An African-American Studies minor will be avaliable to students for the first time this spring, after a five-year effort by students and faculty.
According to the proposal submitted to the administration by students and faculty members, “An examination of the top 25 universities as reported by U.S. News and World Report (2001) reveals that Georgetown University is one of six universities without an African-American Studies program … an African-American Studies program at Georgetown is overdue.”
Five years ago, students and faculty saw that there was an interest in an African-American Studies program and that there were courses already being taught that could supplement a program, said Nazareth Haysbert (CAS ‘05), who has been active in proposing the program.
“We have had a strong faculty interest this year and we are moving to push [the program] forward,” Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Jane McAuliffe said.
The minor is being introduced as quickly as possible in order to gauge student interest in a full African-American Studies program, McAuliffe said.
According to the proposal for the program, “[It] affords students to learn about the many facets of the African-American experience, an experience impossible to compartmentalize within one discipline. It helps prepare students for entry into an increasingly diverse American workforce and society.”
One course, “Introduction to African-American Studies,” will be offered next semester. According to Professor Angelyn Mitchell, who will teach the course, it will offer a theoretical framework for examining the African-American experience.
“The course is designed to give students an overview of African-American culture and life. We will read not only literary texts, but sociological, psychological and historical texts as well,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said that the course will also focus on relevant social issues like family, violence and economics.
The minor will be modeled after other interdisciplinary units, said Mitchell. Students will have to accumulate 18 hours of courses and complete requisite courses, including “Introduction to African-American Studies” and a senior independent study, she said.
Financial contributions by an anonymous donor have made the program possible this spring, McAuliffe said. Supporters of the program also hope to solicit increased alumni support.
“Alumni support is extremely crucial. We encourage and appreciate any alumni help and are thankful to the benefactor who has ensured that the program has a successful start,” Haysbert said.
In order to draw attention to the new minor, the college plans to bring one or two high-profile lecturers to campus to speak about subjects relevant to African-American studies. There are also plans to make the African-American studies course an option for students in other majors through the college’s interdisciplinary studies program.
Haysbert said that although he believes the program will be a success, there are still concerns about the availability of funds, administrative support and the formal structure of the program. Haysbert said he also sees a need for bringing more African-American professors to campus.
“We need to facilitate a network of African-American professors on campus and try to increase the diversity of the faculty,”Haysbert said.
Mitchell also noted the need to diversify some deparments of the University.
“My grand hope is that this program will allow for diversity to have an increased presence in other courses and in the faculty,” she said.
