Spring Break
UConn Creates African-American Studies Major
Jazzy Wright
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News
The University of Connecticut curriculum will begin to offer African-American Studies as a new major in the fall 2008 semester.
The new major is being added for students who wish to explore all facets of the African-American experience, such as culture and history.
"[The major] aims to acquaint students with critical issues that African Americans have faced and continue to encounter," the program's Web site states.
The African-American studies major essentially serves to provide students with more curricular options. Students can choose to major in African-American studies or enroll in the many classes the major program offers.
In addition to giving students more curricular options, the new major will also enhance the UConn experience. Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar, the director of the Institute for African-American Studies (IAAS), believes the major is an excellent addition to the institution at large.
"This [major] is important in making UConn a more competitive institution," he said.
By adopting the major, Ogbar said, the school will become much more like other aspirant, flagship universities across the nation. Several other schools, such as the University of Virginia and Indiana University, offer the major.
Before the African-American studies program can become an official major in the fall, the Department of Higher Education will continue to oversee the major through until the end of the spring semester. Once the overseeing is complete, the major will be on probation, and then will be able for students to declare an the major. In the fall, when the major is available, the major will be offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The major has already been approved by the UConn Board of Trustees.
"It's good to see how supportive the school has been in creating the major," Ogbar said.
Students can major in African-American studies through the individualized major program until the major is available in the College of Liberal Arts and sciences. Students can also choose to minor in African-American studies.
While many students are excited about the new major, others still believe the program needs some improvement.
"I'm happy about [UConn] adding the major, but my only concern is that the department is not that large, but I'm hoping over time that they will add more classes," said Troy Jackson, an 8th-semester African-American studies minor.
Contact Jazzy Wright at
Jazzy.Wright@UConn.edu.
The new major is being added for students who wish to explore all facets of the African-American experience, such as culture and history.
"[The major] aims to acquaint students with critical issues that African Americans have faced and continue to encounter," the program's Web site states.
The African-American studies major essentially serves to provide students with more curricular options. Students can choose to major in African-American studies or enroll in the many classes the major program offers.
In addition to giving students more curricular options, the new major will also enhance the UConn experience. Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar, the director of the Institute for African-American Studies (IAAS), believes the major is an excellent addition to the institution at large.
"This [major] is important in making UConn a more competitive institution," he said.
By adopting the major, Ogbar said, the school will become much more like other aspirant, flagship universities across the nation. Several other schools, such as the University of Virginia and Indiana University, offer the major.
Before the African-American studies program can become an official major in the fall, the Department of Higher Education will continue to oversee the major through until the end of the spring semester. Once the overseeing is complete, the major will be on probation, and then will be able for students to declare an the major. In the fall, when the major is available, the major will be offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The major has already been approved by the UConn Board of Trustees.
"It's good to see how supportive the school has been in creating the major," Ogbar said.
Students can major in African-American studies through the individualized major program until the major is available in the College of Liberal Arts and sciences. Students can also choose to minor in African-American studies.
While many students are excited about the new major, others still believe the program needs some improvement.
"I'm happy about [UConn] adding the major, but my only concern is that the department is not that large, but I'm hoping over time that they will add more classes," said Troy Jackson, an 8th-semester African-American studies minor.
Contact Jazzy Wright at
Jazzy.Wright@UConn.edu.
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