Undergrad Program | The Major

A minimum of 36 points is required for the completion of the major. The number of points allocated per course is indicated in theColumbia University Bulletin. The core requirements are: African-American Studies C1001— "Introduction to African-American Studies"; African-American Studies C3936—"Colloquium: Black Intellectuals"; and African-American Studies C3930 —"Topics in the Black Experience." Students must also take a minimum of four courses in a "governed electives" category from at least three different departments, which provides an interdisciplinary background in the field of African-American Studies. One "governed electives" must be a literature course; one must be a history course; and one must focus primarily on cultures and societies located in Africa or within the African Diaspora outside of the United States, such as the Caribbean or Latin America. In addition, five courses must be taken within a designated area of study, preferably within a distinct discipline. Students may also select their five courses within a particular geographical area or region. One of these five courses must be a seminar.