Major in African and African Diaspora Studies

Please note that the Department of Africology is undergoing a name change and becoming the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

African and African Diaspora Studies and First Year Courses

Africology Majors

To prepare for an African and African Diaspora Studies major, you must take core courses that establish a knowledge-based foundation that will help you choose between the two major options: Option A (Political Economy) or Option B (Culture and Society).

Core courses:

  • Africol 215 – Introduction to Black Social and Cultural Traditions
  • Africol 220 – Introduction to Statistics in Africology
  • Africol 222 – Research Methods in Africology
  • Africol 228 – Introduction to Black Political Economy

All majors must be accepted by the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies, and their programs arranged with a departmental advisor, located in Mitchell Hall 225. To be accepted and retained as a major, the student must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or better in African and African Diaspora Studies (Africol) courses. A total of 36 credits must be taken to complete the major. No more than 6 credits of 100-level courses can count towards the major.

A course level is defined normally by how much work is involved in the course and what is expected of students. Courses at the 100-level usually are introductory courses; 200-300 level courses are generally for sophomores and juniors; 400 through 600 level usually are junior and senior courses, with 700 and above being graduate-level courses.

  • 100-Level Courses:
  • Africol 100 – Black Reality: Survey of African-American Society, 3 credits
  • Africol 101 – Composition and Writing in Africology, 3 credits
  • Africol 102 – Survey of African-American Literature, 3 credits
  • Africol 111 – African-American History: Pre-1865, 3 credits
  • Africol 112 – African-American History: 1865-Present, 3 credits
  • Africol 121 – Introduction to African-American Politics, 3 credits
  • Africol 125 – Economics of the Black Community, 3 credits
  • Africol 163 – African-American Concept of Self, 3 credits
  • Africol 199 – Independent Study, 1-3 credits

Africology Curriculum

The curriculum for a major in African and African Diaspora Studies offers two options at UW-Milwaukee. Called Options A and B, they offer emphasis on Political Economy or on Culture and Society, respectively. Option A and B courses are listed in the UWM Undergraduate Catalog and on Degree Requirements pages on this website.

Option A

At least 24 credits are required; six may be taken from Option B, and at least 15 must be taken at or above the 300-level. See Option A Major/Degree Requirements for an outline of required and elective course.

Option B

At least 24 credits are required; six may be taken from Option A, and at least 15 must be taken at or above the 300-level. See Option B Major/Degree Requirements for an outline of required and elective courses.

Also, see the Sample Four-Year Plan.

We recommend you speak with your College of Letters and Science Advisor and/or the African and African Diaspora Studies Undergraduate Advisor whenever you have concerns or questions about your education.