Minor in African American Studies

Minor code OR4903

Contact: Dr. Gary Holcomb

See Major in African American Studies

Admissions Information

Minor Requirements

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 our 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. We are a department that is committed to producing persons who are capable of solving problems in American (and global) society.

The faculty believes in preparing and mentoring all students to successfully complete their academic goals and objectives. Our 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.

Careers & Graduate School

The African American Studies minor complements and extends the academic background of students seeking professional careers in a variety of fields including law, education, social services, and the academy.

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.

Minor Requirements

Minor Hours Requirement

The African American Studies Minor requires a minimum of 15 hours. 

Core Requirements

Complete the following course:

• AAS 1060 - Introduction to African American Studies Credit Hours: 3

Electives

Complete at least four courses at the AAS 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 level. At least 2 courses must be completed at the 3000/4000 level.

• AAS 1010 - African American History I, 1526-1875 Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 1100 - Introduction to African American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 1500 - Africana Media Studies Credit Hours: 4
• AAS 1900 - Difficult Dialogues: Race, Law, and Religion in America Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 2020 - African American History II, 1876 to late twentieth century 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 2200 - Introduction to Black Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 2250 - History of the African American Worker Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 2500 - Blackness and the Arts Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 2540 - History of Injustice in the United States Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 2900 - Special Topics in African American Studies Credit Hours: 1 - 15
• 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 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 3450 - The Black Woman Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 3460 - Black Men and Masculinities Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 3500 - African American Arts and Artists Credit Hours: 3
• 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 3560 - History of African American Music II, 1926-Present Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 3570 - Black Music Criticism: Hiphop history, culture and politics Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 3640 - Comparative Study of Injustice 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
• T3 4691 - U.S. Constitutional Law: Post-Civil Rights Movements Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 3800 - African American Education Credit Hours: 3
• AAS 4110 - Literature Seminar: Black Countercultures 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 4500 - The History of Black Women in Popular Culture 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
• AAS 4900 - Special Topics in African American Studies Credit Hours: 1 - 15