• From early American history to more recent political and artistic movements, African Americans share an experience which differs significantly from that of other Americans, and which helps define our society and culture in thought-provoking ways. Augustana offers a minor in African-American studies, an interdisciplinary program which provides academic perspectives on the African-American experience.
  
  
• Though specific to an ethnic group, this experience is both vast and varied. Coursework for the program ranges from history to music, with many options, depending on the focus of individual students.

• Students selecting a minor in African-American studies choose an adviser from among the faculty teaching in the program, often selecting a member from the academic area related to the student's major interest. Near completion of the program, the student chooses a topic and works with his or her adviser on a major project to be presented in the senior seminar, African-American Studies 440. For more information look at our catalog.
  
  
• Other coursework includes:
  
  -English: Introduction to African-American Literature or Contemporary
  African-American Literature
  
  -History: African-American History
  
  -Music: African-American Music
  
  -Political Science: Equality and the Constitution
  
  -Religion: History of African-American Religion
  
  -Sociology: American Ethnic Minorities

• Augustana offers more than 100 extracurricular organizations, honors clubs, and special interest groups. Several of these have been formed by African-American students for others who share or who are interested in African-American ethnicity.
  
  
• The Black Student Union was founded in 1968, with the purpose of promoting pride in the history and traditions of African Americans. BSU members work to establish unity and a positive environment for African-Americans on campus, and work with other organizations to educate the Augustana community on diverse cultural traditions.
  
  
• BSU sponsors or co-sponsors many events on campus, including the annual Kwanzaa celebration, the African-American Leadership Conference and other Black History Month events, the Martin Luther King Celebration, retreats, black student orientation, and a parents' banquet. BSU meets at the Black Culture House, an on-campus center with space for group meetings, studying and tutoring, an African-American history library, displays of African artifacts and paintings by African-American artists.
  
  
• The newly-formed Augustana Inspirational Gospel Choir rehearses weekly, performing contemporary and traditional works from the gospel church choir repertoire. Auditions for the Inspirational Gospel Choir are open to both Augustana students and members of the Quad-City community.

• John W. Hildreth Coordinator of African-American Studies; Professor, Department of Music
  
  
• David M. Dehnel Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
  
  
• Peter Kivisto Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
  
  
• Paul V. Olsen Professor, Department of English
  


• Lendol Calder Associate Professor, and Chair of the History Department