When you decide to become an AFAS major, second major or minor, you should select an advisor no later than the beginning of the second semester of your sophomore year. This faculty member will sign your declaration form. You are expected to plan a specific course of study under the supervision of your advisor. Each advisor will help you determine which advanced courses you should take so they relate to an area of concentration which can be an African concentration or African American concentration or a specially focused plan of study.
Introductory Required Courses
You should note that this also fills a cluster requirement, CL 7788 African and African American Studies:
208B African American Studies Introduction (TH, SD)
209B African Studies Introduction (TH, CD)
Writing Requirement
Writing intensive courses help you develop writing skills while combining advanced work in your area of concentration. We strongly recommend that a writing intensive course be taken early in the junior year.
Senior Requirement (Majors and 2nd Majors)
AFAS 401 Senior Seminar is a colloquium that gives you an opportunity to meet with other seniors and exchange ideas.
The seminar will have a specific focus that should help you tie together the courses you have taken.
Distribution of Remaining Courses
A minimum of six additional advanced level courses (300+) are required for the major or second major while four additional advanced level courses are required for the minor.
Honors
The Honors program in AFAS is open to majors in African and African American Studies who have strong academic records. Students usually have an overall grade point average of at least 3.4 and at least 3.5 in our major. Application to the program should be made to the Director as early as possible in the junior year.
To help expedite the process, you should obtain a copy of your transcript, talk with the faculty member you wish to have supervise your work, and obtain their agreement to be your thesis supervisor. Then complete a Proposal form, setting out what you plan to do for your thesis, naming your thesis advisor, and enclosing a copy of your transcript. The Proposal form and transcript should be submitted to the Director of African and African-American Studies no later than May 1 of your junior year.
Upon admission to the program, you should find 2-3 outside readers who will agree to be on your committee. They will hear your defense of your thesis. Their recommendations will determine what is contained in your final draft of your thesis.
African & African-American Studies in the current Washington University Bulletin