Major in African American and Africana Studies with Concentration in Public Policy

The Department of African American and Africana Studies offers two undergraduate curriculum options. The second curriculum option is a formal Concentration in Public Policy. This concentration allows students to focus the majority of their coursework on topics focused on public policy and the Black community, including African American/Black politics, education, criminal justice, civic engagement, and social justice.

There are six segments of the AAAS Concentration in Public Policy: foundation courses, research methods, a research practicum or lab, an analytic skills development segment, AAAS upper-level policy elective courses, and a senior capstone with 3 options. All major requirements must be taken under the regular grading method and must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.

Every student must also complete their General Education requirements as well as 120 total credits to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in AAAS-Public Policy. Please reference the following major card:

General Education AAAS-Public Policy Major Card with 4 Year Plan 

AAAS Public Policy Major Sample 2 Year Plan 

 

 

 

Overview of Program Requirements | 38 credits

AAAS Foundation Course Requirements | AASP100, AASP101, and AASP200 | 9 credits

  • All AASP-Public Policy majors will complete the following foundation course requirements:
    • AASP100: Introduction to African American Studies
    • AASP101: Public Policy and the Black Community
    • AASP200: African Civilization
  • Directly admitted freshman should complete the requirements within 30-60 credits at the university
  • Internal transfer students should successfully complete at least 1 or more of foundation requirements prior to applying to major

AAAS Research Method Requirements | AASP210 and AASP395 | 6 credits

  • All AASP-Public Policy majors are required to complete AASP210: Intro to Research Design and Analysis in African American Studies before AASP395
  • AASP395: Fundamentals of Quantitative Research in Socio-Cultural Perspective
    • This course is designed to be a statistical analysis or quantitative course
  • The research methods segment should be completed between the sophomore and junior year (30-89 credits) or before choosing a senior capstone option

AAAS Research Practicum | AASP399 | 2 credits

  • All majors are required to complete 2 credits of a research practicum or lab experience
  • Majors can begin this segment after freshman year and/or the successful completion of 2 foundation courses (AASP benchmarks)

Analytic Skills Development Requirements | ECON200, AASP301, and PLCY388 or PLCY401 | 9 credits

  • ECON200: Principles of Microeconomics
  • AASP301: Applied Policy Analysis and the Black Community
  • PLCY388: Special Topics in Public Policy course, or PLCY401: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy
    • Approved PLCY388 courses will be made available from the program advisor during the early registration period
  • Some requirements for AASP-Public Policy majors should be completed in the order of each segment or the following sequence:
    • AASP101 → AASP395 → ECON200 → AASP301

AAAS Upper-Level Policy Courses | 9 credits

  • Students will select 3 AASP upper-level (300/400) policy courses of their choice
  • A list of approved courses will be made available from the program advisor during the early registration period

AAAS Senior Capstone Options | 3-6 credits

  • As students approach the completion of 90 credits, they will meet with their academic advisor to discuss capstone options and get permissions/approvals if needed
  • Students will choose one option from 3 distinct senior capstone options 
    • AASP396: Senior Thesis (permissions required)
    • AASP401: Research Directions in African-American Studies
    • AASP468Y/AASP468Z - South Africa Study Abroad - 6 credits

AAAS Courses: For Concentration in Public Policy 

Upper-Level AAAS Public Policy Courses:

  • AASP398B: Black Immigrants: Challenges and Impacts
  • AASP398Q: Black Baltimore in the Post Racial U.S: African American Urban Culture in the Age of Obama
  • AASP398U: Angela Davis
  • AASP498O: African American and Latino Social, Cultural and Political Relations: 1940 to Present
  • AASP499L: Covering Social Justice
  • AASP499N: News Coverage of Racial Issues
  • AASP499U: End Gun Violence: An Analysis of Structural Violence, Interpersonal Violence and Trauma in African-American Communities
  • CCJS370: Race, Crime and Criminal Justice (AAAS majors contact CCJS advisors for permission to enroll.)

PLCY388 and PLCY401 course options:

  • *PLCY302: Examining Pluralism in Public Policy (DVCC)
  • *PLCY310: Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation in Action
  • *PLCY380: Innovation and Social Change: Do Good Now (DSSP, SCIS)
  • PLCY388A: Special Topics in Public Policy; Child and Family Policy Impact
  • PLCY388V: Special Topics in Public Policy; Public Policy Challenges in Africa
  • PLCY401: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy (Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 90 credits.)

 

*Approved to fulfill PLCY388 or PLCY401 requirement for Fall 2024

Upper-Level (300/400) AASP Public Policy Courses: 

  • AASP320: Poverty and African American Children 
  • AASP411: Black Resistance Movements 
  • AASP441: Science, Technology, and the Black Community 
  • AASP499N: News Coverage of Racial Issues 
  • AASP499R: Black Politics (see AASD advisor for permission to enroll) 

PLCY388 and PLCY401 course options: 

  • PLCY302: Examining Pluralism in Public Policy 
  • PLCY380: Innovation and Social Change: Do Good Now (x-list BSOS388B) 
  • PLCY388A: Child and Family Policy Impact 
  • PLCY388F: Contemporary Issues Under the Rule of Law 
  • PLCY388G: Cracking the Code: AI, Race, Gender & Policy Innovation for a 21st Century World PLCY401: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy (Must have a minimum of 90 credits.) 

Upper-Level (300/400) AASP Public Policy Courses: 

  • AASP320: Poverty and African American Children 
  • AASP398Q: Black Baltimore in the Post Racial U.S.: African American Urban Culture in the Age of Obama AASP398V: African American Public History 
  • AASP498O: African American and Latino Social, Cultural and Political Relations: 1940 to Present AASP499N: News Coverage of Racial Issues 

PLCY388 and PLCY401 Courses: 

  • PLCY302: Examining Pluralism in Public Policy 
  • PLCY380: Innovation and Social Change: Do Good Now 
  • PLCY388N: Advancing Justice Through Leadership and Public Service (Must be in the Rawlings Program) PLCY388V: Public Policy Challenges in Africa 
  • PLCY401: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy (Must have earned a minimum of 90 credits.

Change/Add AAAS (Concentration in Public Policy)

To begin a major change or major addition request, please click here. 

  • You will receive an email with detailed instructions including tasks for completing your request to add or change your major. Throughout the process you may be notified if additional actions are required.
  • The tasks will include meeting with a departmental advisor for your new major, attending or completing a workshop, and submitting a graduation plan. 
  • Once you complete all of the tasks listed in the system and your graduation plan has been approved, your major will be changed or added.
  • These requests may take up to 15 business days to process. 

*Students on academic probation/dismissal, student athletes and other designated student populations will be required to schedule an appointment with a BSOS College Advisor to finalize their major change or addition.

If you have any questions, please contact us so we can help.

Marshal F. Washington

Assistant Program Director and Academic Advisor

1139 Taliaferro Hall | lahsram9 [at] umd.edu