Muhlenberg College To Offer Minor In African American Studies
The Muhlenberg College faculty has approved the addition of a minor in African American Studies to the curriculum.Tuesday, March 20, 2007 01:59 PM
The interdisciplinary minor, which draws courses from the departments of English, Dance, theatre, media and communication, music, anthropology, history, sociology, political science and languages, literatures and cultures, reflects the College’s commitment to liberal education and increasing student and faculty interest in this area.
The program will be a part of the fall of 2007 curriculum. Charles O. Anderson, assistant professor of dance, will serve as the program director. While the proposal for the minor was created by Anderson and program director for American Studies, Mary Lawlor, the program’s creation has been supported by many Muhlenberg faculty.
“I am honored to serve as the inaugural program director of the African American minor,” said Anderson. “It is my hope that with the aid of my colleagues and the support of the student body the program will flourish and make a unique imprint upon the field of African American Studies.”
African American Studies is an interdisciplinary study of the history, culture and socio-economic experience of African-Americans. The program fosters knowledge and research methods drawn from several academic fields, with the goal of enabling students to enhance their understanding of African-Americans’ unique social circumstances and heritage.
Prior to the addition of this minor, Muhlenberg offered a concentration in African American studies. There is no official recognition of concentrations on college transcripts. With the inclusion of the minor, students will have a department to go to for consultation that will help them choose courses that have meaningful pairings within disciplines. This new minor is a great opportunity for many of current Muhlenberg students, as well as future students.
"The new minor in African American Studies complements the College's recently opened multicultural center,” says Provost Marjorie Hass. “We recognize that diversity is both an issue of intellectual breadth and access. We look forward these new programs sparking lively and engaged dialogue between students and faculty from a variety of disciplines."
African American Studies is the first new minor at Muhlenberg since the addition of the public health minor, established in fall 2006. The College now offers 37 majors and 28 minors, as well as self-designed and self-directed inquiry.
