Black Studies Course Proposal and Cross-Listing Application

 In order for a course to be cross-listed with Black Studies, it must adhere to the central mission of the program: The central mission of the Department of Black Studies is to prepare students to critically understand, conduct research, and interpret the complex histories, societies, and cultures of people of African descent in the United States, Africa and the Diaspora. The Department's interdisciplinary design encourages specialization within the University of Missouri's broad liberal arts curriculum.  As a result, students and faculty may conduct research that develops new or builds upon existing concepts, theories, and approaches to the study of the evolving experiences and contributions of the African Diaspora. In so doing, Black Studies prepares students to competently participate in diverse and competitive global societies where they may contribute viable practical solutions to critical challenges on multiple levels.  

 Potential cross-listed courses must meet one or all of the following criteria:

• Presupposes Black history, society, and culture as central and analytical concepts
• Reflects the diversity of experiences of the Black Diaspora
• Is informed by contemporary scholarship in the field of Black Studies and/or Black Diaspora scholarship within the instructor's particular discipline
• Provides students with an understanding of Black Diaspora perspectives

 Please submit the following information to our Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Willie Mack (wmack@missouri.edu)

• Instructor's name
• Course name
• Course number
• Parent department of course
• Course syllabus (Word or PDF attachment preferred). For topics courses, a course outline and bibliography is acceptable.
• Faculty C.V. (Word or PDF attachment preferred)
• Rational Statement for cross-listing course with Black Studies (750 words or less)

Application Deadlines:

• Fall Semester—March 30
• Spring Semester—October 30
• January Intersession—August 30
• May Intersession—January 30

If the course is approved for cross-listing, the professor must agree to:

• Submit Black Studies course evaluations in conjunction with instructor's home department's evaluations
• Provide at least 5 seats designated for Black Studies students in the course, the number of seats may be adjusted based on course numbers (e.g. courses with larger enrollment numbers should allow at least 20% of their seats for Black Studies students).
• For Graduate Students Only--Permit at least one informal observation of course, with a date and time to be pre-arranged and scheduled at the convenience of the instructor.
• Black Studies cross-listing process grants approval to courses and instructors as a unit. If the instructor is to change on a previously approved course the new instructor need not re-apply using this application, but will be required to submit a syllabus, CV, and revised rationale to the Department of Black Studies for review.