Center for African American Studies
Why Minor in African American Studies?
The African American Studies program is an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary study of the history, culture, and socio-economic well-being of African-Americans. Knowledge and research methods drawn from several disciplines enable students to enhance their understanding of African-Americans’ unique social circumstances and heritage, and acquire a deeper comprehension of the history and culture of the nation as a whole. African American Studies is classical liberal arts minor. That is, the minor enhances a student’s ability to engage in critical reasoning and analytical thought, with a premium placed on written and oral communication skills.
Just as African history is world history, African American Studies is American Studies. Successful minors examine America and the world community through the prism of the contemporary and historical experiences, culture expressions, and socioeconomic outcomes of African Americans and the collective African Diaspora.
CAAS internships for graduate students are available. Contact caas@uta.edu for more information.
Minor Requirements
The African American Studies Minor is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program that prepares students for critical thinking and discourse on race and contextual factors, social consciousness and awareness, and civic engagement. For more information, refer to our complete course list.
Required:
Courses include: 18 credit hours with 9 in AAST
AAST 2300 - Intro to African American Studies
HIST 3365 - African American History or SOCI 3338 - Contemporary Black Experience
AAST Service Learning Capstone
How to Add the African American Studies Minor
If you are interested in obtaining a minor in African American Studies:
- Complete the Minor Approval Form and have it signed by your major department advisor.
- Once the Minor Approval Form is completed, schedule an appointment with your CAAS advisor and bring the following:
- completed degree plan (signed by your major department advisor)
- minor approval form (signed by your major department advisor) and
- Maverick Academic Progress (MAP)
To make an advising appointment, please call 817-272-9642 or email caas@uta.edu .
CAAS Minor Information Sessions
Group Sessions
TBD
Individual Sessions: Click here to schedule your own
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What types of jobs are available to graduates with a minor in African American Studies?
A: Everything. There are no limitations. African American Studies is excellent preparation for law, politics, public policy, teaching, or business, and many more opportunities.
Q: Will an AAST course count for my major and my minor simultaneously?
A: Yes and no. If you take an AAST course that is offered by your major department, it may satisfy a requirement for your major, at the same time that it counts towards your AAST minor. However, you must still take 18 hours of courses – in addition to the hours required by your major – to receive a minor. So, you may get dual credit but the hours only count once.
Q: Do I have to be enrolled in the AAST section of a cross-listed class in order to get credit towards the minor?
A: No. You can get credit towards the minor regardless of whether you are enrolled in the AAST or main section of a cross-listed course.
Q: Can a class I took at another institution count towards the AAST minor?
A: It depends on whether the class is comparable to those offered at UTA. You may submit a request to the Center for African American Studies Director, including a copy of the syllabus or some other record of the course content, to be considered. Only 3000 and above courses are eligible.
Cross-Listed Courses
*courses subject to change
**special topics courses must be approved by CAAS each semester
***Other courses might qualify. Consult with a CAAS advisor
Student Development
Emerging Scholars Program
The mission of the Emerging Scholars Program is to develop and provide educational, cultural, and social models of support that strengthen the foundation of exploration and learning for UT Arlington first year students interested in African American studies and/or volunteering in the African American community.
Emerging Leaders Initiative
Students who have successfully completed their first year and have shown exemplary campus and community leadership with a commitment to address social problems in the Black community are invited to apply to become CAAS Emerging Leaders.
CAAS Emerging Leaders would continue to build on their own leadership skills through unique opportunities with CAAS, while also interacting with CAAS Emerging Scholars and other students. Participation as an Emerging Leader is by invitation only. Student leaders interested in this initiative are recommended to inquire about the opportunity via email submission to caas@uta.edu .
Graduate Students
CAAS internships and conference courses for graduate students are available. Contact caas@uta.edu for more information.
People
Director
Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW
Coordinator of Special Programs
Program Assistant
Student Assistants
Nadajalah Bennett (Communications)
Kandra Jones;(Psychology)
Esther Kentish (Political Science)
Daniel Leichman (Advertising)
Yvonne Williams (Criminology and Criminal Justice)
Christopher Woolen (Exercise Science)
Graduate Intern
Dorothea Ivey (Social Work and Public Administration))
Graduate Intern
Micheal Russ (Educational Leadership)
Graduate Intern
Rita Hill-Wales (Social Work)
CAAS Adjunct Faculty
CAAS Adjunct Faculty
Affiliate Faculty
FACULTY FELLOWS 2013
Dr. Ifeoma Amah , Dept. of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Dr. Krystal Beamon , Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
FACULTY FELLOWS 2012
Dr. Robert Bing , Dept. of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Dr. Eusebius Small , School of Social Work
Dr. Sonja Watson , Dept. of Modern Language
FACULTY ASSOCIATES 2013-2014
Dr. Ben Agger , Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology and Director of Center for Theory
Dr. Myrtle P. Bell , Dept. of Management
Dr. Elten Briggs , Dept. of Marketing
Dr. Michan A. Connor , Dept. of Interdisciplinary Studies/ Urban Affairs
Dr. Marvin Dulaney , Dept. of History, Chair
Dr. Cedrick May , Dept. of English
Dr. Anne Bain- Nordberg , School of Social Work
Dr. Jason Shelton , Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Dr. David M. Sparks , Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction and Uteach
Engagement
An essential component of the Center for African American Studies is to establish an active and interactive public mission and community outreach program designed to keep it engaged with African American communities- locally, nationally, and abroad.
Newsletter
Courses
AAST 2300. INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the African American experience in the United States, including an interdisciplinary analysis of the African American experience in politics, the arts, folklore, religion, economics, sociology, psychology, and community development; and an examination of local history, contemporary issues, and recent events in the African American community.
AAST 2337. ECONOMICS OF SOCIAL ISSUES. 3 Hours.
Economic consequences and solutions of current social issues. Each semester, a series of topics will be covered in line with current events and the instructor's expertise to facilitate an understanding of the economic structure. Will not serve to meet degree requirements for College of Business Administration majors. Offered as AAST 2337 and ECON 2337; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3301. HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I. 3 Hours.
The first of two required human behavior courses that explore, within the context of a strengths and empowerment perspective, knowledge of the bio-psycho-social development of persons from birth through young adulthood. Offered as AAST 3301 and SOCW 3301; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3317. HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS. 3 Hours.
Introduction to theoretical, practical, and policy issues related to diverse populations. Historical, political, and socioeconomic forces are examined that maintain discriminatory and oppressive values, attitudes, and behaviors in society and in all levels of organizational behavior. Prerequisite: SOCW 2311, SOCW 2313. Offered as AAST 3317 and SOCW 3317; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3324. THE COMING OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1820-1860. 3 Hours.
Sectional conflict in the United States from the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Southern separatism, slavery as a political issue, the antislavery movement, the breakup of the national political system, and the failure of sectional compromise. Offered as AAST 3324 and HIST 3324; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3327. THE NEW SOUTH, 1863-PRESENT. 3 Hours.
From military defeat to Sun Belt growth. Topics include Reconstruction, segregation, migration of Southerners to the North and West, depressions, reforms, Civil Rights, Moral Majority, cultural expressions in literature and music. Offered as AAST 3327 and HIST 3327; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3330. CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND IDENTITY. 3 Hours.
The ways identity is constructed in contemporary societies in an increasingly complex and multicultural world. Ethnic, racial, gender, and class identities. How and when identity is asserted and assigned, and how it can both draw boundaries and forge ties between peoples. Formerly listed as ANTH 2350. Credit cannot be given for both ANTH 2350 and ANTH 3330. Also listed as MAS 3330; credit cannot be granted for both ANTH 3330 and MAS 3330. Offered as AAST 3330 and ANTH 3330; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3332. COMPARATIVE KINSHIP AND FAMILY SYSTEMS. 3 Hours.
Variation in kinship and family systems from crosscultural and evolutionary perspectives. Structure, function, and dynamics of kinship and family systems as adaptations to diverse ecological, social, and historical circumstances. Implications of this approach for understanding kinship and family in American society also addressed. Formerly listed as ANTH 4338. Credit cannot be given for both ANTH 3338 and ANTH 4338. Also offered as WOMS 3338; credit will be granted only once. Offered as AAST 3332 and ANTH 3338; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3336. SOCIAL INEQUALITY. 3 Hours.
Examines the processes, characteristics, and consequences of social inequality in society. Topics include the social class structure, status groups, and elite power structure as they influence people's life chances. Offered as AAST 3336 and SOCI 3336; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3337. RACIAL & ETHNIC GROUPS IN US. 3 Hours.
Compares the immigration, acculturation, and adjustment processes of various racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Examines historical and contemporary discrimination in relation to the social conditions of racial/ethnic minority groups in the U. S. Topics include classical and contemporary theory; individualistic, cultural, and structural arguments about social arrangements; and conflict among majority and minority groups. Prerequisite: SOCI 1311. Credit will not be granted for both SOCI 3337 and SOCI 4310 or for MAS 3337 and MAS 4310. Offered as AAST 3337 and SOCI 3337; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3338. CONTEMPORARY BLACK EXPERIENCE. 3 Hours.
An overview of recent research concerning the African American experience in the post-civil rights era. Topics include explanations for racial differences across spheres of society such as income, education, and occupation; the debate over race versus social class; the persistence of racial discrimination; and emerging disputes within the black community regarding "what it means to be black." Offered as AAST 3338 and SOCI 3338; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3339. RACE, SPORT AND MEDIA. 3 Hours.
The media, including television, film, print, audio, and online outlets, influence how we view the world. This course analyzes overt, subtle and subliminal messages about culture, race, ethnicity, and sport as presented to us through various forms of the media. Through examinations of media portrayals of race, both past and present, students will analyze media artifacts, identify recurring themes, and examine research focused on the societal effects of stereotypical media portrayals. Offered as AAST 3339 and SOCI 3339; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3344. SOCIOLOGY OF THE 1960S. 3 Hours.
This course presents a sociological analysis of the sixties, stressing the connection between grassroots mobilization and large structures of power, war, race and gender. The legacy of the sixties is examined through stories told by and about activists of the period. Parallels between the sixties and the present are identified. Movements covered may include civil rights, black power, anti-war and women's rights. Offered as AAST 3344 and SOCI 3345; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3345. AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE. 3 Hours.
Offers an introduction to African American literature or focuses on a particular genre, period or topic. May be repeated for credit as course content changes. Offered as AAST 3345 and ENG 3345; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3353. SOCIAL CLIMATE OF CITIES. 3 Hours.
A comparative study of urban communities and metropolitan areas in terms of their distinctive social life and culture. Topics touching on power and urban politics, race and ethnic relations, poverty, and leisure and lifestyles will be examined in terms of their contribution to the unique social climate of cities. Offered as AAST 3353 and SOCI 3353; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3365. AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY TO 1865. 3 Hours.
History of blacks in America from their African origins to 1865. Emphasis on early African society, American slavery, and the development of black institutions and culture in the U.S. Offered as AAST 3365 and HIST 3365; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3366. AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, 1865-PRESENT. 3 Hours.
Emphasis on the transition from slavery to freedom, the political, social, and economic status of blacks in the late 19th century, 20th century black institutions and culture, and the evolution of the civil rights movements. Offered as AAST 3366 and HIST 3366; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 3380. RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE. 3 Hours.
An examination of race in the context of the criminal justice system. Emphasis is on social construction of crime; and the treatment of racial minorities as victims and offenders by law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Offered as CRCJ 3380 and MAS 3380; credit will be granted only once. Offered as AAST 3380 and CRCJ 3380; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4317. ETHNIC GROUP POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES. 3 Hours.
The influence of selected major ethnic groups with special attention given to organizational development, participation in political parties, leadership, ideology, immigration policy, current issues, and relations with the dominant culture and other ethnic groups. Offered as AAST 4317 and POLS 4317; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4318. POLITICS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. 3 Hours.
The influence of African-American politics on United States government and policies with special attention given to organizational development, participation in political parties, leadership, ideology, the Civil Rights movement, current issues, and relations with other ethnic groups. Offered as AAST 4318 and POLS 4318; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4326. DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS. 3 Hours.
This course examines the implications of employee diversity in organizations, an issue of increasing importance. It includes study of the changing demographics of workers, including multiple demographic groups and areas of difference important to organizational treatment and outcomes. This course examines research on treatment, access, and customer discrimination. Legislation related to diversity is also reviewed. This course also provides suggestions for individuals and organizations to increase opportunities and outcomes for workers of all backgrounds. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
AAST 4331. RACE, ETHNICITY & FAMILY FORMATION. 3 Hours.
Investigates the ways in which cultural understandings of race and ethnicity have shaped historical and contemporary variations in family structure, familial experiences, and the legal possibilities for family formation. Junior standing (60 hours) or permission of the instructor required to enroll in this course. Offered as AAST 4331 and SOCI 4331; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4341. INEQUALITIES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
This course examines the manner in which race, ethnicity, and class affect the quality of education in the public schools. Topics include the resegregation of schools, class and race based achievement and funding gaps, and the role the schools play in reproducing inequality. This course has a service learning component and requires volunteering in programs designed to reduce inequality in the schools. Offered as AAST 4341 and SOCI 4341; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4350. SPECIAL TOPICS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Special topics related to African American studies. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
AAST 4370. AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE WEST. 3 Hours.
A history of African Americans in the West, focusing on the experiences of the first Africans who accompanied the first European explorers in the West and Southwest; the post-Civil War migration and settlement of African Americans in the West in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; and the development and impact of the "West Coast" experience on African American culture. Offered as AAST 4370 and HIST 4370; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4374. AFRICAN HISTORY I. 3 Hours.
Examines African prehistory, ancient civilizations, religion, gender issues, slavery, and commerce in precolonial Africa. Offered as AAST 4374 and HIST 4374; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4375. AFRICAN HISTORY II. 3 Hours.
Africa from the "Scramble for Africa" through the establishment of the various colonial systems, through the beginnings of African nationalism, to the contemporary period. The African Revolution and the development of the independent African states. Offered as AAST 4375 and HIST 4375; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4376. AFRICAN DIASPORA I. 3 Hours.
The major developments which have shaped the history of Africans and their descendants in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean areas from the earliest times to 1800. Emphasis on the comparative history of Black Diasporic communities; linkages between Africans and their descendants in the Diaspora. Offered as AAST 4376 and HIST 4376; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4377. AFRICAN DIASPORA II. 3 Hours.
The major developments which have shaped the history of Africans and their descendants in Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America since 1800. Emphasis on the comparative history of Black Diasporic communities; linkages between Africans and their descendants in the Atlantic Diaspora. Offered as AAST 4377 and HIST 4377; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4378. WEST AFRICA AND THE ATLANTIC DIASPORA. 3 Hours.
This course examines the history of West Africa and how this region was integrated into the Atlantic world through the Atlantic slave trade. The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach that integrates traditional classroom instruction with field-based learning in West Africa. This learning method, combined with cultural immersion, challenges students to develop their academic and cross-cultural knowledge and skills. Offered as AAST 4378 and HIST 4378; credit will be granted in only one department.
AAST 4391. CONFERENCE COURSE. 3 Hours.
Directed independent study for the advanced undergraduate. A close examination of a chosen topic through research and/or reading; format designed by instructor and student. May be repeated for a maximum six credit hours when the subject matter varies. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.
AAST 4399. CAPSTONE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES. 3 Hours.
In consultation with the course instructor, students will design a research project or an internship that will integrate their previous course work into a capstone experience in either the applied or the cultural studies stream of the African American Studies minor. Prerequisite: AAST 2300 and departmental permission.
AAST 6391. Conference Course. 3 Hours.
Directed independent study for a masters-level or doctoral student. A close examination of a chosen topic through research and/or reading; format designed by instructor and student. May be repeated for maximum six credit hours when the subject matter varies. Prerequisite: Permission from CAAS Director.