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African American Studies

African American studies focuses on the study of people of African descent in the United States and the African diaspora. The African American Studies Program originated in 1969 through courses intended to foster awareness of African Americans' role in the development of the United States and the world. Because a thorough understanding of the African American experience cannot be achieved through study restricted to the perspective of a single discipline, all students are required to pursue courses in the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts.

The African American Studies Program draws upon faculty from American studies, communication studies, education, health and sport studies, history, journalism and mass communication, religious studies, rhetoric, sociology, theatre arts, and women's studies. Future course work in political economy, gender and sexism, and the construction of race and identity is planned.

Undergraduate Programs

The program offers a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in African American studies.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in African American studies requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least  30 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the major. Transfer credit is evaluated case-by-case and is limited to a maximum of 9 s.h. Students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

INTRODUCTORY COURSES

Students are required to complete 129:062 Foundations in African American Studies, and either 129:060 Introduction to African American Society or 129:061 Introduction to African American Culture.

Foundations in African American Studies (129:062) explores the history and the methodology of African American studies. Starting with readings related to the formation of the discipline, the course shows students what an African American studies approach to interpretation entails and culminates in a research paper.

Introduction to African American Society (129:060) examines the construction of social and historical institutions in the United States and the African diaspora (e.g., Black church, Black family, gender, sexuality). The course may include readings in political science, religion, history, sociology, geography, anthropology, and other disciplines.

Introduction to African American Culture (129:061) presents themes in African American cultural studies. It includes readings in literature, music, film studies, religious studies, and the visual and performing arts.

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES CORE

In addition to the two required introductory courses, all students must complete at least two courses from each of the three topical areas below (minimum of 18 s.h.).  Additional courses may be approved for the topical areas; consult with an African American studies advisor.

History, Religion, and the Diaspora

Two of these: 

Literature and Performing Arts

Two of these: 

Media, Politics, and Society

Two of these: 

ELECTIVES

Students also must take two elective courses (minimum of 6 s.h.) selected from the three topical areas listed above. With the approval of an African-American studies advisor, students may substitute relevant courses offered by other departments for one or both electives; the substituted courses may not be cross-referenced with African American studies. Students must gain the advisor's approval before enrolling in a substitute course.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

The language requirement for the African American studies major is the same as that of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. Students are encouraged, but not required, to take African language (Swahili is currently offered) or Spanish language courses to fulfill the language requirement.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan. (Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.)

During the first year of study, students should focus on completing the General Education Program, perhaps including beginning Swahili to complete the foreign language component, or taking Spanish language course work.

Before the third semester begins: at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: at least three courses in the major, including 129:062 Foundations in African American Studies, and 129:060 Introduction to African American Society or 129:061 Introduction to African American Culture; and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: four more courses in the major (for a total of seven) and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: at least nine courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

The University of Iowa Honors Program provides a stimulating and integrative educational experience for undergraduate majors who perform at a high level. The honors program in African American studies offers students the opportunity to pursue special interests in individual in-depth research. Honors students in African American studies must be members of the University Honors Program, which requires students to maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information). Honors students complete all of the required course work for the major (30 s.h.).

Students who wish to graduate with honors in African American studies are encouraged to register for up to 6 s.h. in 129:095 Honors Project. Work in this course enhances the student's ability to complete honors projects under the guidance of the supervising faculty member. Students take 129:095 Honors Project with the approval of their African American studies advisor, who typically supervises the course. Students may count up to 6 s.h. earned in 129:095 Honors Project toward the 33 s.h. required for the major.

Under the guidance of the African American studies advisor, the honors student defines a research project (thesis) using primary, secondary, or archival sources. The thesis may build upon the student's final project for the Senior Seminar (129:199), but research for the honors thesis must be distinct from that for the student's senior seminar paper and must be more thorough and sophisticated. Students make project proposals by the end of their junior year. Each student completes a thesis under the guidance of a supervising faculty member and presents the results as a senior essay to a committee of three faculty members, including the supervising African American studies faculty member, and two other African American studies faculty members of the student's choice. The student's committee may choose to hear an oral defense of the honors thesis, usually during the student's last semester.

Students should use one or more of their elective courses to develop the honors thesis.

Minor

The minor in African American studies requires a minimum of 15 s.h., including 12 s.h. taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Course work done for another major or minor may not be counted toward the minor in African American studies.

Students must take 129:062 Foundations in African American Studies.  In consultation with their advisors, they should select either 129:060 Introduction to African American Society or 129:061 Introduction to African American Culture, and one course in each of the three topical areas (total of three topical area courses, 9 s.h.): history, religion, and the diaspora; literature and performing arts; and media, politics, and society. Two of the three topical area courses must be taken at The University of Iowa.

Graduate Program

African American studies is not accepting graduate students in 2009-10.

Cocurricular Activities

Afro-American Cultural Center

African American studies encourages students to use facilities of the Afro-American Cultural Center. The center serves as a museum and library of educational and cultural artifacts and exhibits of Black culture, providing cultural enrichment for Black people of the Iowa City community and a cultural meeting place for Black students. It also attempts to provide a knowledge of Black culture that will promote diversity among all members of the University community.

African American Studies Student Association

The African American Studies Student Association aims to promote knowledge about people of African descent by sponsoring programs on various topics. Any University of Iowa student interested in African American studies is eligible to become a member.

Seminar and Lecture Series

The African American Studies Seminar Series and the Darwin Turner Lecture bring important scholars and creative artists such as Amiri Baraka, Michelle Wallace, and Valerie Smith to the University of Iowa campus.

The New Research in African American Studies lecture series, sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, focuses on research by faculty in the African American Studies Program.