Minor in Black Women’s Studies

The Minor in Black Women’s Studies offered jointly with the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies gives students an opportunity to critically engage theories and histories of justice and social change within the Black community, both nationally and transnationally.

The minor sits at the intersection of race, gender, class, and sexuality and allows students to bring a critical race critique to their primary area of study and a range of future employment possibilities, such as nonprofit management, social justice advocacy, law, health-related fields, student affairs and government and public policy.

Overview of Program Requirements | 15 credits

Please note, students admitted prior to 2020 should follow the requirements outlined further below in Former Program Requirements. The following requirements are for students admitted in 2020 and after.

 

  • Introductory Course - 3 credits - Choose one course
    • AASP263/WGSS263: Introduction to Black Women’s Studies
    • *AASP265/WGSS265: Construction of Manhood and Womanhood in the Black Community
    • AASP264/WGSS264/LGBT264: Quare/Queer Contentions: Explorations of Sexualities in the Black Community

 

  • Historical Course - 3 credits - Choose one course
    • AASP313/WGSS314: Black Women in U.S. History
    • AASP498I/HIST360/WGSS498M: Women and the Civil Rights Movement
    • AASP398G: Gender, Labor, and Racial Identity in Diasporic Communities
  • Of the 9 credits, 6 credits must be upper-level (300/400) courses; a list of approved courses will be made available from the program advisor during the early registration period
  • Of the 15 total credits, 3 credits must come from a comparative or non-U.S. course, which will be indicated on the list of approved courses

BWST Courses 

Required Foundation Course options:

  • WGSS263: Introduction to Black Women's Studies (x-list w/ AASP263)
  • *AASP398J: Black Women in Twentieth Century America (x-list w/ HIST319X, WGSS379J, and AMST498D)

*Approved to fulfill BWST Historical course requirement for Fall 2024

Approved Elective courses:

  • *AASP361: Caribbean Women (x-list w/ WGSS360 and LACS348P)
  • AASP398U: Angela Davis (x-list w/
  • KNES225: Hoop Dreams: Black Masculinity and Sport (DSHS, SCIS)
  • WGSS291: Racialized Gender and Rebel Media (DSSP)

*Comparative or non-U.S. courses

Required Foundation Course: 

  • AASP264: Quare/Queer Contentions: Exploration of Sexualities in the Black Community (x-list LGBT264 &
    WGSS264) 

Approved Elective Course:

  • AASP371: Black Feminist Thought (x-list WGSS370)
  • AASP498J: Racial Socialization of Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research and Practice
  • KNES225: Hoop Dreams: Black Masculinity and Sport
  • WGSS488F: Senior Seminar: Blackness, Gender, and Sexuality: Women Writing Self in the African Diaspora

Required Foundation Course:

  • AASP263: Introduction to Black Women's Studies (x-list WGSS263)
  • AASP265: Constructions of Manhood and Womanhood in the Black Community (x-list WGSS265)
  • AASP313: Black Women in United States History (x-list WGSS314, HIST329E)
  • AASP398G: Gender, Labor, and Racial Identity in Diaspora Communities (x-list AMST328K

Approved Elective Course:

  • AASP498Y: Black Queer Studies
  • HIST412: History of Women and Gender in Africa
  • KNES225: Hoop Dreams: Black Masculinity and Sport
Students who are declared majors in BSOS programs should consider declaring with the AAAS advisor, and students who are declared majors in ARHU should consider declaring with the WGSS advisor, for efficiency. All other majors can chose either department.