The College Catalogue

• Tess Chakkalakal, Program Director
• Glynis Wears-Siegel, Program Coordinator

• Professor: Olufemi Vaughan† (History)
• Associate Professor: Tess Chakkalakal (English)
• Assistant Professors: Judith S. Casselberry†, Brian Purnell
• Fellows: Laura Premack (Latin American Studies), Wendy Thompson-Taiwo
• Contributing Faculty: Ericka A. Albaugh, Peter Coviello, Guy Mark Foster, David Gordon, David Hecht†, Aaron Kitch†, Scott MacEachern†, Dhiraj Murthy, Elizabeth Muther, H. Roy Partridge Jr., Patrick J. Rael, Jennifer Scanlon†, Hanétha Vété-Congolo, Anthony Walton

The Africana Studies Program at Bowdoin College, like many others in the country, grew out of the African American freedom movement of the 1960s. In recent decades, the program has grown into a dynamic interdisciplinary field that engages the historical, political, social, economic, and cultural experiences of African Americans and other peoples of African heritage in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and other regions of the world. From national, transnational, and diasporic perspectives, Africana studies courses draw from the expertise of our distinguished faculty in various disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs in the humanities and social sciences. Africana studies faculty members explore a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives, and are deeply committed to encouraging our students, especially majors and minors, to acquire the essential analytical, writing, and communication skills that will prepare them for the modern professions and postgraduate studies.

Requirements for the Major in Africana Studies

The major in Africana studies will consist of nine interdisciplinary and disciplinary courses in African American, African diaspora, and African studies. The course requirements for the major in Africana studies are outlined in the following categories:

• Introduction to Africana Studies (Africana Studies 101)
• Intermediate Seminar in Africana Studies (see list of seminars below)
• Senior Seminar in Africana Studies (Africana Studies 301)
• Six additional courses drawn from two tracks in Africana studies. The tracks in Africana studies are: (a) African American Studies (Africana studies courses on the national black experience in the United States); and (b) African and African Diaspora Studies (Africana studies courses on African regional, transregional, and African diaspora themes)
• Students are required to take at least one course from the track that is not their primary concentration. For example, one course from the African American Studies track will be required of students in the African and African Diaspora Studies track.
• Independent study and off-campus electives: prospective majors in Africana studies can take a maximum of two courses either as independent study, or they may take courses at other colleges/universities, or students may take one course each from either of these two categories towards one of the tracks in Africana studies. Africana studies majors should consult with the Africana Studies Program director or their Africana studies faculty advisor before making a final decision on study abroad and or taking courses at other colleges/universities.
• A first-year seminar in Africana studies will count towards the courses required as electives for the major in Africana studies. A first-year seminar can satisfy either of the two tracks in Africana studies.
• At least five of the courses from either of the two tracks must be at the 200 and 300 levels. Courses that will count toward the major must be taken on a graded basis (not Credit/D/Fail), and students must earn grades of C- or better in these courses. See the list of the courses for the two Africana studies tracks below.

For more information and clarification on the major requirements in Africana studies, prospective majors are encouraged to consult with the Africana Studies Program director or a faculty member in the Africana Studies Program by the fall semester of their junior year.

Requirements for the Minor in Africana Studies

The minor in Africana studies will consist of five disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses in African American, African, and African Diaspora Studies. The course requirements for the minor in Africana studies are outlined in the following categories:

1. Introduction to Africana Studies (Africana Studies 101)
2. Four Africana Studies elective courses from either of the two Africana studies tracks. Three of these courses must be at the 200 and 300 levels. Only one of these four electives can be an independent study course or a course taken at other colleges/universities. Courses that will count toward the minor must be taken on a graded basis (not Credit/D/Fail), and students must earn grades of C- or better in these courses.
3. A first-year seminar in Africana studies will count towards the minor in Africana studies.

Students considering a minor in Africana studies are encouraged to consult with the Africana Studies Program director by the fall semester of their junior year.