Requirements

The program’s major and minor allows students to attain degrees of mastery by concentrating on an interrelated set of topics within a geographic area or by comparing aspects of the topic(s) inter-regionally or globally. Three required core courses will provide the framework on which students will organize their own majors in consultation with the program’s director. 

Required for the Major

To complete the major a student must take eleven (11) courses:

Five (5) that acquaint students with Black Studies as a recognized field of study.

• BLST 0101: Introduction to Black Studies: An introduction to the core themes, topics, and methods commonly recognized as belonging to Black Studies.
• BLST 0201: Black Thought: Black Studies Theory: An exploration of the key theoretical themes and debates that have come to structure the field across the Black Diaspora.
• BLST 0301: Black Studies Methods: A seminar that provides guidance in identifying and using sources and methods for research in Black Studies.
• BLST 0399: Community Engagement in Black Studies: An experiential course that connects students with community-engaged activism on important issues in the field.
• BLST 0400+: A senior seminar in which Black Studies majors conduct independent research and/or in-depth analysis of a particular topic within the field—while working collaboratively with other students and a faculty member.

Three (3) clustered courses that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

• Courses taken for the concentration and senior work allow students to go deeper into a topic and develop their skills in interpretation and constructive analysis.
• Students will work with the director of the program in selecting the courses that will fulfill their proposed concentration.
• Intensive listening, close reading, critical thinking, effective oral and written expression and collaborative interaction with colleagues will be among the skills the concentration will address. 

Three (3) electives that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

• The electives allow students to get outside their area of concentration, either to explore totally different topics or to explore their area of concentration from a different perspective.
• With permission from the director of the program, one or more of these electives may be in a department not directly related to Black Studies but that introduces students to critical approaches that may be helpful to a student’s advanced work on a topic. 

Joint Major Requirements

In consultation with their advisor and/or the Director of Black Studies, students must take a minimum of eight courses that satisfy the BLST major. Of these eight courses, five are required and include BLST 0101, BLST 0201, BLST 0301, BLST 0399, and BLST 0400+. 

The remaining three elective courses must inform, complement, and complete the joint major. Students may take BLST 0700 or BLST 0710 (honors senior thesis) as one of their three elective courses, subject to approval of their academic advisor and the Director of Black Studies.

Required for the Minor

To complete the minor in Black Studies a student must take six (6) courses:

Two (2) that acquaint students with Black Studies as a recognized field of study.

• BLST 0101: An introduction to the core themes, topics, and methods commonly recognized as belonging to Black Studies.
• BLST 0201: An in-depth exploration of Black thought and Black Studies theory. 

Four (4) clustered courses that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

• Courses taken for the concentration and senior work allow students to go deeper into a topic and develop their skills in interpretation and constructive analysis.

One of these four courses must be at the 400-level in either Black Studies or cross-listed with Black Studies. Students will work with the director of the program in selecting the courses that will fulfill their proposed concentration.