Black Studies

The Intercollegiate Department of Black Studies (IDBS) offers a multidisciplinary curriculum that examines the experiences of African, African American, and Caribbean people from the liberal arts perspective. The Black Studies curriculum helps to unify and important area of intellectual investigation, and enhances appreciation of particular disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences. Courses accommodate the needs of majors and non-majors, providing significant preparation for careers in education, social work, public policy, law, medicine, business, international relations, and advanced research.

Pitzer Advisers : Dipa Basu, Halford Fairchild, Laura Harris

Requirements for the Major

Major requirements ensure that students are thoroughly exposed to the broad range of research and scholarship in the subject area. Black Studies majors must complete at least 10 courses chosen from the following list, plus a senior exercise (project, thesis, or comprehensive examination). While six of these courses are expected to be at the upper division level, credit will be given where appropriate to courses numbered lower than 100. Some flexibility is allowed in the selection and distribution of courses; however, ID 10BK and the Senior Exercise are required for all students.

• ID10BK. Introduction to Black Studies; one course.
• Literature (African, African American, or Caribbean); two courses.
• History (African, African American, or Caribbean); two courses.
• Social Science (e.g., Politics, Psychology, or Sociology); two courses.
• Interdisciplinary (e.g., ID 50BK, Caribbean Society and Culture; or ID 60BK,
  Politics of Race); one course.
• Art, Music, or Religion; two courses.
• Senior Exercise in Black Studies.

Upon approval by the department, substitutions in the major requirements can be
adjusted to respond to an individual student’s interests and needs.
Students majoring in Black Studies are strongly encouraged to spend a semester or a year abroad, preferably in countries in Africa or the Caribbean.

Minor: Students are required to complete 6 letter-graded courses in Black Studies, one of which must be ID10- Introduction to Black Studies and 5 courses that represent at least 3 disciplines. The preferred minor in Black Studies should reflect the Department’s global perspective of Africa and its Diaspora.

Pitzer Advisers: Dipa Basu, Hal Fairchild, Laura Harris.

Black Studies in Pitzer College course catalogue