Black Studies
Associate of Arts Degree Black Studies · San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Summary
Black Studies is a multidisciplinary curriculum offering courses in American Institutions, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Learning Skills. The program builds a positive understanding and knowledge of the history, culture, and contributions of Africans and Afro-Americans. All students benefit from courses in Black Studies, especially those who pursue careers in social sciences, education, law, counseling, journalism, social work, health care professions, teaching, business, and public administration.
Award Note: The Associate Degree requires a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units.
Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Black Studies Program will be able to:
- Develop consciousness, confidence, and competence in understanding one’s role in society, in taking responsibility for one’s actions, and in making ethical decisions in complex situations; understand that one has the power and ability to make decisions that make a difference on a personal, professional and global level.
- Think critically in reading, writing, and/or speaking about topics in Black Studies, demonstrating knowledge and creativity by completing assignments that enhance research and analytical skills, thereby identifying problems, theses, arguments, evidence and conclusions.
- Demonstrate self-definition and an understanding and respect for the perspectives of others, while working effectively with people in group assignments, open discussions, and other activities
- Demonstrate an enhanced understanding of technology through its application to the completion of required assignments, projects, and presentations.
- Demonstrate an ability to analyze content and context of world cultures by comparing and contrasting how people do the same things in different ways; and, demonstrate an understanding of cultural pluralism
- Write or speak about topics in Black Studies, demonstrating confidence and creativity while participating in a variety of learning opportunities, thereby addressing problems, formulating theses, making arguments, analyzing and weighing evidence, and deriving conclusions.
Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE MAJOR: | 21 | |
| BLAS 100 | Introduction to Black Studies | 3 |
| BLAS 104 | Black Psychology | 3 |
| orBLAS 130 | The Black Family | 3 |
| BLAS 115 | Sociology from a Black Perspective | 3 |
| orBLAS 116 | Contemporary Social Problems from a Black Perspective | 3 |
| orBLAS 135 | Introduction to Black Politics | 3 |
| BLAS 110 | African American Art | 3 |
| orBLAS 120 | Black Music | 3 |
| BLAS 125 | Dynamics of the Black Community | 3 |
| BLAS 140A | African American History to Reconstruction | 3 |
| BLAS 150 | Black Women in Literature, Film and the Media | 3 |
| orBLAS 155 | African American Literature | 3 |
| Select six units from the following: | 6 | |
| BLAS 111 | Cultural Influences on African Art | 3 |
| orBLAS 140B | African American History since Reconstruction to the Present | 3 |
| orBLAS 145A | Introduction to African History | 3 |
| orBLAS 145B | Introduction to African History | 3 |
| orBLAS 165 | Sexuality and Black Culture | 3 |
| orBLAS 175 | Psycho-History of Racism and Sexism | 3 |
| orENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| orENGL 105 | Composition and Literature | 3 |
| orCOMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |