African and African American Studies
Why Pursue African and African American Studies at Randolph?
This interdisciplinary minor explores African and African American experiences, drawing from approaches across the campus.
Students will gain an understanding of how the histories of the United States and the wider world have benefited from Africa and African descendants.
Knowledge of the experiences of Africans and African descendants past and present is critical to understanding the urgent issues of our time.
The insight students will gain from this minor will better prepare them to critically engage the world and to live honorably.
Degrees offered
African and African American Studies interdisciplinary minor
Participating Programs
Curriculum and Requirements
Students must complete 20 credit hours to qualify for the minor. A minimum of 5 of the following courses are required.
Required: (4 credit hours)
This interdisciplinary course explores the historical, social, cultural and political experience of people of African descent in the United States and in the wider diaspora. It will introduce students to the distinct theoretical approaches and methods of African & African American Studies, centering Black, African and African American thought, scholarship, and culture. Topics may include imperialism, colonialism, slavery, inequality, and capitalism.
Four courses (16 credits) chosen from below: *
* Must be from at least three different departments. Relevant Special Topics and one-time only courses can be substituted for courses other than AAAS 1101, with approval by the minor program coordinator.
At least two courses from the following: (8-16 credit hours)
Students will discover and analyze a range of expressions of African American artistic creativity from the colonial period to the present, including: religious art, portraiture, landscape, photography, the Harlem Renaissance, social realism, abstraction, public art, performance, and art as a tool for social justice. Includes opportunities to examine works at the Maier Museum of Art.
Up to two courses from the following: (max 8 credit hours)
Opportunities for Experience
Summer Research Program
Spend the summer working closely with a professor on a focused aspect of an African American Studies topic of your choosing.
Randolph’s intensive eight-week Summer Research Program enables students to work with professors on a research of their own design; live in a residence hall on campus, participate in on-campus summer events, attend special seminars with guest speakers; and share the progress and results of their research.
Symposium of Artists and Scholars
Modeled after a traditional academic conference, the SAS brings together students of all disciplines to share the results and highlights of the best work being produced at the College – oral presentations, readings of creative works, performances, exhibitions of student artwork, and poster presentations.
Internships
Learn by doing – in the field and on the job. The Career Development Center will help place you in positions with leading companies and organizations in your field of study.
Unique Experiences
Opportunities
Top Ranked Professors
Randolph College’s faculty are consistently recognized as among the best in the nation. The Princeton Review ranked the College in the Top 25 for most accessible professors in the most recent edition of its flagship college guide, The Best 389 Colleges.
Randolph has been ranked in the top 25 for most accessible professors for more than a decade.
Faculty Coordinator
Julio Rodriguez
Associate Professor of American Culture, Director of the American Culture Program
Read More... Julio RodriguezOnly at Randolph
Randolph students can take advantage of unique programs which give them a more enriching education than can be found anywhere else.
Randolph graduates learn to think critically, solve problems and work well with others. They are prepared to succeed in all aspects of life.
Two courses per half-mester means you get to focus in and dig deep into your coursework while still having time for the rest of the college experience. Two classes. Seven weeks. Repeat.
Randolph students work with faculty mentors to explore a broad range of disciplines as they chart their academic path.
The Randolph Innovative Student Experience (RISE) program provides every student a $2,000 grant to fund research, creative work, experiential learning or other scholarly pursuits.
