Minor in African American Studies debuts
Interdisciplinary program boosts students’ empathetic listening, collaboration and communication skills.
Janel Shoun-Smith | 615.966.7078 |
Lipscomb debuted an African American Studies minor in spring 2021 with College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean David Holmes teaching the first course, Introduction to African American Studies, a sophomore-level engagements course with 40 students enrolled.
The interdisciplinary 18-credit minor will serve future professionals in relating to cultures beyond their own, dealing with conflict and exploring their own role as one member of many in God’s Kingdom, Holmes said.
“Professionally, students need to be able to relate to other cultures. In addition, people need to be able to deal with conflict, and part of that is understanding someone you might have conflict with,” Holmes said of the value of the new minor to future working professionals. “There is a spiritual dimension to studying a culture that is not your own, and there is a patriotic dimension. America is America because of these diverse experiences.”
The new academic program also fits within Lipscomb’s overall goals to engage with community and enhance inclusivity, Holmes said.
Florah Mhlanga
“Courses that we pulled together as we developed the curriculum include The American Civil Rights Movement from the Department of History Politics and Philosophy, Cross Cultural Communication from the Department of Communication and Journalism, and Race and Ethnic Groups from the Department of Social Work and Sociology. Only two new courses were developed for the minor: Introduction to African American Studies, which is currently taught by Holmes, and African American Literature,” said Florah Mhlanga, associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
“As a liberal arts and sciences college, adding this minor will not only broaden our curriculum, it will further help us to produce students who will succeed in their jobs and who will lead the ‘good life’ characterized by citizenship, service, tolerance and appreciation of other cultures, and empathy for all,” Mhlanga said.
“Transferrable skills from this minor will include empathetic listening, culturally informed written, oral and digital communication, and critical, creative and collaborative thinking,” she said.