UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

 

 

The course of study in the Program in African American and Diaspora Studies is divided into three areas:

I. Literature, Theory & Visual Culture

II. Gender and Sexuality

III. Social Sciences

The concentration in PAADS requires 36 hours of coursework. Courses taken at Fisk University may be counted as electives in the program of study. The areas under which courses fall in the African American and Diaspora Studies curriculum as well as the A.X.L.E. requirements are indicated in parenthesis following the course description. For example: (I-INT) indicates that the course falls under Area I (“Literature, Theory & Visual Culture”) and A.X.L.E.’s “International Cultures.”

1. 101: Introduction to African American and Diaspora Studies; AADS 101 counts towards A.X.L.E.’s “Perspectives”

2. Six hours from Area of Study I. Literature, Theory & Visual Culture

3. Six hours from Area of Study II: Gender & Sexuality

4. Nine hours from Area of Study III: Social Sciences

5. 294a or 294b: Special Topics (not open to 1st or 2nd year students)

6. Six hours of electives selected from the approved list of course offerings at Vanderbilt and Fisk universities. Consult with the program’s undergraduate advisor for an updated list of approved courses.

7. Six hours of the concentration must focus on the Americas (outside of the US) and Africa and no more than 9 hours or coursework can be taken at the 100-level (excluding AADS 101).

8. 299 Senior Thesis

9. Students wishing to pursue HONORS in PAADS must register for 298 Senior Honors Thesis*

10. Majors are also required to take “Research Methods: Race, Culture and Power,” which counts as a course from Area of Study III: Social Sciences, before their fourth year of study but not before the second semester sophomore year.

*Students pursuing the Senior Honors Thesis may apply to program for nominal amounts of funds to assist with research projects. All thesis must be comparative/cross-cultural in nature.

**Majors will also be expected to interface with the Academic Learning Center.  Please see the Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies (Professor Gilman W. Whiting).

1. 101 Introduction to African American and Diaspora Studies; 101 counts towards A.X.L.E.’s “Perspectives”

2. One Course from Area of Study I: Literature, Theory & Visual Culture

3. One Course from Area of Study II: Gender & Sexuality

4. One Course from Area of Study III: Social Sciences

5. 294a or 294b Special Topics (not open to 1st or 2nd year students)

6. Three hours of an elective selected from the approved list of course offerings at Vanderbilt and Fisk universities. Consult with the program’s undergraduate advisor for an updated list of approved courses.

7. Six hours of the minor must focus on the Americas (outside of the US) and Africa and no more than 6 credit hours of the minor can be taken at the 100-level (excluding AADS 101).

8. Minors are also encouraged to take “Research Methods: Race, Culture and Power,” which counts as a course from Area of Study III: Social Sciences, before their fourth year of study but not before the second semester sophomore year.

1. Cumulative 3.0 GPA

2. 3.3 GPA in PAADS

3. 36 Hours as outlined for Major

4. 298 Senior Honors Thesis

5. Public Presentation of Thesis Research/Findings

6. Approval of Thesis by committee of two faculty members (one must be affiliated with AADS)

See Vanderbilt Undergraduate Catalog for List of Approved Electives. Students should also consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Gilman W. Whiting, for an updated list.