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 diasporas 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.
Students may complete the requirements for the African studies concentration or the African American and diaspora studies concentration.
African Studies Concentration
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 |
Six additional courses apportioned in the following way: 1,2 | 18 | |
At least two courses chosen from AAAD 400–AAAD 429 | ||
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
First-year seminars do not count toward the major.
- 2
Please contact the director of undergraduate studies if you have questions about this requirement.
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 concentration in African studies. The following African language courses currently are offered:
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 |
African American and Diaspora Studies Concentration
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 |
Six additional courses apportioned in the following way: 1,2 | 18 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
First-year seminars do not count toward the major.
- 2
Please contact the director of undergraduate studies if you have questions about this requirement.
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. AAAD 691H can count as one of the five courses students must take in their concentration of study.
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
Minors
Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies
104 Battle Hall, CB# 3395
(919) 966-5496