Black Diaspora Studies
The minor in Black Diaspora Studies is designed to broaden the perspectives of students through an examination of the international/transnational dimensions of the experiences of African and African-descent populations, particularly those in the Western Hemisphere. Since the early sixteenth century, when Europe, the Americas, and Africa were brought into a pattern of sustained interaction following the onset of the Age of European Discovery, the African slave trade and other forms of migration and exchange have been critical to the formative experience of Africans and African-descent populations linked by the Atlantic. The intensity and impact of those exchanges have varied over time, but the presence of Africans and African-descent populations in the evolution of Atlantic civilization constitutes the core of the study of the African Diaspora.
Degree Types: Minor
About the Program
Why should I pursue this degree?
You might like this program if…
- You are interested in the history of the Black Diaspora.
- You seek to better understand different perspectives and cultures.
- You are interested in pursuing a career in academia.
Coursework
Opportunities to explore the following topics:
- Black Freedom Studies
- Slavery and Freedom in the Black Atlantic
- Afro-Hispanic Civilization
- Black Liberation and American Foreign Policy
- Early African History
Have questions about this program?
Future students, contact the Liberal Arts Recruitment Team.
Current students, contact your academic adviser.
This program is housed
in the Department of African American Studies and the African Studies program
at Penn State University Park.