Metadata
Title
Black Diaspora and African American Studies
Category
general
UUID
9dc2763db8734ac2b5911e260a4149c8
Source URL
https://catalog.ucsd.edu/curric/BDAAS.html
Parent URL
https://catalog.ucsd.edu/front/courses.html
Crawl Time
2026-03-16T04:24:28+00:00
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Black Diaspora and African American Studies

Source: https://catalog.ucsd.edu/curric/BDAAS.html Parent: https://catalog.ucsd.edu/front/courses.html

[ courses | faculty ]

School of Arts and Humanities\ Ridge Walk Academic Complex, Arts and Humanities Building, Floor 6, Room 653\ bdaas@ucsd.edu\ https://bdaas.ucsd.edu/

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

The Undergraduate Program

The Black Diaspora and African American studies major is an interdisciplinary program of study. Students will be able to design their individual programs under the guidelines of three different program concentrations: Concentration A: Black Diaspora studies, Concentration B: African American studies, or Concentration C: interdisciplinary study. Concentration A focuses on Africa and the Black Diaspora. Concentration B focuses on African American experiences. Concentration C allows students to design a major focus across a selected intersectional topic or issue that is covered across multiple departments.

Black Diaspora and African American Studies (AA25)

Major Summary

The Black Diaspora and African American studies major requires fifty-two units of study to complete the program. The BA program of study includes: one four-unit lower-division core course, four upper-division core courses, six upper-division courses in a concentration, one UC San Diego human research upper-division course, and one additional four-unit upper-division course (or four units of group and/or independent study).

Students can petition to count two outside courses toward the following required courses in the major: the lower-division core course, the research methods course, and/or an upper-division elective. An outside lower-division elective can be used to fulfill the additional four units of study in the program. Students can fulfill this additional four units in multiple ways: a four-unit upper-division course, 198 and 199 independent or group study course credits, and/or senior seminar. Students can petition to count two lower-division, one upper-division discipline specific course, and/or the human research method course from outside UC San Diego toward the program.

With the exception of independent study courses (197, 198, and 199) which are exclusively offered on a Pass/No Pass basis, students majoring in Black Diaspora and African American studies may apply up to one (1) course taken with the Pass/No Pass grading option. To receive a BA in Black Diaspora studies/African American studies, students must meet the following requirements listed below.

Concentrations

Students pursuing the Black Diaspora and African American studies major must choose a concentration to complete the program.

  1. Africa and the Black Diaspora studies
  2. African American studies
  3. Interdisciplinary study

Lower-Division Requirements

Core Course Requirement (four units)

Students completing the major must complete ONE lower-division core course as a prerequisite to completing upper-division courses for the major.

Concentration A: Africa and the Black Diaspora

Concentration B: African American Studies

Concentration C: Interdisciplinary Study

Upper-Division Requirements

Core Course Requirements (sixteen units)

These courses provide a unifying and cohesive course work experience for students taking the major. These courses will be offered through the BDAAS program.

If these courses are not available through the BDAAS program, students may fulfill the requirement by taking another course of a similar nature, subject to approval. A maximum of three (3) alternative courses are permitted. Please consult with the Black Diaspora and African American studies program adviser to ensure the selected course aligns with program requirements.

UC San Diego Department Human Research Methodology Courses (four units)

Students may take one of the following courses to complete the human research methods course requirement. Students may also petition a course to complete the requirement. Human research methods courses must focus on learning to design, conduct, and analyze data on human beings.

Additional Upper-Division Course (four units)

Students must take an additional four-unit upper-division course. Students are able to apply 198 directed group study, 199 independent study, and senior seminar opportunities within UC San Diego to the additional four units required for the major.

Required Concentration Tracks (twenty-four units)

CONCENTRATION A: AFRICA AND THE BLACK DIASPORA

Upper-Division Discipline Elective Courses

African American Studies

Anthropology

Communication

Critical Gender Studies

Ethnic Studies

History

Linguistics

Literature

Music

Philosophy

Public Health

Sociology

Theatre and Dance

Urban Studies and Planning

Visual Arts

CONCENTRATION B: AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

Upper-Division Discipline Elective Courses

African American Studies

Anthropology

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Communication

Computer Science and Engineering

Critical Gender Studies

Economics

Education Studies

Ethnic Studies

History

Linguistics

Literature

Music

Philosophy

Political Science

Sociology

Theatre and Dance

Urban Studies and Planning

Visual Arts

CONCENTRATION C: INTERDISCIPLINARY

Courses for Concentration C can be chosen from approved courses in Concentration A and Concentration B.