2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
African/African American Studies Minor
Requirements for a Minor in African and African American Studies
Students seeking a minor in African and African American studies are required to complete 21 to 22 credit hours. Students will be required to choose between Track One: Africa and Track Two: African American.
All minors will be required to complete two core courses from the following list.
Core Courses (Credits: 6)
- AAA 200 - Understanding Africa (3 credits) OR AAA 201 - Introduction to African American Studies (3 credits)
- AAA 302 - African Diaspora (3 credits)
Track One: Africa
Students choosing the Africa track will be required to successfully complete the following:
- FRE 202 - Intermediate French II: Language and Culture (4 credits) OR ARA 202 - Intermediate Arabic II: Language and Culture (4 credits) or higher.
Note: Students who enter the university competent in French or Arabic at the 202 level or higher will take one extra elective course for a total of 21 credits.
Plus, four elective courses (12 credits) from the following list:
- AAA 319 - African Politics Credits: 3
- AAA 300 - U.S. - Africa Relations Credits: 3
- AAA 333 - Study Abroad-African/African American Studies Credits: 1 to 6
- AAA 337 - Contemporary Black Literature Credits: 3
- AAA 341 - Civil Conflicts in Africa Credits: 3
- AAA 343 - Black Feminist Thought Credits: 3
- AAA 380 - Special Topics in African/African American Studies Credits: 1 to 3
- AAA 399 - Independent Readings Credits: 1 to 3
- AAA 499 - Independent Study and Research Credits: 1 to 4
- GPY 351 - Geography of Africa Credits: 3
- HST 335 - Africa Before 1870 Credits: 3
- HST 336 - Africa After 1870 Credits: 3
Track Two: African American
Students choosing the African American track will be required to successfully complete the following:
Plus, four elective courses (12 credits) from the following list:
- AAA 231 - Early African American Literature Credits: 3
- AAA 232 - Modern African American Literature Credits: 3
- AAA 305 - Perspectives on the Black Arts Movement Credits: 3
- AAA 315 - Field to Factory: African American Migration Credits: 3
- AAA 333 - Study Abroad-African/African American Studies Credits: 1 to 6
- AAA 340 - African American Culture and Social Thought Credits: 3
- AAA 350 - African American Identity and Communication Credits: 3
- AAA 351 - Perspectives on African American Males Credits: 3
- AAA 352 - Black Women's Culture and Communities Credits: 3
- AAA 355 - History of Underground Railroad Credits: 3
- AAA 357/ HST 357 - The Black Diaspora and the Meaning of Sports, 1800 to the Present Credits: 3
- AAA 380 - Special Topics in African/African American Studies Credits: 1 to 3
- AAA 399 - Independent Readings Credits: 1 to 3
- AAA 499 - Independent Study and Research Credits: 1 to 4
- LIB 320 - Voices of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States Credits: 3
- HST 314 - African American History Credits: 3
- HST 372 - From Slavery to Freedom Credits: 3
- HST 316 - U.S. Civil Rights Movement History Credits: 3
- SOC 333 - Sociology of the Civil Rights Movement Credits: 3
- SOC 313 - Race and Ethnicity Credits: 3
Note: No more than two courses from any department other than African and African American studies can be counted toward the minor for the students who choose the African American track.
Additional Information
- No more than three credit hours of AAA 399 - Independent Readings (1 to 3 credits) OR AAA 499 - Independent Study and Research (1 to 4 credits) can count toward the minor.
- New African or African American-related courses in each of the two tracks may count toward the minor as they become available. Please consult the program director concerning the eligibility of any particular course. Students should be particularly alert to the presence of courses offered through the vehicle of special topics courses (AAA 380 and AAA 390).
- Transfer credits from approved study abroad programs and from other U.S. colleges and universities may count toward the minor upon verification by the program director. However, of the 21 to 22 credits required, a minimum of six credits must be taken in residence at GVSU.