Black Studies is a multi-disciplinary major devoted to the exploration and analysis of the history and culture of African people in the United States, Caribbean, and Africa. It seeks to define the Black experience from an African and Afro-American centered perspective rather than Euro-centric perspective, to illuminate the contribution of African people to world culture and to correct a traditional approach to the study of world history that tended to bypass the Black Diaspora experience.
Required courses......................................12 credits
BLK100 Introduction to Black Studies (3)
BLK201 Black History I (3)
BLK202 Black History II (3)
BLK490 Seminar in Black Studies (3)
Core courses..........................................12 credits
One course from each of the four cores: historical, humanities, socio-psychological, and political-economic.
Historical Core:
BLK200 Introduction to Africa (3)
BLK231 Development of Afro-Latin American Civilizations (1492-1825) (3)
BLK232 Contemporary Afro-American Civilizations Since 1825 (3)
BLK301 Survey of Pre-Colonial Africa to 1800 (3)
BLK302 Survey of Contemporary Africa: 19th Century to Present (3)
BLK309 Introduction to Afro-Brazilian History (3)
BLK311 Blacks in the Caribbean, 1492-Present (3)
BLK325 History of Slavery in Americas (3)
BLK331 The American Civil Rights Movement (3)
BLK347 History of South Africa (3)
BLK369 History of Terrorism Against Blacks & Native Americans (3)
BLK401 Blacks in New York History (3)
BLK417 The African Diaspora in World History (3)
BLK450 The Portuguese in Africa (3)
BLK460 West African Kingdoms in the Nineteenth Century (3)
BLK522 African/African-American History & Experiences (3)
Humanities Core:
BLK205 The Black and Latino Experiences: Writing for Scholars (3)
BLK260 Essence of Black Music (3)
BLK263 Black Dance (3)
BLK265 African American Art (3)
BLK268 Survey of Black American Literature (3)
BLK269 Black Poetry and Drama (3)
BLK272 Rap & Spoken Word (3)
BLK300 Gospel Choir (Voices of Unity) (2)
September 2025
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
SUNY New Paltz,
1 Hawk Drive,
NEW PALTZ,
New York,
12561, United States
Students must have a high school degree and a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (or an 85% grade average or higher).
English Language Proficiency: TOEFL iBT – 80; IELTS - 6.5; PTE Academic – 58; Duolingo English Test – 105. Application Deadlines: December 1 for Spring semester (January start); May 1 for Fall semester (August start).
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.