3) |
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| AAST 242—Modern Africa (3) |
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| AAST 245—Politics and Government of Africa (3) |
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AAST 206—Interdisciplinary Research Methods
in African-American Studies |
3 |
| AAST 247—African-American History to 1877 |
3 |
| AAST 248—African-American History Since 1877 |
3 |
AAST 340—Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminar in
African-American Studiesa |
3 |
AAST 390—Senior Seminar in African-American
Studies |
3 |
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An additional 9 hours of credit in African-
American studies
courses selected in consultation
with a
departmental advisor and distributed
in the following
way: |
9 |
| 200- or 300-level: at least 6 hoursb |
|
| 400-level: at least 3 hours |
|
| |
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| Total Hours—Major Requirements |
33 |
a AAST 340 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
b Students wishing to substitute 400-level courses for those at the 200- or 300-level may do so with the permission of the department.
Electives
| Courses |
Hours |
| Total Hours—Electives |
23–44 |
Recommended Plan of Study
To view a recommended plan of study for the major in African-American Studies, please visit the LAS Web site http://www.uic.edu/las/college/info/fygp.
Minor in African-American Studies
Students from other disciplines who want to minor in African-American Studies must complete 18 semester hours as outlined below.
| Required Courses—African-American |
|
| Studies Minor |
Hours |
| AAST 100—Introduction to African-American Studies |
3 |
| |
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| One 100- or 200-level literature course: |
3 |
AAST 110 —Introduction to African-American
Literature, 1760-1910 (3) |
|
AAST 111—Introduction to African-American Literature
Since 1910 (3) |
|
AAST 191—African and Caribbean Francophone
Literature in Translation (3) |
|
AAST 212—Techniques of African-American Creative
Writing (3) |
|
AAST 250—Comparative Black Literatures (3)
|
|
| |
|
| One 100- or 200-level social science course: |
3 |
| AAST 103—African-American Politics and Culture (3) |
|
| AAST 120—African-American Religious Traditions (3) |
|
| AAST 141—African Civilization (3) |
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| AAST 200—History of Race Relations in America (3) |
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| AAST 201—The Psychology of African-Americans (3) |
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| AAST 202—African-American Behavioral Patterns(3) |
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AAST 203—The African-American Family in the United
States (3) |
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| AAST 241—Pre-Colonial Africa (3) |
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| AAST 242—Modern Africa (3) |
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| AAST 245—Politics and Government of Africa (3) |
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| One of the following courses: |
3 |
| AAST 247—African-American History to 1877 (3) |
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| AAST 248—African-American History Since 1877 (3) |
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Two additional African-American Studies courses,
one at the 300-level and one at the 400-level,
chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor. |
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| Total Hours—African-American Studies Minor |
18 |
Distinction
To be considered for departmental distinction, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25/4.00, a GPA of 3.50/4.00 in all African-American studies courses, and meet all course requirements for a major in African-American studies.
To be eligible for high or highest distinction, the student must have a grade point average of 3.75/4.00 in all African-American studies courses. In addition, eligible students must submit a final project for departmental review that demonstrates excellent work and must make a seminar presentation on this project to a session of African-American Studies majors and faculty. The determination of high or highest distinction will be made by the faculty on the basis of the grade point average, the project, and the presentation.
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