African American Studies (AAS)

AAS 2310. Introduction to African American Studies.

This course provides students with an interdisciplinary overview of black culture in America using scholarship from history, literature, music, visual and performing arts, folklore, religion, sociology, psychology, philosophy, economics, and political science. It introduces students to epistemological considerations, theories, and methods that form the field of African American and African Diaspora Studies.

AAS 3301. Black Cinema.

This course examines Black cinema from 1919 to the present, emphasizing historical, social, and cultural contexts of representation in film. Students analyze contributions of Black filmmakers and explore relationships between cinematic portrayals and societal developments. The course applies film theory and critical approaches to evaluate cinematic texts and assess African American participation in the film industry across time. Topics include major film movements, evolving aesthetics, and the interplay between cultural narratives and visual storytelling.

AAS 3399. Literature and Social Contexts in 19th and 20th‑Century America.

This course examines such books as Richard Wright’s Native Son, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and other canonical writings in African American literature and cultural history. Students study each novel’s themes, narrative strategies, and historical contexts, including debates about identity, inequality, and the literary responses of major Black writers and thinkers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Through readings, films, and secondary scholarship, the course analyzes how each text engages questions of race, agency, and representation. Emphasis is placed on developing interpretive skills, evaluating scholarly arguments, and exploring how these works contributed to national conversations about race in the United States.

AAS 4320. Global Perspectives on the African Diaspora.

This course examines the historical, cultural, social, and political experiences of African descended communities across global contexts. Students study the development of the African diaspora through literature, film, and interdisciplinary scholarship, with attention to how groups in regions such as Senegal, Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria, and Somalia navigate identity, culture, migration, and representation. The course emphasizes comparative analysis and critical interpretation of diaspora experiences while situating them within broader historical and cultural processes, such as the transatlantic slave trade. Students analyze how people of African descent negotiate continuity, change, and connection across diverse geographical and cultural settings.

AAS 4388. Independent Research in African American Studies.

This independent study course is open to advanced students on an individual or small group basis to research and explore topics in African American Studies. Projects will be approved by the instructor. Students examine relevant scholarship, interpret sources, and construct analytical frameworks appropriate to their chosen subject. Under faculty guidance, students design a research plan, develop written analyses, and evaluate methodological approaches used within the discipline. The course supports sustained inquiry and iterative revision through faculty instruction and feedback.