The undergraduate degree in Black Studies offers a multi- and interdisciplinary program that encourages students to ask critical questions about the diverse experiences of peoples of African descent and their relationship to the world. Through national, transnational and diasporic perspectives, courses in Old Westbury’s Black Studies Program enrich the liberal arts tradition and social justice mission of the College, recognizing the varied histories, perspectives, identities, activism, and cultural productions of African-descended peoples. Devoted to the breadth of experiences in the African Diaspora, the degree provides students with the critical tools to examine the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, class, health, nation, art, literature, ethnography, and politics. Through varied methodologies, it can assist students in developing new methods for analyzing constructed narratives of the African Diaspora. The program can prepare students for graduate programs in a variety of fields in the arts, humanities and social sciences and lead to a wide array of career paths in education, public health, international relations, law, urban planning, archives, libraries, politics, and business.
The 120-credit degree program includes three required courses and seven electives in the following categories: Humanities and Social Science. Requirements include introductory courses in African American Studies and African American history; a lower-division course in Black Studies Humanities OR Black Studies Social Science; upper-division electives in humanities and social sciences; and a directed study senior seminar capstone course. Students will have considerable flexibility to drive the thematic focus of the degree through elective course selection and they will be encouraged to meet with an advisor to plan their full program according to their personal interests.
Evening Students
The college offers a limited selection of Black Studies courses in the evening. Completion of a major in Black Studies requires daytime course attendance.
Transfer Students
A Black Studies major can be completed in a two year period with appropriate planning. With an advisor’s approval, a maximum of four courses will be accepted in transfer toward the 10 courses required for the major. Transfer students should note that AS 1282 Introduction to African-American Studies is a prerequisite for AS 5001 Capstone Seminar in Black Studies, as well as for a number of other courses in the major. It is essential that AS1282IntroductiontoAfrican-American Studies is taken in a transfer student’s first year at Old Westbury if the expectation of completing the program in two years is to be met. This course must be taken prior to the senior year.
