The African and African Diaspora Studies Concentration offers a variety of subjects on the history, culture and structure of societies of African descent throughout the world, with special emphasis on those of the United States and the Caribbean. The purpose of the concentration is to allow students to focus critical and analytic attention on issues of concern to black communities of the Western hemisphere, to allow students to gain a wider appreciation of the dynamic nature of those communities, and to assist students to understand the historical, humanistic, political and social dimensions of ethnicity and race.
Concentration requirements: Four subjects, selected in consultation with the Concentration Advisor. A HASS Concentration may include only ONE (1) subject that also counts toward the HASS Distribution Requirement. You may include more than one only if the additional subject will NOT count as a HASS Distribution subject in your degree audit.
The following subjects, offered by the various departments, programs and sections within the School of Humanities and Social Science, constitute the core of the African and African Diaspora Studies concentration:
HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS
21L.007 World Literatures, HASS-H, HASS-D, CI-H
21L.504J Race and Identity in American Literature [WGS.140], HASS-H
21M.030 Introduction to World Music, HASS-A, HASS-D, CI-H
21M.226 Jazz, HASS-A, HASS-D
21M.293 Music of Africa, HASS-A
21M.863 Advanced Topics in Theater Arts (when applicable - minimum of 9 units) ‡
21W.742J Writing About Race [WGS.231], HASS-H, HASS-D, CI-H
24.912J Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies [WGS.190, 21A.125, 21H.106, 21L.008, 21W.741], HASS-A/HASS-H, HASS-D, CI-H
WGS.142 Narrative and Identity: Writing and Film by Contemporary Women of Color, HASS-H
SOCIAL SCIENCES
3.988 Africa - Past and Present: An Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials Perspective, HASS-S
9.75J Psychology of Gender and Race [WGS.228], HASS-S
17.311 Politics, Race, and Science, HASS-S
17.523 Ethnic Conflict in World Politics, HASS-S
17.571 African Politics, HASS-S
17.907 Reading Seminar in Social Science (when applicable - minimum of 9 units)
24.912J Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies [WGS.190, 21A.125, 21H.106, 21L.008, 21W.741], HASS-A/HASS-H, HASS-D, CI-H
STS.046J The Science of Race, Sex, and Gender [21A.103, WGS.225], HASS-S
STS.048 African Americans in Science, Technology, and Medicine, HASS-H
STS.089 Technology and Innovation in Africa, HASS-H
HISTORICAL STUDIES
21H.204J The Civil War and Reconstruction [STS.029], HASS-H
21H.229 The Black Radical Tradition in America, HASS-H
21H.390 Seminar in Historical Methods (when the topical focus of the course is pertinent), HASS-H
24.912J Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies [WGS.190, 21A.125, 21H.106, 21L.008, 21W.741], HASS-A/HASS-H, HASS-D, CI-H
Students that have taken the following subjects that are no longer offered can count these subjects toward their concentration:
11.023 Bridging Cultural and Racial Differences
17.305J Race, Gender, and Law
17.53 Democratization in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
21A.240 Race and Science
21A.460J Medicine, Religion, and Politics in Africa and the African Diaspora
21H.705 Introduction to the History of Modern Africa
21M.621J Theater and Cultural Diversity in the US
21M.712 African American Performance
21M.775 Hip-Hop
21W.766J Contemporary US Women of Color: Writing and Reading Short Stories
24.908 Creole Languages and Caribbean Identities
[ ] Jointly listed subjects
‡ Subject offered on a variable schedule, please check with department
Additional information can be obtained from the Concentration Advisor:
Professor Christopher Capozzola, E51-284, x2-4960,
Or from the History Office, E51-285, x3-4965
Massachusetts Institute of Technology