CLA on verge of creating new minor
Alina Luch
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) might gain an African American and African Studies (AAAS) minor within the next year.
Professor John Arthur of the sociology/anthropology department proposed the AAAS minor.
"The AAAS minor at UMD is going to be an interdisciplinary program designed to promote a vigorous understanding of the worldwide historical and current experiences of African American people and African descent," Arthur said.
CLA Dean Linda Krug believes that it's long overdue and that this is the right time to implement it.
"[Now] we have a large enough college which implies diversity that was always important to us," Krug said. "Even though we're weak in this field, we are on the right track. Living in a global and international world makes this issue crucial. This is why our curriculum has to offer great opportunities for UMD students to understand the African American and African culture from its roots until now."
Arthur feels that there is a gap in knowledge about issues confronting African American and African identities, which are not well represented in the curriculum.
"African Americans form about 13 percent of the U.S. population, or about 33 million people plus Africans who are entering the U.S.," Arthur said. "The regular curriculum should broaden the academic horizon of all students."
Krug said the AAAS program within the CLA department is not a new idea.
"About seven years ago, Mr. Arthur thought that UMD should summarize all African American and African culture and history courses in one minor," Krug said. "Finding this idea great, I encouraged him to explore it. But at the time, it just didn't seem that it would work because all the staff was busy. Plus, the school just wasn't ready for such a big change."
Sophomore Metadel Abegaz thinks people should become more educated about African culture than just slavery.
"Slavery is not our culture," Abegaz said. "I am really interested just getting to know that side of the world. What we are being taught in world art classes is just about European or American culture."
Abegaz said she would appreciate if she could study all African Americans and African culture in regular history classes with a focus in specialized core AAAS minor classes.
Freshman Kenyata Carroll feels that there is still more she can learn about African American culture.
"I would like to be able to say I minored in African American studies at UMD, and not at a historically black college,'' Carroll said.
Although it seems to be a great idea and opportunity, there are still a lot of steps to be taken in order to make it come true.
According to Krug, AAAS should first be approved by the CLA. Then it needs campus approval. The next individuals who would be needed for approval would be the vice chancellor and chancellor.
The university's governing board will have the final decision.
"The soonest you can expect this program is spring semester 2010," Krug said.
Professor John Arthur of the sociology/anthropology department proposed the AAAS minor.
"The AAAS minor at UMD is going to be an interdisciplinary program designed to promote a vigorous understanding of the worldwide historical and current experiences of African American people and African descent," Arthur said.
CLA Dean Linda Krug believes that it's long overdue and that this is the right time to implement it.
"[Now] we have a large enough college which implies diversity that was always important to us," Krug said. "Even though we're weak in this field, we are on the right track. Living in a global and international world makes this issue crucial. This is why our curriculum has to offer great opportunities for UMD students to understand the African American and African culture from its roots until now."
Arthur feels that there is a gap in knowledge about issues confronting African American and African identities, which are not well represented in the curriculum.
"African Americans form about 13 percent of the U.S. population, or about 33 million people plus Africans who are entering the U.S.," Arthur said. "The regular curriculum should broaden the academic horizon of all students."
Krug said the AAAS program within the CLA department is not a new idea.
"About seven years ago, Mr. Arthur thought that UMD should summarize all African American and African culture and history courses in one minor," Krug said. "Finding this idea great, I encouraged him to explore it. But at the time, it just didn't seem that it would work because all the staff was busy. Plus, the school just wasn't ready for such a big change."
Sophomore Metadel Abegaz thinks people should become more educated about African culture than just slavery.
"Slavery is not our culture," Abegaz said. "I am really interested just getting to know that side of the world. What we are being taught in world art classes is just about European or American culture."
Abegaz said she would appreciate if she could study all African Americans and African culture in regular history classes with a focus in specialized core AAAS minor classes.
Freshman Kenyata Carroll feels that there is still more she can learn about African American culture.
"I would like to be able to say I minored in African American studies at UMD, and not at a historically black college,'' Carroll said.
Although it seems to be a great idea and opportunity, there are still a lot of steps to be taken in order to make it come true.
According to Krug, AAAS should first be approved by the CLA. Then it needs campus approval. The next individuals who would be needed for approval would be the vice chancellor and chancellor.
The university's governing board will have the final decision.
"The soonest you can expect this program is spring semester 2010," Krug said.
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