Bachelor of Arts in African American History
The Bachelor of Arts in African American History at Dubois College is a transformative,
interdisciplinary program that explores the full scope and richness of the Black experience in the
United States and across the African diaspora. Rooted in Dubois College's commitment to
Education, Empowerment, Equity, and Excellence, this program centers Black voices, resistance
movements, cultural innovations, and intellectual traditions while preparing students for careers in
education, policy, advocacy, and cultural preservation.
Through an in-depth study of slavery, emancipation, civil rights, Black feminism, African spirituality,
global movements, and cultural production, students gain the analytical tools needed to challenge
dominant historical narratives, engage critically with archival sources, and apply historical
knowledge to contemporary social justice efforts. The curriculum also emphasizes public history,
community-based research, and digital storytelling.
Graduates will be prepared to pursue graduate study or enter fields such as education, public policy,
community organizing, museum work, media, and nonprofit leadership.
Program Highlights
– Full exploration of African American history from pre-colonial Africa to present
– Emphasis on Black agency, leadership, and intellectual traditions
– Integration of public history, archival research, and oral history methods
– Courses on Black women’s history, the African diaspora, and cultural expression
– Fully online, tuition-free, and grounded in Black liberatory pedagogy
Degree Plan
Year 1 - Fall Semester
– Introduction to African American History
– College Writing & Composition I
– Pre-Colonial African Civilizations
– African American Cultural Expression
– Digital Literacy & Historical Research
Year 1 - Spring Semester
– U.S. History to 1865
– College Writing & Composition II
– Public Speaking for Storytelling & Advocacy
– Race, Class, & Gender in American Society
– African American Oral Traditions
Year 2 - Fall Semester
– U.S. History Since 1865
– Black Political Thought
– African American Religion & Spirituality
– Introduction to Black Feminist Thought
– Elective (e.g., African Art, Caribbean History)
Year 2 - Spring Semester
— Slavery, Abolition & Resistance
– Civil Rights & Black Power
– African Diaspora: Global Connections
– African American Educational History
– Elective (e.g., Hip-Hop & History, Black Labor History)
Year 3 - Fall Semester
– Research Methods in African American Studies
– African American Biography & Autobiography
– Black History in Public Spaces (Museums, Monuments, Media)
– Internship I: Museum, Archive, or Cultural Organization
– Elective (e.g., Environmental Racism, Race & Housing)
Year 3 - Spring Semester
– African American History Through Film & Media
– The Great Migration & Urban Life
– Archival Research & Digital Storytelling
– Black Resistance in the 21st Century
– Elective (e.g., Reparations, Race & Tech)
Year 4 - Fall Semester
— Senior Seminar: Historiography & Theory
– Internship II or Independent Historical Research
– Global Black Movements
– Capstone Proposal & Portfolio Development
– Elective (e.g., Black History Curriculum Design, Genealogy Research)
Year 4 - Spring Semester
– Capstone Project: Museum Exhibit, Public Lecture, or Research Paper
– African American Memory & Commemoration
– Career Readiness for Humanities Professionals
– Seminar in Historical Justice & Liberation
– Elective (e.g., Archiving Black Life, History of Black Migration)