Black Studies Courses

BLKST 100 Introduction to Black Studies

An interdisciplinary introduction to the basic concepts and literature in the disciplines covered by Black Studies. It includes History, Philosophy, Psychology and other disciplines, as well as a conceptual framework for the investigation and analysis of Black history and culture. The course will also incorporate an introduction to basic research methods including library use, project development, bibliography development and writing research papers. 1 term - 3 semester hours. Normally offered alternate years.

BLKST 263 Sabar: Music and Dance of Senegal

Participants will be introduced to Sabar music and dance of Senegal through a study of music, dance, language and history. Each area will be taught by professional practitioners of the Sabar tradition to develop a sense of how music and dance are used in both traditional and popular contexts. 1 term - 3 semester hours. Normally offered alternate years.

BLKST 300 The Art of Gold and Silver Smiths: Jewelry Making in Senegal (Dakar, Senegal)

This class will introduce students to the process of working with gold and silver and the art of making jewelry. To accomplish this, the students will have an apprenticeship with a family of traditional gold and silver smiths where they will learn about each aspect of the jewelry making process by taking part in the day-to-day work that the artisans do. They will also learn about the various symbols and representations used by the smiths. The academic portion of the class will provide students with historical/cultural background to the work they will be doing. 1 term - 3 semester hours.
Normally offered as requested.

BLKST 469 Research Seminar: African American Life in Slavery and Freedom - Reconstruction and the Freedman’s Bureau Papers

This class is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the Reconstruction era by working with the microfilm of the Freedman’s Bureau Papers. To accomplish this there will be a classroom component and an on-site component. In the classroom component, students will be introduced to the reconstruction era and its history. In the on-site component students will work with the microfilmed copies of the Freedman’s Bureau Papers, and will also add to the work of the Freedman’s Bureau Papers Project. Class meetings will be divided between the Suffolk University campus and the NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) site in Waltham, MA. This course is identical to HST 469. 1 term - 3 semester hours.
Normally offered every year.

BLKST 500 Directed Studies in Black Studies

By special arrangement faculty in Black Studies will schedule seminars or individual discussion sessions with students interested in directed reading and research. Open to juniors and seniors with the permission of the instructor. 1 term - 3 semester hours. Offered every semester.

BLKST 510 The Senegalese American Student Teaching Program (Dakar, Senegal)

The Senegalese-American Student Teaching Program is designed to give students who are preparing to teach history in the middle or secondary school, an opportunity to teach in an international setting. In addition to providing them with practical experience, they will have the opportunity to learn more about teaching and learning in a global context while working with students from countries other than their own. It is increasingly important that teachers are prepared to deal with students from all over the world, whether they are teaching abroad or in the United States. The Senegalese-American Student Teaching Program is designed to provide this opportunity. While this program is ideal for the student who has majored in American history and is working towards certification to teach in either the middle or secondary school, it is also open to students who are in disciplines other than history. For information, contact: Robert Bellinger, History Department. 1 term - 3 semester hours.
Normally offered as requested.