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Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies

Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements AAADBA

The Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAAD) examines the experiences of people of African descent in the United States and throughout the world. As a humanistic discipline in the democratic tradition, African American and African Diaspora Studies dispels myths and exposes those attitudes that perpetuate racism in American life. Students in AAAD study art, literature, film, folklore, music, dance, history, institutions, communities, culture, stratification, movements, or identities.

Graduates from AAAD successfully pursue careers in academics, theatre and drama, music composition, information technology, law, engineering, education, journalism, criminal justice, creative writing, fundraising, politics, social work, business, community organizing, non-profits, health care, the legal profession, banking and technology industries.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Introductory Course. One (1) course:
    • AAAD-A 150 Survey of the Culture of Black Americans
  2. African American History. One (1) course:
    • AAAD-A 355 African American History I
    • AAAD-A 356 African American History II
  3. African American Literature. One (1) course:
    • AAAD-A 379 Early Black American Writing
    • AAAD-A 380 Contemporary Black American Writing
  4. Senior Seminar. One (1) course:
    • AAAD-A 493 Senior Seminar in African American and African Diaspora Studies
  5. Focal Area. 18 credit hours:
    1. Primary Area. Nine (9) credit hours from one (1) focal area (Arts; Literature; or History, Culture, and Social Issues):
      • Arts
        • AAAD-A 100 African American Dance Company: Foundations and Practices
        • AAAD-A 104 Groups Theatre Workshop
        • AAAD-A 110 African American Choral Ensemble: Foundations and Practices
        • AAAD-A 112 Black Music of Two Worlds
        • AAAD-A 120 Soul Revue: Foundations and Practices
        • AAAD-A 221 Dance in the African Diaspora
        • AAAD-A 222 Black Women Artists
        • AAAD-A 243 Race and Representation in American Art
        • AAAD-A 251 Photography of and by the African Diaspora
        • AAAD-A 277 Images of Blacks in Films: 1903-1950s
        • AAAD-A 278 Contemporary Black Film
        • AAAD-A 283 Blacks in American Drama and Theatre, 1767-1945
        • AAAD-A 290 Sociocultural Perspective of African American Music
        • AAAD-A 295 Survey of Hip Hop
        • AAAD-A 297 Popular Music of Black America
        • AAAD-A 320 Black Dance History
        • AAAD-A 330 African American Cinematic Experience
        • AAAD-A 331 Visual Arts of the Harlem Renaissance
        • AAAD-A 332 Art of the Civil Rights Movement
        • AAAD-A 337 Soul Revue: Advanced Studies and Practices
        • AAAD-A 338 African American Dance Company: Advanced Studies and Practices
        • AAAD-A 339 African American Choral Ensemble: Advanced Studies and Practices
        • AAAD-A 345 Hip Hop Music and Culture
        • AAAD-A 352 African American Art II: African American Artists
        • AAAD-A 359 Ethnic/Racial Stereotypes in American Film
        • AAAD-A 384 Blacks in American Drama and Theatre, 1945-Present
        • AAAD-A 385 Seminar in Black Theatre
        • AAAD-A 388 Motown
        • AAAD-A 393 History of Jazz
        • AAAD-A 394 Survey of African American Music
        • AAAD-A 395 Contemporary Jazz and Soul Music
        • AAAD-A 396 Art Music of Black Composers
        • AAAD-A 430 The Cinema of Africana Women
        • AAAD-A 496 Black Religious Music
      • Literature
        • AAAD-A 131 Early African American and African Diaspora Literature
        • AAAD-A 132 Recent African American and African Diaspora Literature
        • AAAD-A 169 Introduction to African American Literature
        • AAAD-A 249 African American Autobiography
        • AAAD-A 479 Contemporary Black Poetry
        • AAAD-A 480 The Black Novel
      • History, Culture, and Social Issues
        • AAAD-A 113 Atkins Living-Learning Center Foundational Course
        • AAAD-A 154 History of Race in the Americas
        • AAAD-A 156 Black Liberation Struggles against Jim Crow and Apartheid
        • AAAD-A 203 Studying Blacks of the New World: African Americans and Africans in the African Diaspora
        • AAAD-A 205 Black Electoral Politics
        • AAAD-A 210 Black Women in the Diaspora
        • AAAD-A 238 Communication in Black America
        • AAAD-A 250 U.S. Contemporary Minorities
        • AAAD-A 255 The Black Church in America
        • AAAD-A 263 Contemporary Social Issues in the African American Community
        • AAAD-A 264 History of Sports and the African American Experience
        • AAAD-A 265 Modern Sports and the African American Experience
        • AAAD-A 292 African American Folklore
        • AAAD-A 304 Black Paris
        • AAAD-A 350 Black Atlantic
        • AAAD-A 354 Transnational Americas
        • AAAD-A 360 Slavery: Worldwide Perspective
        • AAAD-A 363 Research on Contemporary African American Problems I
        • AAAD-A 382 Black Community, Law, and Social Change
        • AAAD-A 386 Black Feminist Perspectives
        • AAAD-A 387 Black Migration
        • AAAD-A 391 Black Nationalism
        • AAAD-A 398 Advanced Topics in Social and Historical Studies for African American and African Diaspora Studies
        • AAAD-A 399 Advanced Topics in Arts and Humanities for African American and African Diaspora Studies
        • AAAD-A 405 Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, 1954-1974
        • AAAD-A 407 African American and African Protest Strategies
        • AAAD-A 408 Race, Gender, and Class in Cross-Cultural Perspective
        • AAAD-A 420 Transforming Divided Communities and Societies
        • AAAD-A 425 The Black Family in Twentieth-Century Rural America, 1900-1970
        • AAAD-A 427 Cross-Cultural Communication
        • AAAD-A 447 Race, Crime, and Media
        • AAAD-A 452 Historical Issues in Black Education
        • AAAD-A 481 Racism and the Law
    2. Other Areas. Three (3) credit hours from the two (2) focal areas not chosen as the primary area (six (6) credit hours total).
    3. Elective. Three (3) additional credit hours from any focal area.
    4. 300–499 Level Requirement. Nine (9) credit hours:
      • AAAD-A 304 Black Paris
      • AAAD-A 320 Black Dance History
      • AAAD-A 330 African American Cinematic Experience
      • AAAD-A 331 Visual Arts of the Harlem Renaissance
      • AAAD-A 332 Art of the Civil Rights Movement
      • AAAD-A 337 Soul Revue: Advanced Studies and Practices
      • AAAD-A 338 African American Dance Company: Advanced Studies and Practices
      • AAAD-A 339 African American Choral Ensemble: Advanced Studies and Practices
      • AAAD-A 345 Hip Hop Music and Culture
      • AAAD-A 350 Black Atlantic
      • AAAD-A 352 African American Art II: African American Artists
      • AAAD-A 354 Transnational Americas
      • AAAD-A 359 Ethnic/Racial Stereotypes in American Film
      • AAAD-A 360 Slavery: Worldwide Perspective
      • AAAD-A 363 Research on Contemporary African American Problems I
      • AAAD-A 382 Black Community, Law, and Social Change
      • AAAD-A 384 Blacks in American Drama and Theatre, 1945-Present
      • AAAD-A 385 Seminar in Black Theatre
      • AAAD-A 386 Black Feminist Perspectives
      • AAAD-A 387 Black Migration
      • AAAD-A 388 Motown
      • AAAD-A 391 Black Nationalism
      • AAAD-A 393 History of Jazz
      • AAAD-A 394 Survey of African American Music
      • AAAD-A 395 Contemporary Jazz and Soul Music
      • AAAD-A 396 Art Music of Black Composers
      • AAAD-A 398 Advanced Topics in Social and Historical Studies for African American and African Diaspora Studies
      • AAAD-A 399 Advanced Topics in Arts and Humanities for African American and African Diaspora Studies
      • AAAD-A 405 Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, 1954-1974
      • AAAD-A 407 African American and African Protest Strategies
      • AAAD-A 408 Race, Gender, and Class in Cross-Cultural Perspective
      • AAAD-A 420 Transforming Divided Communities and Societies
      • AAAD-A 425 The Black Family in Twentieth-Century Rural America, 1900-1970
      • AAAD-A 427 Cross-Cultural Communication
      • AAAD-A 430 The Cinema of Africana Women
      • AAAD-A 447 Race, Crime, and Media
      • AAAD-A 452 Historical Issues in Black Education
      • AAAD-A 479 Contemporary Black Poetry
      • AAAD-A 480 The Black Novel
      • AAAD-A 481 Racism and the Law
      • AAAD-A 496 Black Religious Music
  6. 200–499 Level Requirement. At least 24 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 200–499 level.
  7. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the AAAD subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

  • AAAD-A 141
  • AAAD-A 142

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies and English (AAADENGBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies and History (AAADHISTBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies and Religious Studies (AAADRELBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies and Sociology (AAADSOCBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in English and African American and African Diaspora Studies (ENGAAADBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in History and African American and African Diaspora Studies (HISTAAADBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and African American and African Diaspora Studies (RELAAADBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and African American and African Diaspora Studies (SOCAAADBA)
  • Minor in African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADSMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.