African American Studies Major (B.A.)
Students majoring in African American Studies learn problem-solving skills.
- Social responsibility in the areas of teaching, research, and service
- Problem-solving in American and global society
- Preparation for careers in social service, education, legal services and more
- Preparation for graduate school in multiple disciplines
Option: Early Assurance Program with the Master of Arts in Law, Justice & Culture
African American Studies offers an Interdisciplinary undergraduate degree for students interested in pursuing the life, culture and history of African Americans. Many students interested in African American history and culture pursue post-undergraduate work and graduate degrees related to the criminal justice system, educational policy, and civil and human rights.
- Complete a bachelor’s in African American Studies and a master’s degree Law, Justice & Culture in an accelerated program.
- Guarantee a seat in the master’s program by earning conditional admission now. Learn more about the M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture Early Assurance Program.
- See how seniors can take graduate LJC courses as an undergrad.
- Sample 5-year plan for bachelor's/master's degrees.
About the B.A. in African American Studies
Major code: BA4903
Contact: Dr. Gary Holcomb
See Minor in African American Studies
Program Overview
The African American Studies Department was established in 1969 and remains one of a few programs with departmental status in the state of Ohio. A centerpiece of that legacy is its shared vision and philosophy with the National Council for Black Studies, which is to promote academic excellence and social responsibility in the areas of teaching, research, and service. The department is committed to producing persons, to use the language of Dr. Nathan Hare, who are capable of solving problems in American (and global) society.
The faculty believe in preparing and mentoring all students to successfully complete their academic goals and objectives. Their mission is to contribute to an inclusive intellectual environment at Ohio University by developing and delivering an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary curriculum that advances the University’s general education goals.
The African American Studies Department also offers a Departmental Honors program in African American Studies.
Careers & Graduate School
Many African American Studies majors have gone on to graduate school and carved for themselves influential careers in a variety of fields, including law, the performing arts, international affairs, religion, politics, education, and business. African American studies graduates are well-prepared to enter careers in social service, education, legal services, and graduate school in multiple disciplines.
A degree in African American Studies, like all liberal arts degrees, provides students with the foundation to understand the world, how it functions, their responsibilities and opportunities in the world, and how to have an impact on the world, globally and locally. Specifically, however, African American Studies majors learn from many disciplines to explore the histories, societies, and cultures of African and African-descended people in the United States and abroad.
Examples of specific positions students can pursue with a degree in African American Studies include, but are not limited to, the following: education, management and industry, law, communications and media, government/politics, community relations and outreach, domestic and international advocacy, program administration, human resources, religious services, social worker, graduate studies, public policy specialist; etc.
Browse through dozens of Internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake, OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
African American Studies Hours Requirement
Complete a total of 30 semester credit hours of AAS coursework, including all of the requirements below. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in each major course.
Required Core Course
Complete the following course:
- AAS 1060 - Introduction to African American Studies Credit Hours: 3.0
African American Studies Tracks
Complete two of the following tracks.
Art, Music, and Media
Complete at least three courses from the following:
- AAS 3520 - Blacks in Contemporary American Cinema Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3530 - Survey of Black Independent Cinema Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3550 - History of African American Music I, Slavery-1926 Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3570 - Black Music Criticism: Hiphop history, culture and politics Credit Hours: 3
History
Complete at least three courses from the following:
- AAS 1010 - African American History I, 1526-1875 Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 2020 - African American History II, 1876 to late twentieth century Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 2250 - History of the African American Worker Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 2540 - History of Injustice in the United States Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3450 - The Black Woman Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3460 - Black Men and Masculinities Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4500 - The History of Black Women in Popular Culture Credit Hours: 3
Law, Political Science, and Race
Complete at least three courses from the following:
- AAS 1900 - Difficult Dialogues: Race, Law, and Religion in America Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 2200 - Introduction to Black Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3680 - African American Political Thought Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3691 - U.S. Constitutional Law: Pre-Civil Rights Movements Credit Hours: 3
Literature
Complete at least three courses from the following:
- AAS 1100 - Introduction to African American Literature Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 2100 - Slave Narrative and Freeman/Freewomen Fiction of the 18th and 19th Centuries Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 2110 - African American Literature II: Black Writing of the 20th and 21st Centuries Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3100 - Postmodern Blackness: Identity and Culture in Contemporary African American Literature Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3110 - Harlem Renaissance: African American Literature of the Early 20th Century Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4110 - Literature Seminar: Black Countercultures Credit Hours: 3
African American Studies Electives
Complete at least three courses for 9 hours at the 2000 level or above from courses listed in the tracks not used to fulfill the tracks requirement above or from the following courses:
- AAS 2500 - Blackness and the Arts Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3170 - Black Transnational Literature: Caribbean and Transcultural African American Writing Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3400 - The African American Community Since World War II Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3410 - African American Personality Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3500 - African American Arts and Artists Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3560 - History of African American Music II, 1926-Present Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3640 - Comparative Study of Injustice Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 3800 - African American Education Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4300 - Social Theory, Research and Methodology in African American Studies Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4400 - The Black Child Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4693 - Legal Policy and Disparities in the American Health Care System Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4820 - The Black Family Credit Hours: 3
- AAS 4930 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 3 - 9
- T3 4691 - U.S. Constitutional Law: Post-Civil Rights Movements Credit Hours: 3