Support the ProgramBlack World Studies at Miami University
Major in Black World Studies
To major in Black World Studies, a student must complete 34-40 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the program, distributed as follows:
- Introductory Course
- Area Requirements
(4 courses) - Additional BWS Courses
(4 courses) - Writing Course
- Capstone Course
- BWS Related Hours
(4 courses)
Introductory Course
Either of the following may be used to fulfill the introductory course requirement:
- Introduction to Black World Studies
(BWS 151, 4 hours) - Introduction to Africa
(BWS 156, 4 hours)
Area Requirements
Students must take at least 1 course from each of the following areas:
- African Experiences
- African-American Experiences
- Afro-Latin and Afro-Caribbean Experiences
- Perspectives on Gender, Race, Class & Ethnicity
Additional BWS Courses
Students choose any 4 additional courses from across the curriculum.
Writing Course
Students must take:
- Writing with Purpose: Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Communication
(BWS 211, 3 hours)
Capstone Course
Either of the following may be used to fulfill the capstone requirement:
- Feminism and the Diaspora: U.S. Women of Color
(BWS/ENG/WGS 432, 3 hours) - Social/Political Activism
(BWS/SOC/SJS 470, 3 hours)
Black World Studies Related Hours (12 hours)
Students must choose 4 additional courses (Black World Studies Related Hours) from course offerings listed in Areas A - D in the program to fulfull all their requirements for the major. The Penny Lectures, independent studies, occasional seminars, tutorials, internships, and summer workshops may be used to fulfill BWS related hours. Students must seek the permission of their BWS adviser or Director prior to taking these courses or participating in these internships, tutorials and workshops if they wish to have them counted toward the Area Requirements.