Department of African American Studies
THE MISSION
The primary mission of the African-American Studies Program (AASP), an independent,
free-standing program in the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, is
to provide an academic and scholarly course of study centered on the black
male in particular, and all blacks in general, that will enlighten both scholars
and laymen, and affirm black males and black society. The ultimate goal
of the AASP is to provide an academic course of study that leads to a baccalaureate
degree in the discipline which prepares the students who major or minor in
the field for a life of rewarding and fulfilling work. Professionals
and amateurs, both in and out of the race and gender, should learn about black
men and their world in all of its varied aspects. Toward this goal, the
AASP will become a documentary center for information on the black male and
blacks as a whole that will be available to serious scholars and interested
laymen alike. Students of African-American Studies, while at Morehouse
and after they graduate, will contribute to the betterment of humankind through
professional work and community service.
DESCRIPTION
The African-American Studies major is holistic (multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary)
and serves as an undergraduate foundation for students
who wish to pursue graduate work in history, art, economics, English,
government affairs, international studies, journalism, music, political
science, psychology, religion, sociology, cinema, mass communications,
and drama/theater. African-American
Studies also provides a strong liberal arts underpinning
for students who plan to earn professional degrees in law, health professions,
and technology.
The major in African-American Studies directly relates to the mission of Morehouse College in that it assumes a special responsibility for teaching students about the history and culture of black people; encourages students to appreciate the ideals of brotherhood, equality, spirituality, human values, and democracy. Special emphasis will be given the culture of black males, including their history and philosophy, arts and letters, science and medicine, economics and politics, and social behavior and athletics It also teaches students to think clearly and critically; to make logical and ethical judgments; and to communicate effectively with others. African-American Studies searches for truth as a liberating force and provides an environment which encourages students to develop a zest for living, learning and contributing as men in society.
The African-American
Studies major actualizes the educational mission of
Morehouse College to teach its students to appreciate the past, especially
the foundations of civilization and the shaping of the modern world;
to appreciate cultures other than one's own, and to judge with heightened
perception, knowledge and understanding the peoples, events, discoveries,
political thought, economic theories, and geographical factors that have
shaped the way we live.
The African-American Studies major prepares students
to become better citizens and leaders in society; prepares
students to go to graduate and professional school,
and to enter the world of work; provides a course of
instruction which aids students to better appreciate the world in which
they live, how it works, and the dynamics of social change; emphasizes
the cultural heritage of black people and prepares students to attain
an informed, scholarly understanding of this legacy; enhances the ability
to understand and coordinate knowledge from other disciplines; reinforces
the student’s academic skills--reading,
writing, speaking, listening, researching and reasoning;
and strongly encourages a commitment to community service.
The African-American Studies Program teaches the seven skills required by Morehouse College. These skills are critical thinking, creative thinking, effective writing, effective oral communication, value awareness, computer literacy and quantitative analysis.
African-American Studies at Morehouse College gives the students who study here another option among many quality majors from which they may launch a professional or service career.
OUTCOMES:
The student who majors or minors in African-American
Studies at Morehouse College, is expected be able
to recall major events, dates and persons in the chronology of the
African-American experience, especially black history; manifest an
appreciation for the totality of the experience; show the linkage between
the African legacy, European history and the African-American experience;
give evidentiary demonstrations of how the experiences of African-Americans
are linked to the experiences of other blacks in the African Diaspora;
and show how the experiences of blacks have been an integral part of
American and world history. The
student should be able to negotiate the holistic/interdisciplinary
relationship among the historical, psychological,
religious, sociological, aesthetic/literary, linguistic, economic,
political, medical, scientific, technological, and athletic areas of
black life.
Graduates of African-American Studies at the College are expected to be able to read comprehensively, write lucidly and cogently, speak effectively, listen intently, research thoroughly, and reason logically. Upon completion of the major in African-American Studies, it is expected that graduates will enter graduate or professional school, or the world of work. All graduates of the discipline are expected to continue their involvement in community service.
OUTCOMES ENUMERATED:
1. AAS
majors should be able to recite the historical chronology
that gave rise to the field of African-American
Studies.
2. AAS majors must be able to identify the important contributors to the field, and explain the relevance and multidisciplinary scope of the field.
3. AAS majors are expected to give cogent facts to demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of the field.
4. AAS majors must be able to recall the details in the timeline of African and African-American history.
5. AAS majors should be able to give profiles and cite the principle contributions of the major literary, musical and artistic figures in the African-American experience.
6. AAS majors are expected to be able to trace the development of the African-American religious experiences from Africa to America in the context of world history.
7. AAS majors must be able to recall the fundamental facts in the history of the American economic and political systems.
8. AAS majors should be able to discuss the divergent psychological and sociological theories with reference to the African-American experiences.
9. AAS majors are expected to recite the major facts in the history of African-Americans in medicine, science, technology, education and sports.
10. AAS majors should be able to demonstrate college-level skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, researching and reasoning.
