|
|
|
PrincetonUniversity |
Program in African-American StudiesAfrican-American studies is an interdisciplinary program that began in a formal way at Princeton University in 1969. It is the detailed study and investigation of the causes, consequences, and dynamics of the cumulative social and cultural experience of Americans of African descent. The field of African-American studies incorporates ideas and approaches from the social sciences, especially history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science. It also incorporates ideas from the humanities and the arts, especially literature, cultural studies, religion, philosophy, theater, and other forms of cultural expression. The uniqueness of the field, however, comes from the crucial, unifying ingredients: the cumulative experience of black Americans and the meaning of the category "Race." African-American studies revolves around two central themes: first, the ongoing systematic study and illumination of black society, culture, and history; second, the critical examination and reformulation of those portions of current knowledge about African-Americans that are inaccurate. What new research is being done? What new questions are being asked? What is currently being done in the field by scholars, writers, and scientists? What recent creative writing has taken place? How does black culture reformulate and redirect the process of inquiry? The program in African-American studies not only critically evaluates past research, but also formulates new questions and directions. There are several goals for a program in African-American studies. A few of them might be listed here: 1) a curriculum oriented toward student needs and interests; 2) a curriculum that develops the student's ability not only to criticize existing materials and beliefs, but to go beyond them and formulate new questions; 3) emphasis upon independent research and inquiry by students, in the form of junior projects, senior theses, term papers, and other forms of independent inquiry; 4) emphasis on both the humanities and the social sciences; 5) finally, a primary focus on black American culture and society, with a strong yet secondary emphasis upon African, Caribbean, Asian, European, and other cultures. These goals are met by three distinct components of the Program in African-American Studies: the program's own courses, cognate and related courses offered in other departments, and supporting extra- and cocurricular activities. A student may receive a certificate from the Program in African-American Studies by completing African-American Studies 201 in addition to five other courses, three of which must originate in or be formally cross-listed by the African-American studies program. The remaining two courses or electives must be drawn from a long list of related courses from various departments and programs across the university that are usually consistent with the student's departmental requirements. Students must also make substantial reference to an aspect of African-American culture or history in their senior thesis. The core course, Introduction to the Study of African-American Cultural Practices (African-American Studies 201) is designed to provide certificate students with an understanding of the intellectual and methodological underpinnings of the field. We also offer cognate and related courses on race, ethnicity, and other topics covering an array of issues from political theory to engineering. Another component is the African-American Studies Works-In-Progress Colloquium Series. This extraordinary program brings writers, scholars, and researchers to campus to report on their work. The informal interplay between guest and audience is important to our academic and intellectual mission. Other unique strengths of the program include its interdisciplinary focus and, especially, the opportunity for students to work closely with the top scholars, writers, and researchers in the field. This is what makes today's Program in African-American Studies very exciting. The program offers opportunities for study abroad, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean. A number of opportunities for summer research are also available.
|