Interim Director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies: Fredrick Harris, 758 Schermerhorn Extension, 854-6593; fh2170@columbia.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Samuel Roberts, 322 Fayerweather; 854-2430; skr2001@columbia.edu

Assistant Director: Shawn Mendoza, 758 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-8789; sm322@columbia.edu

Administrative Assistant: Sharon Harris, 758 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-7080; sh2004@columbia.edu

Institute for Research in African-American Studies: 758 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-7080

• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/iraas/

The Institute for Research in African-American Studies was established at Columbia in 1993, expanding the University’s commitment to this field of study. The African-American Studies curriculum explores the historical, cultural, social, and intellectual contours of the development of people of African descent. The curriculum enables students to master the basic foundations of interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences in the black American, Caribbean, and sub-Saharan experience. Courses examine the cultural character of the African diaspora; its social institutions and political movements; its diversity in thought, belief systems, and spiritual expressions; and the factors behind the continuing burden of racial inequality. During their junior and senior years of study, students will focus their research within a specific discipline or regional study relevant to the African diaspora. Students should consider a major in African-American studies if they are interested in careers where strong liberal arts preparation is needed, such as fields in the business, social service, or government sectors. Depending on one’s area of focus within the major, the African-American Studies Program can also prepare individuals for career fields like journalism, politics, public relations, and other lines of work that involve investigative skills and working with diverse groups. A major in African-American studies can also train students in graduate research skills and methods, such as archival research, and is very useful for individuals who are considering an advanced graduate degree such as the Ph.D.

The Institute for Research in African-American Studies sponsors research projects, colloquia, and academic conferences that are open to the Columbia community; students who major or concentrate in African-American studies will receive information about these and related events. African-American studies majors and concentrators may also use the independent study course offering to conduct research on one or more of these faculty-sponsored projects. All inquiries concerning degree requirements should be forwarded to the director of undergraduate studies. Inquiries concerning course offerings and Institute-sponsored events should be forwarded to the assistant director.

Departmental Honors

The requirements for departmental honors in African-American Studies:
(a) All requirements for major must be completed by graduation date;
(b) Minimum grade point average of 3.5 in the major; and
(c) Completion of Senior Thesis - due to the Director of Undergraduate Studies on the first Monday in April.

A successful thesis for departmental honors must be selected as the most outstanding paper of all papers reviewed by the Thesis Committee in a particular year. The Thesis Evaluation Committee is comprised of department faculty and led by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Thesis should be of superior quality, clearly demonstrating originality and excellent scholarship, as determined by the committee.

The African-American Studies Thesis

Purpose: Although the Senior Thesis is a prerequisite for consideration for Departmental Honors, all African-American Studies majors are strongly encouraged to consider undertaking thesis work even if they are ineligible or do not wish to be considered for Departmental Honors. The Senior Thesis gives the undergraduate major the opportunity to engage in rigorous, independent, and original research on a specific topic of her choosing, the result of which will be a paper of thirty-five to sixty (35-60) pages in length. In particular, students who are contemplating graduate work of any sort should seriously consider the benefits of thesis research. We strongly recommend that you begin consideration and exploratory reading of a thesis topic during your junior year, a strategy which will prove to make the senior year research and writing process much more productive. The UndEC strongly recommends that, prior to embarking on a thesis, the student purchase and read Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (University of Chicago Press) and Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research, (University of Chicago Press).

Structure: The Senior Thesis must be written under the supervision of at least one faculty member. Should the thesis writer elect to have more than one thesis advisor (either from the outset or added on during the early stages of research), these faculty in the aggregate will comprise the "Thesis Committee," of which one faculty member must be designated Chair. In either case, it is incumbent upon the thesis writer to establish with the Thesis Chair and Committee a reasonable schedule of deadlines for submission of outlines, chapters, bibliographies, drafts, etc. In many cases, the thesis writer may find that the most optimal way in which to complete a thesis is to formally enroll in an Independent Study course (C3997 for Fall or C3998 for Spring) with the thesis advisor.

All students interested in writing a thesis hold notify the Director of Undergraduate Studies and submit the name of the faculty advisor ideally by October 1st, but certainly no later than the end of the fall semester. In close consultation with his thesis advisor, the student should develop a viable topic, a schedule of meetings, a bibliography, and a timeline for completion (including a schedule of drafts and outlines).