Undergraduate Bulletin
Document Number 3.07.01
African and African-American Studies
Chair: Dr. Ruud, 450-3674
Program Coordinator: Dr. Shumaker, 450-5126
Professors: Dr. Frontain (English), Dr. Lamar (Music), Dr. Lee
(English/Dean), Dr. Pouwels (History), Dr. Schaefer (English), Dr.
Taylor (History)
Associate Professors: Dr. Bailey (World Languages), Dr. Burley
(Writing and Rhetoric)
Assistant Professors: Dr. Jakubowski (Philosophy and Religion), Dr.
Lavender (English), Dr. Vetter (Sociology)
[1] Purpose
The African and African American Studies program aims to nurture in students an understanding of the diversity that makes for human culture, an understanding that will foster respect for difference. This program is housed in the English Department but consists of courses taught across the UCA campus in history, literature, music, philosophy and religion, political science, sociology, and foreign languages. Thus, it gives students an interdisciplinary understanding of the history and cultures of Africa, the effects of colonialism and slavery on those cultures and on the United States and Caribbean nations, and the contributions of Africans to the culture of America. Giving students the ability to look at an issue from the perspectives of different disciplines is, of course, one of the most important goals of a liberal arts education, and this program accomplishes that goal while enabling students to deal with some of the questions that are most central to our development as a nation and culture. It will prepare students to work successfully in fields that require an understanding of diversity and an ability to relate to people from different cultures, two increasingly important qualifications in today's world, and qualities that are especially needed in Arkansas.
[2] Bachelor of Arts
The degree of Bachelor of Arts, with a major in African/African American Studies, requires successful completion of at least 124 hours, including (1) the general education component, (2) degree requirements, (3) major requirements, and (4) a minor.
[2.1] Major in African/African American Studies (36 hours)
Thirty-six hours of interdisciplinary courses of which 21 must be in required English and history core courses. Required: ENGL 1330, 4380, 4381, 4382; HIST 3353, 3354, 4388. Two of three courses required from PHIL 2360, 3340; WRTG 4325. Three electives chosen from the following: WLAN 2315 World Cultural Traditions: Francophone Literature, any upper-division course listed above that is not used to satisfy another requirement, ENGL 4304 Studies in English and American Literature: The Harlem Renaissance, MUS 4301, RELG 3315, SOC 3310, SOC 4351, ART 3307.
[2.2] Minor in African/African American Studies (27 hours)
Twenty-seven hours of interdisciplinary courses, of which 15 must be in English and history core courses. Required: ENGL 1330, 4380. One course required from ENGL 4381, 4382. Two of three courses from HIST 3353, 3354, 4388. One of three courses from PHIL 2360, 3340; WRTG 4325. Three electives chosen from the following: WLAN 2315 World Cultural Traditions: Francophone Literature, any upper-division course listed above that is not used to satisfy another requirement, ENGL 4304 Studies in English and American Literature: The Harlem Renaissance, MUS 4301, RELG 3315, SOC 3310, SOC 4351, ART 3307.
[3] Course Descriptions
Follow this link for ENGL course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for HIST course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for MUS course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for PHIL course descriptions. course link.
Follow this link for RELG course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for SOC course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for WLAN course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for WRTG course descriptions: course link.