Black Studies Curriculum

This thematic area includes classes that highlight literature and writing, music/dance, visual and performing arts, film, languages, linguistic studies, technology, video, mass media, contemporary culture, and religion and spiritual practices.

Some classes that fulfill this thematic area are:
BLS 122 – Black Cinema
BLS 213 – The African-American Artist
BLS 215 – Dimensions of Contemporary Black Life
BLS 225 – The African World View
BLS 227 – History of Jazz
BLS 265  -Twentieth-Century African-American Literature
BLS 314 – Black Feminisms
BLS 371 – Global and Postcolonial Literatures
BLS 376 – Toni Morrison

This thematic area includes classes that highlight African, Diasporan African-American, Caribbean, global, and regional studies, as well as some special topics courses and historical surveys.

Some classes that fulfill this thematic area are:
BLS 207 – African American History 1619 to Present
BLS 225 – The African World View
BLS 304 – Social Movements
BLS 316 – Civil War and Reconstruction
BLS 321 – AIDS, Race & Gender In the Black Community
BLS 344 – Colonialism and Nationalism in Modern Africa
BLS 347 – The Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.: 1955-75
BLS 416 – Race and Politics in the Americas
BLS 425 – African American Women

This thematic area includes classes that highlight social thought, social institutions, political economy, gender and sexuality, identity and self-definition, social movement and liberation studies, social and public policy and community development, and global issues and perspectives.

Some classes that fulfill this thematic area are:
BLS 211 – Urban Education
BLS 215 – Dimensions of Contemporary Black Life
BLS 230 – Faith and Spirit in the Black Family and Community
BLS 280 – Violence Against Women
BLS 302 – Research Methods in Political Science
BLS 303 – Urban Politics in the United States
BLS 304 – Social Movements
BLS 305 – Race and Racism
BLS 307 – Urban Sociology
BLS 311 – Equity Issues in Education
BLS 314 – Black Feminisms
BLS 321 – AIDS, Race & Gender In the Black Community
BLS 327 – Race, Class, and Gender: Intersections and Inequalities
BLS 334 – African Politics
BLS 348 – American Political Theory
BLS 355 – Comparative Race and Inequality
BLS 401 – Political Economy of Race
BLS 411 – Sociology of Disaster
BLS 413 – The Power of Whiteness
BLS 416 – Race and Politics in the Americas
BLS 444 – The Global Food System
BLS 425 – African American Women

We also have our special topics series, which includes Intermediate/ Advanced courses, such as BLS 490: Independent Reading in Black Studies and BLS 491: Directed Research Project in Black Studies.
May meet requirements for any one of the thematic tracks, depending on topic.
BLS 270 – Special Topics in Black Studies
BLS 370 – Special Topics in Black Studies
BLS 470 – Special Topics in Black Studies
BLS 480 – Seminar in Black Studies
BLS 490 – Independent Reading in Black Studies
BLS 491 – Directed Research Project in Black Studies