Portland State University's Black Studies major is an innovative program that incorporates courses from many departments and focuses on the historical and contemporary issues of people of African, African American, Afro-Latin@ and Caribbean descent. Students with a major in Black Studies will gain competency in project development, analysis, research, communication, cultural sensitivity, and interpersonal and community relations.
The minor in Black Studies at PSU offers students opportunities to build a unique program of study drawing from courses on the African diaspora. Students who opt for the minor find that it complements their major, particularly those majoring in social science, liberal studies, sociology, psychology, and history. Students majoring in child, youth and family studies and criminology and criminal justice may also find the minor degree useful for their future academic or career goals.
We offer a foundation in the following areas:
- Dynamics and intersections of race, class, and gender
- Historical events, narratives, and their impacts
- Cultural experiences, identities, and traditions
- Research methods
- Representations in literature, art, film, and media
- Socio-political ideologies, and forms of resistance and social justice
Black Studies' distinguished faculty consists of a diverse group of scholars from various disciplines whose fields of specialization cover African, Caribbean and African American issues, as well as the broader African diaspora, such as Europe. Courses in Black Studies include historical and contemporary perspectives drawing upon scholarly research, films, community-based learning, and guest speakers. The recently revised course offerings also provide students the ability to work on a final research project under the advisement of a department faculty member, engage in individualized internship opportunities, and participate in faculty-led study abroad programs.