The Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies is an interdisciplinary degree that provides students with knowledge of human cultures and intellectual and practical skills to engage complexity, diversity and change. The degree program fosters students’ personal and social responsibility and, through applied learning experiences, empowers students to negotiate and to solve the complex problems of the 21st century. African American studies majors often pursue graduate and professional degree programs in business, education, history, international relations, law, political science, psychology, public health and social work. Career opportunities with a B.A. only in African American Studies include employment in community health agencies, public and private schools and nonprofit organizations.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
Program core outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of the major concepts, perspectives and theories in Africana studies
- Articulate the manner in which institutional structures and systemic practices shape and affect the experiences of Black people in the United States and abroad
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic methodological approaches (both quantitative and qualitative) in Africana studies and the general role of methodology in building knowledge about the Black experience
- Critically engage and propose integrity-based solutions to problems that impact persons of African descent and their communities
Education concentration-specific outcome
- Apply the disciplinary knowledge of Africana studies to pedagogical theory and teaching approaches
Special requirements
Majors in African American studies must meet the general education requirements of the College of Humanities and Sciences. The Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies requires the completion of 120 credits with at least 30 credits in African American Studies courses.
Students in the education concentration must complete 24 core credits along with the following concentration requirements: AFAM 338, AFAM 361 and EDUS 301; two history courses at the 100 level; one political science course at the 300 level with a focus on the United States; one political science course at the 300 level with an international focus; and one geography course. In addition, students must complete the following ancillary requirements: AFAM 111, HIST 201, HUMS 202, POLI 103 and ECON 203.
Students who are interested in pursuing a Master of Teaching degree should be mindful of the application processes required to enter the program at VCU. There are two such processes: 1) the Extended Teacher Preparation Program, to which undergraduate VCU students apply in their junior or senior year and 2) graduate school, to which students apply during the final semester of their undergraduate course work.
For entry to the extended program, students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8; to receive a passing score on the VCLA (total score = 470: reading, 235; writing 235); to have completed EDUS 301; and to submit a completed application with all the required supporting documents. Applications are due on Oct. 15 and April 1 each year.
For entry to graduate school, students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0; to receive a passing score on the GRE; and to submit a completed application with all the required supporting documents.
Students should consult with the African American studies adviser to ensure that they meet these requirements and deadlines.
Degree requirements for African American Studies, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in education
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| AFAM 201 | Theories and Foundations of Africana Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 211 | Africana Social and Political Thought | 3 |
| AFAM 310 | Black Health Matters: Social Determinants of Health in the African American Community | 3 |
| AFAM 311 | African Diaspora Experiences | 3 |
| AFAM 330 | Black Sights and Sites: Visual Media and Race | 3 |
| AFAM 399 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods 1 | 3 |
| AFAM 493 | Internship in Africana Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 499 | Capstone Seminar in Africana Studies | 3 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| AFAM 338 | Ferguson, USA: The Criminalization of Race in Historical Perspective | 3 |
| AFAM/HIST 361 | Americans from Africa | 3 |
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| History 100-level electives (select from list below) | 6 | |
| Political Science: United States elective (select from list below) | 3 | |
| Political Science: International elective (select from list below) | 3 | |
| Geography elective (select from list below) | 3 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
AFAM 111  Play course video for Introduction to Africana Studies | Introduction to Africana Studies (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| POLI 103 | U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for diversities in the human experience) 2 | 3 |
| ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| HIST 201 | The Art of Historical Detection: ____ (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and/or AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| Experiential fine arts 4 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 32-40 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
POLI 105 may be substituted. Please consult with an African American Studies advisor.
Course offered by the School of the Arts
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Concentration electives
History (select two from list)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 101 | Survey of European History | 3 |
| HIST 102 | Survey of European History | 3 |
| HIST 103 | Survey of American History I | 3 |
| HIST 104 | Survey of American History II | 3 |
| AFAM/HIST 105 | Survey of African History | 3 |
| AFAM/HIST 106 | Survey of African History | 3 |
| HIST 107 | Survey of East Asian Civilizations | 3 |
| HIST 108 | Survey of East Asian Civilizations | 3 |
| HIST 109 | Survey of Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST 110 | Survey of Latin American History | 3 |
| Or a qualifying 100-level course in HIST approved by an African American studies adviser | ||
Political science: United States (select one from list)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 301 | U.S. Parties and Elections | 3 |
| POLI 302 | Politics of the Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| POLI 303 | Public Opinion and Polling | 3 |
| POLI 304 | Presidential Primaries | 3 |
| POLI 305 | Political Campaigns and Communication | 3 |
| POLI 306 | The Congress | 3 |
| POLI 307 | Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLI 308 | U.S. Presidency | 3 |
| POLI 309 | Bureaucratic Politics | 3 |
| POLI 310 | Public Policy | 3 |
| POLI 311 | Politics of the Environment | 3 |
| POLI 312 | Media and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 313 | U.S. Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POLI 314 | U.S. Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POLI 315 | Courts and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 316 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| AFAM/POLI 318 | Politics of Race, Class and Gender | 3 |
| POLI 319 | Women and American Politics | 3 |
| POLI 321 | Urban Politics | 3 |
| POLI 322 | State and Local Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 323 | Virginia Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 329 | Intergovernmental Relations | 3 |
| POLI 330 | Lobbying | 3 |
| POLI 331 | Public Administration | 3 |
| POLI 332 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| POLI 338 | Secrecy, Surveillance, Spies and Lies | 3 |
| POLI 339 | Politics in Film | 3 |
| POLI 340 | Feminist Political Theory | 3 |
| POLI 341 | Classical to Modern Political Theory | 3 |
| POLI 342 | Modern to Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
| AFAM/POLI 343 | Black Political Thought | 3 |
| POLI 344 | Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
| AFAM/POLI 345 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| POLI 346 | Black Political Activism | 3 |
| POLI 347 | Black Queer Politics | 3 |
| POLI 369 | U.S. National Security | 3 |
| Or a qualifying 300-level course in POLI approved by an African American studies adviser | ||
Political science: International (select one from list)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 351 | Middle Eastern Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 352 | European Governments and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 353 | Latin American Governments and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 354 | Russian and Eurasian Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 355 | Asian Governments and Politics | 3 |
| AFAM 356 | African Government and Politics | 3 |
| AFAM/POLI 357 | Politics of Southern Africa | 3 |
| POLI 358 | Concepts of Comparative Government | 3 |
| POLI 360 | China in Transition | 3 |
| POLI 361 | Issues in World Politics | 3 |
| POLI 362 | International Organizations and Institutions | 3 |
| POLI 363 | U.S. Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI 364 | Vietnam | 3 |
| POLI 365 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POLI 366 | Women and Global Politics | 3 |
| POLI 367 | Terrorism | 3 |
| POLI 368 | Comparative National Security Policy | 3 |
| POLI 380 | Human Security | 3 |
| POLI 381 | The Politics of Genocide | 3 |
| POLI 382 | Politics of Global Health | 3 |
| POLI 383 | The Middle East and North Africa in Transition | 3 |
| POLI 384 | International Law | 3 |
| POLI 385 | International Security | 3 |
| POLI 386 | Environmental Security | 3 |
| POLI 387 | Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| POLI 388 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| Or a qualifying 300-level course in POLI approved by an African American studies adviser | ||
Geography (select one from list)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Any 300- or 400-level HIST course with the "regional geography" attribute | ||
| URSP 102 | Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| URSP 108 | Uncovering Richmond | 3 |
| URSP 116 | Introduction to the City | 3 |
| URSP 303 | World Regions | 3 |
| URSP 306 | Economic Geography | 3 |
| URSP 312 | History of Human Settlement | 3 |
| URSP 315 | The Evolution of American Cities | 3 |
| URSP 316 | Urban Life in Modern America | 3 |
| URSP 331 | Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| URSP 333 | Geography of Africa | 3 |
| URSP 334 | Regional Geography of ____ | 3 |
| URSP 340 | World Cities Outside of North America | 3 |
| URSP 350 | Great Cities of the World | 3 |
| Or a qualifying course in URSP approved by an African American studies adviser | ||
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| AFAM 111 Play course video for Introduction to Africana Studies | Introduction to Africana Studies (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University | 1 |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Experiential fine arts | 1-3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| General education course (select quantitative foundations) | 3-4 | |
| Term Hours: | 14-17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| POLI 103 | U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience)) | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Concentration elective (HIST 1XX) | 3 | |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| AFAM 201 | Theories and Foundations of Africana Studies | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Concentration elective (HIST 1XX) | 3 | |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| AFAM 211 | Africana Social and Political Thought | 3 |
| HIST 201 | The Art of Historical Detection: ____ | 3 |
| Concentration elective (Geography) | 3 | |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| AFAM 310 | Black Health Matters: Social Determinants of Health in the African American Community | 3 |
| AFAM 311 | African Diaspora Experiences | 3 |
| AFAM 361 | Americans from Africa | 3 |
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| Concentration elective (POLI: U.S. or International) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| AFAM 330 | Black Sights and Sites: Visual Media and Race | 3 |
| AFAM 399 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods 2 | 3 |
| Concentration elective (POLI: U.S. or International) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| AFAM 338 | Ferguson, USA: The Criminalization of Race in Historical Perspective | 3 |
| AFAM 493 | Internship in Africana Studies | 3 |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| AFAM 499 | Capstone Seminar in Africana Studies | 3 |
| Open electives | 12 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 120-123 | |
Students are required to complete courses in all three breadth of knowledge areas and three of four area of inquiry categories. Select general education courses in consultation with an advisor.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.