January 26, 2006

New African American Studies Minor Offered at UCSD

By Pat JaCoby

A new interdisciplinary minor in African American Studies designed to further an understanding of the attitudes, evolution, circumstances and experiences of African Americans opened this fall at the University of California, San Diego.

Marsha A. Chandler, senior vice chancellor, said the new African American Studies minor is an outgrowth of the longstanding and successful minor program, Contemporary Black Arts. The new minor builds upon the earlier program but expands the domains of coverage beyond its more narrow focus on the arts, she said.

Students pursuing the minor will take courses in African American history, the core courses, and also elect courses that further explore the history and context of the African American experience, courses in politics and society as these relate to the African American community, and courses that examine the representation and voice of African American culture.

The minor is offered under the auspices of Thurgood Marshall College and directed by Interim Provost and linguistics professor Robert Kluender. Also on the executive committee for the minor are literature professor Robert Cancel and music professor Cecil Lytle.

In addition to the course work, students pursuing the minor will participate in a wide variety of campus and community activities that will help further understanding of the African American community.

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, 858 534-7404.