CAS: African American & Black Diaspora Studies
Sample Pathway
Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing the major in African American and Black Diaspora Studies. Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the CAS African American Studies program advisors to plan their own pathway to an African American and Black Diaspora Studies degree.
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| Freshman Year | CGS Required Courses CAS AA 112 or Elective* |
CGS Required Courses (London or Boston-New England semester) |
| Sophomore Year | CGS Required Courses CAS AA 207 Second Language (if needed) |
CGS Required Courses Elective* or CAS AA 112 (if not taken in first year) Second Language (if needed) |
| Junior Year | CAS AA 371 AA Elective 200-level AA Elective Seminar Second Language (if needed) |
AA Elective 100/200-level AA Elective 200-level Slavery/19thC Elective* Second Language (if needed) |
| Senior Year | CAS AA 591 AA Elective 300/400 Seminar Gender Elective* Elective* |
AA Elective 300/400 AA Elective Cross-Cultural/Global Elective* Elective* |
*Choose your non-major electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. You will find a list of all of the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit.
College of General Studies Program Requirements
- Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
- CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
- Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
- Three social science courses:
- CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
- Three humanities courses:
- CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
Major Requirements
The major in African American & Black Diaspora Studies requires 11 four-credit courses completed with a minimum grade of C.
Required Courses:
- CAS AA 112: Black Power in the Classroom: The History of Black Studies
- CAS AA 207: Sociology of Race/Ethnicity
- CAS AA 371: African American History
- CAS AA 591: Black Thought: Diaspora Cultural Criticism
In addition, students must take seven additional AA courses or courses on the approved list. These additional courses must include at least two seminars and no more than three 100-level courses. Among these courses, students are required to take courses fulfilling the following areas:
- At least one 19th/Slavery Course
- At least one cross cultural/global/comparative course (meaning outside of the geographic area of the United States)
- At least one course featuring gender/sexuality
For more information, please see the CAS Bulletin. Please contact Undergraduate Academic Advisor Marcus Shaw with any questions.
Continuation Requirements
- Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
- Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00
Graduation Requirements
Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements.
- BU Hub requirements
- CAS requirements:
- African American & Black Diaspora Studies major requirements
- CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.
This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.
It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.
Last revised: 02/08/2024