African, African American, and Diaspora Studies Major, B.A.

The curriculum of the Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies emphasizes the histories, cultures, cultural linkages, and contemporary sociopolitical and economic realities of Africa and the African diaspora in the context of a globalizing world. The major offers a concentration in African studies and a concentration in African American and diaspora studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the African, African American, and Diaspora studies program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of foundational intellectual currents (historical and contemporary) in African, African American, and Diaspora studies.
• Apply research skills by formulating a research project as outlined in the required literature, generating a research question, developing procedures for gathering research data, analyzing the data, and writing results and conclusions.
• Present research results effectively (clear and well-argued content, appropriate for audience, professional delivery).
• Identify and explain sources (national and global) of historical change that have shaped Africa and its diaspora
• Draw on relevant theoretical insights and empirical data to analyze historical or contemporary issues pertaining to diverse societies in Africa, African American communities, and other African diasporic formations in Europe and Latin America

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must

• earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
• complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
• take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
• earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Requirements
AAAD 101	Introduction to Africa	3
AAAD 130	Introduction to African American and Diaspora Studies	3
AAAD 395	Undergraduate Research Seminar (offered fall semester only)	3
AAAD 487	Intellectual Currents in African and African Diaspora Studies (offered spring semester only)	3
Five additional AAAD courses. 1		15
Total Hours		27

¹

First-year seminars do not count toward the major.

Recommended

Three semesters of one African language (either to fulfill the global language Gen Ed requirement or in addition to it) are recommended for the African, African American and Diaspora Studies Major. The following African language courses currently are offered:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Arabic:
ARAB 101	Elementary Arabic I	4
ARAB 102	Elementary Arabic II	4
ARAB 203	Intermediate Arabic I	4
ARAB 204	Intermediate Arabic II	4
ARAB 305	Advanced Arabic I	3
ARAB 306	Advanced Arabic II	3
Chichewa:
CHWA 401	Elementary Chichewa I	3
CHWA 402	Elementary Chichewa II	3
CHWA 403	Intermediate Chichewa I	3
Lingala:
LGLA 401	Elementary Lingala I	3
LGLA 402	Elementary Lingala II	3
LGLA 403	Intermediate Lingala III	3
LGLA 404	Intermediate Lingala IV	3
Kiswahili:
SWAH 112	Intensive Kiswahili 1-2	6
SWAH 234	Intensive Kiswahili 3-4	6
SWAH 401	Elementary Kiswahili I	3
SWAH 402	Elementary Kiswahili II	3
SWAH 403	Intermediate Kiswahili III	3
SWAH 404	Intermediate Kiswahili IV	3
SWAH 405	Advanced Kiswahili V	3
SWAH 406	Advanced Plus Kiswahili VI	3
Wolof:
WOLO 401	Elementary Wolof I	3
WOLO 402	Elementary Wolof II	3
WOLO 403	Intermediate Wolof III	3
WOLO 404	Intermediate Wolof IV	3
Yoruba:
YORU 401	Elementary Yoruba I	3
YORU 402	Elementary Yoruba II	3
YORU 403	Intermediate Yoruba III	3

¹

First-year seminars do not count toward the major.

Special Opportunities in African, African American, and Diaspora Studies

Honors in African, African American, and Diaspora Studies

Students with an overall grade point average of 3.3 or higher at the beginning of their senior year and who have already completed AAAD 395 are encouraged to apply for candidacy for the B.A. with honors. Students interested in undertaking honors research and the writing of a thesis should consult with the department’s honors coordinator no later than in their junior year to discuss the process of applying to the program. Approved candidates will enroll in AAAD 691H in the fall semester of their senior year. Upon completion of AAAD 691H and with the approval of the student’s thesis director and the department’s honors coordinator, students enroll in AAAD 692H in the spring semester.

Departmental Involvement

The department works closely with the African Studies Center, the Center for the Study of the American South, the Institute of African American Research, and the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. These units provide UNC–Chapel Hill and wider communities with important programming on and an opportunity for the advanced study of issues concerning Africa, African America, and other parts of the African Diaspora.

Study Abroad

There are several opportunities for study abroad. The department offers a summer abroad program in Malawi. Honors Carolina offers a Burch seminar in Cape Town, South Africa, during the fall semester.

Undergraduate Research

The department encourages undergraduate research. The required seminar for majors (AAAD 395) introduces students to research skills and methods in African, African American, and Diaspora studies. The honors program (AAAD 691H and AAAD 692H) offers qualified students the opportunity to engage in a yearlong process of research and writing. The department hosts an undergraduate research symposium in the spring semester, and it also publishes a scholarly journal, the Global Africana Review, for which undergraduates may submit articles.

Department Programs

Major

• African, African American, and Diaspora Studies Major, B.A.

Minors

• African Studies Minor
• African American and Diaspora Studies Minor
• Human Development, Sustainability, and Rights in Africa and the African Diaspora Minor

Graduate Programs

• Ph.D. in Africana Studies
• M.A. in Africana Studies

Courses

• African, African-American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD)
• Chichewa (CHWA)
• Lingala Language (LGLA)
• Kiswahili (SWAH)
• Wolof Language (WOLO)
• Yoruba Language (YORU)

The department has adopted the following numbering system for all AAAD courses numbered above 99:

• Courses ending in 00 to 29: African studies
• Courses ending in 30 to 59: African American studies
• Courses ending in 60 to 84: African Diaspora outside the United States
• Courses ending in 85 to 99: Courses that cross geography; dedicated courses whose numbers are reserved by the University Registrar, such as independent studies and internships.