African and African-American Studies, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 36

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B015

Major Requirements

  • Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
AFAM Core
AFAM 2003Introduction to African and African-American Studies3
AFAM 2113Africa and the Diaspora3
HIST 3743African-American History to 18773
or HIST 3753 African-American History Since 1877
AFAM 3513AFAM Research Methods (or an alternative research course as approved by the Program Director)3
AFAM 4003Senior Seminar in African and African-American Studies (Capstone)3
Major Electives
Choose one course from each of the three groups listed below:9
Additional Requirements
Choose twelve hours selected from courses not already used in Major Electives; courses listed below; or courses approved by the Program Director: 112
Special Topics In African And African-American Studies 2
Independent Study 3
Introduction to Black Literature in the United States
Survey of African Civilization
African-American History to 1877 4
African-American History Since 1877 4
Race, Gender, Class and the Media
Inequality in A Global Perspective
Total Credit Hours36
1

It is highly recommended that students complete both HIST 3743 and HIST 3753.

2

A maximum of 9 hours of AFAM 4010 will apply toward the degree program.

3

A maximum of 6 hours of AFAM 4990 will apply toward the degree program.

4

If HIST 3743 or HIST 3753 is used to satisfy the AFAM Core requirement, it may not also be used as a major elective.

African and African-American Studies Major Elective Category Course Lists

HISTORICAL ISSUES

AFAM 3123West African and African-American Experiences3
AFAM 33133
AFAM 33233
AFAM 3333The Black West3
AFAM 4633African American Religious Traditions3
AFAM 4733Civil Rights Law: Employment and Education3

CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES

AFAM 3413African American Education in the United States3
AFAM 3423African-American Men3
AFAM 3433African American Women3
AFAM 3453The Black Athlete in America3
AFAM 4413Issues in the African American Family3
AFAM 4423African American Health Issues3
AFAM 4623Hip Hop Culture and Contemporary America3
AFAM 4713Afrocentric Thinking and the Civil Rights Movement3
AFAM 47233
AFAM 4813Prison Industrial Complex3
AFAM 4823African American Politics and Public Policy3

AESTHETICS

AFAM 3133Introduction to African Aesthetics3
AFAM 3143Gospel Music Past and Present3
AFAM 3613Visual Culture and African American Identity: 1895-19393
AFAM 4133Contemporary Visual Art of Africa3
AFAM 4213African Dance3
AFAM 4233Blacks and the Movies: Hollywood and Black Independent Film3
AFAM 4243The Black Arts Movement3

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
1

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

3

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or Department of African and African American Studies academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and African and African American Studies major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
AFAM 2003 Introduction to African and African-American Studies (Core IV, World Culture) 3
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
Math (Core I) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
AFAM 2113 Africa and the Diaspora 3
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
Social Science (Core III) 3
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
 Credit Hours15
Sophomore
First Semester
HIST 3743
African-American History to 1877 (Core IV, Western Culture)
or African-American History Since 1877
3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
AFAM Additional Requirement 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
Free Elective, lower-division 3
Free Elective, lower-division 3
Free Elective, lower-division 1
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
AFAM 3513 AFAM Research Methods 3
AFAM Historical Issues course, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
AFAM Contemporary Social Issues course, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Intermediate Language 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
AFAM Aesthetics course, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
AFAM Additional Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
AFAM Additional Requirement, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
AFAM Additional Requirement, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
AFAM 4003 Senior Seminar in African and African-American Studies 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120