Sep 09, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2021-2022 
    
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Undergraduate Record 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

African American and African Studies

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Requirements for Major

The African American and African Studies interdisciplinary major comprises nine courses (29 credits) taken within a program approved by the student’s AAS advisor. These courses may include classes taken before declaration of the major. In order to declare a major, a student must have taken, or be enrolled in, either AAS 1010 or AAS 1020. Students must have an average of 2.0 in the major for it to be considered complete.

Course Distribution

The major requires a distribution of courses in the following areas and levels, all to be selected from the list of approved courses posted on the Woodson Institute’s website:

  1. AAS 1010 and AAS 1020, with a minimum grade of C in each course;
  2. One course concerning race and politics;
  3. One course in the humanities (art history, drama, English, French, media studies, music, philosophy, religious studies);
  4. One course in the social sciences or history, in addition to AAS 1010 and AAS 1020 (American studies, anthropology, economics, history, linguistics, politics, psychology, sociology, studies in women and gender);
  5. Three electives selected from a list of approved courses;
  6. One course about Africa, which may be fulfilled by requirements (3), (4) or (5) above or (8) below;
  7. Three courses at or above the 3000 level, which may be fulfilled by requirements (2-6); and
  8. One 4000-level seminar requiring an 18-20 research paper, which may count toward requirement (6) above if applicable.

Each semester the Carter G. Woodson Institute publishes a list of courses that satisfy the above requirements. Students should speak with an advisor or with the Director of Undergraduate Programs if they have any questions about how to distribute these courses.

Students frequently find that African American and African Studies works well as a double major with another discipline in the humanities or social sciences. Up to three courses (11 credits) in another departmental major or minor may count toward an AAS major, if the courses are among those listed on the Woodson Institute’s website at http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/woodson/courses/index.html. Up to six transfer credits from relevant study abroad may be counted toward the major, with the advance written permission of the AAS Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Exceptions to any of these requirements are made only upon written petition to the Director of Undergraduate Programs. No petitions are accepted after a student completes the seventh semester.

Distinguished Majors Program in African American and African Studies

The Distinguished Majors Program in African American and African Studies affords qualified students the opportunity to do advanced research, and to receive, at graduation, the honor of “Distinction” or “High Distinction.” Third-year students with a superior academic record are encouraged to apply. 

 Entry into the program

  1. Students are eligible to apply if they have achieved a GPA of 3.4 in all coursework prior to application for the program.
  2. The applicant must obtain the agreement of a thesis supervisor. The supervisor may be any faculty member who offers courses that count toward the AAS major. The thesis supervisor must agree to direct the thesis research, and the applicant must submit the name one appropriate secondary reader.  
  3. Application should be made to the AAS Director the Distinguished Majors Program by filling out a one-page application form and attaching a one-to-two page proposal with a bibliography. A copy should also be submitted to the AAS Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Requirements for completion of the program

  1. Satisfaction of all College requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Record with an overall GPA of at least 3.4.
  2. Fulfillment of the requirements for the normal AAS major.
  3. Completion of three credits of AAS 4070 (Directed Research) in the first semester of the fourth year, and of three credits of AAS 4080 (Thesis) in the second semester of the fourth year.
  4. In addition to AAS 4070 and AAS 4080, completion of at least six more credits of coursework at or above the 4000 level.
  5. Completion of a thesis of about 8,000 words or 40 pages.

Requirements for Minor in African American and African Studies

A minor in African American and African Studies consists of completion of AAS 1010 and AAS 1020 with a grade of C or better in each course; twelve credits beyond AAS 1010 and AAS 1020, chosen from the list of approved courses posted on the Woodson Institute’s website; and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the minor. Up to six credits of relevant study abroad may apply to the minor. Up to three courses counted toward the minor may also count toward the student’s major.

Requirements for Minor in African Studies

A minor in African Studies consists of six courses (totaling 20 credits) taken from at least two departments. There are no prerequisites. To complete the minor, students must take HIAF 2001 and HIAF 2002 and earn a grade of C or better in both courses; take twelve more credits approved by the African Studies faculty advisor; and earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the minor. Up to six credits of relevant study abroad may apply to the minor. Up to three courses counted toward the minor may also count toward the student’s major.

Independent Study

AAS 4993 allows students to work on an individual research project that culminates in a 20-page research paper. Students wishing to pursue this opportunity should obtain an AAS Independent Study Form at the Woodson Institute, which explains the procedure and requirements. Students must propose a topic to an appropriate faculty member and review the Independent Study Form with the supervisor. After obtaining the supervisor’s signature on this form and on a course action form, the student should submit both forms to the AAS Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Additional Information

For more information, contact the Director of Undergraduate Programs in AAS, at the Carter G. Woodson Institute, University of Virginia, 108 Minor Hall, P.O. Box 400162, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4162; (434) 924-3109; www.virginia.edu/woodson.

Course Descriptions

The African American and African Studies (AAS) courses in any given term comprise those offered by the Woodson Institute with an AAS number, and those offered in other departments that have an AAS-related content.

Core Courses

Students should check the list of courses on the Woodson Institute’s website, produced every term, for the seminar topics to be offered in the next term.

Supporting Courses

Each semester a list of courses from outside the African American and African Studies (AAS) department that fulfill AAS major requirements in the coming term is posted on the Woodson Institute’s website. Below is a list of courses that appear most consistently, but students should check the website for complete and updated information.

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