Social Studies Degrees

Africana and Latin American Studies

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Africana and Latin American Studies

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Requirements for the Minor in African-American Studies
Seven courses including African-American Studies 276; English 343; History 247; one course selected from Music 232, 238, or American Studies 275, 282; at least one course focused on Africa or the Caribbean; and two courses selected from American Studies 493, Anthropology 217, 231, English 346, 413 (when appropriate), 427, Philosophy 213, Religious Studies 356, or Sociology 252, 354, 355, 357, 358. Course substitutions and exchanges may be made in consultation with the advisor.

Interested students also may consider an independent major in Africana studies (a selection of courses combining study of the Caribbean, the Americas, and Africa) or an independent major that combines African-American studies with another relevant discipline or program, especially anthropology, Latin American studies, African studies, or music. Majors and minors are instructed to inform faculty that they are African-American studies majors or minors when seeking the permission of an instructor to register for courses restricted to majors in other disciplines or when asking that prerequisites be waived.