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The Black Studies program explores the experiences of people of African descent throughout the world. The goal of the minor is to make our students knowledgeable of how the black experience has influenced the world psychologically, culturally, spiritually, politically, historically, and artistically. This program integrates research and scholarship on the black experience and encourages students to ask questions about how the black experience has influenced society and been influenced by society. This interdisciplinary minor prepares students for careers or graduate work in the social sciences and humanities.

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
BST-2010	Introduction to Black Studies	4
SOC-3350	Race, Ethnicity, and Culture	4
Selected Courses
Select 12 semester hours of the following:		12
SOC-2250	Social Inequalities
ENG-2015	Survey of African-American Literature
ENG-3150	The Harlem Renaissance
ENG-3450	Literature of the Diaspora
ENG-3530	Race and Literature
HIS-3130	Black Chicago
HIS-2370	Black American History I (to 1877)
HIS-2380	Black American History II (since 1877)
HIS-3240	Black Americans in Film
Total Credits		20

Regulations Governing Minors 

1. Minors at Aurora University are optional. They are not required for graduation.
2. A minor shall comprise a minimum of 18 semester hours.
3. At least 25% of the credits applied to a minor must be earned at AU.
4. Each minor must be developed and monitored by an approved program committee of the faculty; new or substantially revised minors require the approval of the Board of Trustees based on recommendations from the program committee, the appropriate school/college governance bodies, the Academic Dean, appropriate university governance bodies, the Chief Academic Officer, and the President.
5. Beyond the minimum coursework requirement, the content, structure, and extent of a minor are prerogatives of the individual program committees within the schools and colleges of the university, except as otherwise defined or restricted by the academic regulations.
6. No “D” will apply toward minors.
7. A maximum of four (4) semester hours of credit/no credit coursework will apply toward a minor.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will develop a conceptual framework for making and analyzing arguments within a racial context.
2. Students will show an understanding of the intellectual and ethical importance of understanding the experiences of traditionally marginalized peoples.
3. Students will acquire a basic understanding of the events, movements, theories, and texts that have shaped the  development of the African Diaspora.