---

[Wesleyan Home Page] [Course Search] [Course Search by CID]

Professor: Gayle Pemberton (Chair, spring) (English)

Associate Professor: Ashraf Rushdy (Chair, fall) (English)

Assistant Professors: Jeff Kerr-Ritchie (History), Maureen Mahon (Anthropology), Renee Romano
(History)

Visiting Lecturer: Doretha (Mickey) Davidson (Dance)

Visiting Writer/Adjunct Lecturer: Kate Rushin
(Director, Center for African American Studies)

African American studies (AFAM) is an interdisciplinary major that offers a broad knowledge of the life of blacks in the United States and in the Caribbean. The AFAM major is complemented by a concentration in a specific discipline.

Any student who completes the major will receive a degree in African American studies with concentration in a particular discipline. A double major is also an option.

African American studies offers two categories of courses: core courses provide a general introduction to areas of inquiry in African American studies. Elective courses explore the black experience and expression from different perspectives and disciplines.

Major program. To be admitted to the major, students must have taken AFAM 201 (Introduction to African American Studies) and received a grade of B- or better. A satisfactory cumulative average must be maintained in all AFAM courses during and upon completion of the AFAM major. (You are strongly encouraged to consult with the AFAM chair or Professor Rushdy to determine which courses will best enable you to complete the program requirements). Eleven (11) courses are required of AFAM majors: six (6) in AFAM Studies and five (5) in a related field of concentration. All courses must be letter-graded. One tutorial of CR/U is acceptable. No transfer credits are acceptable.

AFAM studies core courses (3). AFAM 201 (Introduction to African American Studies), AFAM 203 or AFAM 204 (Introduction to African American History), and one (1) AFAM social science course. Elective Courses (3). Of the remaining three (3) courses, one (1) course each must be chosen from three of the following areas: American studies, anthropology, art, cinema, dance, economics, English, government, history, music, psychology, religion, sociology, theater, or womenÃs studies. (These courses must be cross-listed with AFAM).

Field of concentration. The possible fields of concentration are: African studies, American studies, anthropology, art, cinema studies, economics, English, dance, government, history, Latin American studies, linguistics, music, philosophy, psychology, religion, Romance languages and literatures, sociology, theater, and womenÃs studies.

The five (5) courses taken in the chosen field of concentration must include those courses required of the majors in that field of studies. AFAM studies majors must consult with the appropriate AFAM faculty member and chairperson or appropriate faculty member of the department in which they choose to concentrate to determine which courses are required. (NOTE: AFAM studies majors intending to concentrate in Art must make their intention known to the chair of the art Department. Counseling with a member of the faculty of the Art Department is required as soon as the student expresses the intention of concentrating in art).

The five (5) courses taken in the field of concentration cannot be counted toward AFAM core courses or AFAM electives.

Majors are required to undertake one substantial research or artistic project under faculty supervision before graduation. Students may satisfy this requirement by presenting an honors thesis, a senior essay, a senior project, or by enrolling in an advanced seminar (a 300- or 400-level course that requires a substantial research paper) either in AFAM or in the department of concentration.