African and African Diaspora Studies, BA BA
African and African Diaspora Studies examines cultures, societies and political economies of peoples of African origin and descent. This includes not just peoples of the African continent but everyone with African roots around the globe, often referred to as the African diaspora. The study of African and African Diaspora Studies is relevant to everyone, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, nationality or religion. You will find value in the program if you are interested in working within the U.S. or internationally in health services, education, journalism, social work, politics, law, business, the non-profit sector, trade, the arts and government agencies.
Through coursework in history, literature, political science, economics, and more, students will examine a variety of issues and themes through an African-centric lens. Along the way, they will be honing their skills in communication, information analysis, and research - all skills cited by employers as critically important in their hiring process.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Listed below are the requirements for the African and African Diaspora major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 90 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 90 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
MATH 103 | Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | |
MATH 105 | Introduction to College Algebra | |
MATH 108 | Algebraic Literacy II | |
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
College of Letters & Science Requirements
I. English Writing Requirement
Students must satisfy the English Writing Requirement by completing ENGLISH 102 with a grade of C or higher or by placing beyond ENGLISH 102 on the English Placement Test (EPT).
Note: This requirement is the same as the University General Education Requirement for Oral and Written Communication Part A. The College of Letters & Science does not have a specific requirement for a writing course beyond English 102, but students must complete the university-wide requirement for Oral and Written Communication Part B listed above.
II. Mathematics and Formal Reasoning
To satisfy the Mathematics and Formal Reasoning Requirement, students must satisfy the following two requirements:
1. Achieve a Math Placement Level of at least 30 or earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 102 | Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | 3 |
| MATH 103 | Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 108 | Algebraic Literacy II | 3 |
| MATH 175 | Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
Note: This requirement is the same as the University General Education Requirement for Quantitative Literacy Part A, listed above.
2. Complete one course (at least 3 credits) at the 200 level or above chosen from courses in Mathematics, PHILOS 211, or Letters and Science statistics courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | ||
3 or more credits in any 200-level or above Math course | ||
AFRIC 220 | Introduction to Statistics in Africology | |
ANTHRO 568 | Introduction to Anthropological Statistics | |
ATM SCI 500 | Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences | |
BIO SCI 465 | Biostatistics | |
ECON 210 | Economic Statistics | |
GEOG 247 | Quantitative Analysis in Geography | |
HIST 595 | The Quantitative Analysis of Historical Data | |
MTHSTAT 215 | Elementary Statistical Analysis | |
PHILOS 211 | Elementary Logic | |
POL SCI 390 | Political Data Analysis | |
POL SCI 392 | Survey Research | |
PSYCH 210 | Psychological Statistics | |
SOCIOL 261 | Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology | |
Note: This requirement is NOT the same as the University General Education Requirement for Quantitative Literacy Part B. To complete the BA, students must take one of the L&S approved courses. The courses listed here will satisfy the QL-B requirement.
III. Foreign Language Requirement
Placement testing may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. Language courses (including American Sign Language) other than English taken in high school may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. One year of high school language equates to one semester of college work.
Completion of the L&S Language Requirement also satisfies the university-wide Foreign Language GER, but not vice versa.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Completed in one of the following ways: 1 | 0-18 | |
Successful completion of the 4th semester of college work or equivalent in one language other than English (including American Sign Language) | ||
Successful completion of the 3rd semester of college work or equivalent in one language other than English (including American Sign Language) PLUS the 2nd semester of college work or equivalent in another language other than English (including American Sign Language) | ||
IV. International Requirement
See Approved Courses for the L&S International Requirement for course options.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Completed in one of the following ways: 1 | 9 | |
Complete 3 courses (min. 9 cr) in a single foreign language (not including literature-in-translation or American Sign Language) at the 3rd semester level and above | ||
Complete 3 non-language courses (min. 9 credits) with an international content chosen from at least 2 curricular areas. | ||
Complete 9 credits in combination of the two options above. | ||
V. Breadth Requirement
Along with completing the University General Education Requirements of 3 credits in the Arts (A); 6 credits in the Humanities (HU), Social Sciences (SS), and Natural Sciences (NS/NS+); and a course with the Cultural Diversity (CD/+) designation, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Complete 12 credits of L&S courses with Humanities Breadth designation; no more than 6 credits from a single subject area. * | 12 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Complete 12 credits of L&S Courses with Social Science Breadth designation; no more than 6 credits from a single curricular area. * | 12 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Complete 12 credits of L&S Courses with Natural Sciences Breadth designation, including at least one laboratory or field course; no more than 6 credits from a single curricular area. * | 12 | |
| Cultural Diversity | ||
| Complete 3 credits in a course with Cultural Diversity (CD) designation. ** | 3 | |
| * | Students should check their course selections carefully with the list of approved L&S Breadth Courses. Students are advised to select at least 6 credits worth of courses in each of the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Sciences areas that can satisfy both the campus-wide General Education Requirements and the L&S Breadth requirement. |
| ** | Students are advised to select a course that satisfies the Cultural Diversity requirement as well as a Humanities or Social Science breadth/GER requirement. |
VI. The Major
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.5 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.5 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
African and African Diaspora Studies Major Requirements
All majors must be accepted by the department, and their programs must be arranged with a departmental advisor. To be retained as majors, students must maintain a GPA of 2.500 or better in African and African Diaspora courses attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.500 GPA in all major courses attempted, including any transfer work. A total of 36 credits is required to complete the major; 15 credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at UWM.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| African and African Diaspora Studies Requirements | ||
| AFRIC 215 | Introduction to Black Social and Cultural Traditions | 3 |
| AFRIC 220 | Introduction to Statistics in African and African Diaspora Studies 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 228 | Introduction to Black Political Economy | 3 |
| AFRIC 301 | Research Methods in African & African Diaspora Studies | 3 |
| Specialization | ||
| Select at least 12 credits in one of the following options: | 12 | |
Option A: Political Economy | ||
Option B: Culture and Society | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Select up to 6 credits in the other option | 3-6 | |
| Select up to 6 credits at the 100 level 3 | 3-6 | |
| Research Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
AFRIC 300 | Urban Violence | |
AFRIC 319 | African American Urban History | |
AFRIC 320 | Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | |
AFRIC 321 | Black Workers in the 21st Century | |
AFRIC 326 | Economic Problems of Black Business | |
AFRIC 329 | Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa | |
AFRIC 341 | Black Politics and City Government | |
AFRIC 344 | Global Black Social Movements | |
AFRIC 352 | Extended Families in Black Societies | |
AFRIC 372 | African-American Literary Movements: The Harlem Renaissance | |
AFRIC 414 | The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | |
AFRIC 699 | Independent Study 4 | |
| Total Credits | 33-39 | |
| 1 | With departmental approval, the statistics requirement may be satisfied with another statistics course. |
| 2 | With departmental approval, the research methods requirement may be satisfied with another methods course. |
| 3 | AFRIC 100 is highly recommended. Though not required, 100-level courses prepare students for higher-level African and African Diaspora courses. No more than 6 credits of 100-level courses can count toward the major. |
| 4 | With departmental approval, students can complete 3 credits in AFRIC 699 that involves completion of a research experience designed according to departmental standards. |
Options
Majors specialize in one of two options: political economy or culture and society.
Option A: Political Economy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRIC 235 | African Americans and South Africa 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 261 | Survey of African-American Political Philosophy | 3 |
| AFRIC 300 | Urban Violence | 3 |
| AFRIC 321 | Black Workers in the 21st Century | 3 |
| AFRIC 322 | Order and Disorder: The Quest for Social Justice | 3 |
| AFRIC 323 | Capitalism, Socialism, Nationalism and Fascism | 3 |
| AFRIC 325 | Africa/China Relations | 3 |
| AFRIC 329 | Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa | 3 |
| AFRIC 334 | Survey of Black American and Black Brazilian Societies 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 341 | Black Politics and City Government | 3 |
| AFRIC 344 | Global Black Social Movements | 3 |
| AFRIC 362 | Philosophy and Thought in Africa and the Diaspora II | 3 |
| AFRIC 381 | Honors Seminar: 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 411 | Change in African-American Communities 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 412 | Blacks and the United States Constitution | 3 |
| AFRIC 416 | Race and Social Justice in the United States | 3 |
| AFRIC 417 | Race, Class and Gender in Southern Africa | 3 |
| AFRIC 418 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 420 | The Political Economy of Slavery | 3 |
| AFRIC 489 | Internship in African & African Diaspora Studies, Upper Division 1 | 1-6 |
| AFRIC 565 | Selected Texts/Topics in African & African Diaspora Studies: 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 699 | Independent Study 1 | 1-6 |
| 1 | These courses may count as either Option A or B. |
Option B: Culture and Society
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRIC 205 | The Poetry of African, African-American, and Caribbean Writers | 3 |
| AFRIC 210 | The African-American Novel | 3 |
| AFRIC 232 | Survey of African Societies and Cultures | 3 |
| AFRIC 235 | African Americans and South Africa 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 250 | Black Women and White Women in the Contemporary United States | 3 |
| AFRIC 261 | Survey of African-American Political Philosophy | 3 |
| AFRIC 265 | Psychological Effects of Racism | 3 |
| AFRIC 311 | African Religious Thought and Social Organizations | 3 |
| AFRIC 312 | The Church in African-American Life | 3 |
| AFRIC 314 | The School in African-American Life | 3 |
| AFRIC 319 | African American Urban History | 3 |
| AFRIC 320 | Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 334 | Survey of Black American and Black Brazilian Societies 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 350 | The Black Family | 3 |
| AFRIC 351 | Sexuality, Gender, and Health in Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| AFRIC 352 | Extended Families in Black Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 369 | Black Images and Mass Media | 3 |
| AFRIC 370 | Forms of Black Expression | 3 |
| AFRIC 372 | African-American Literary Movements: The Harlem Renaissance | 3 |
| AFRIC 381 | Honors Seminar: 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 411 | Change in African-American Communities 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 414 | The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 450 | Cultural Transmissions: Black Africa and Black America | 3 |
| AFRIC 451 | Rites of Passage in Black Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 489 | Internship in African & African Diaspora Studies, Upper Division 1 | 1-6 |
| AFRIC 565 | Selected Texts/Topics in African & African Diaspora Studies: 1 | 3 |
| AFRIC 699 | Independent Study 1 | 1-6 |
| 1 | These courses may count as either Option A or B. |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.