The Black Canadian Studies Certificate (BCS) studies Black Canada from the perspective of cultural studies, history, literature and music. While other programs deal with racism and race, they often gloss over theoretical questions of how Blackness operates as a unique racial and cultural category.
This certificate is intended to examine the historical, cultural and various expressive productions of people of African descent in the Americas through the lens of Black Canada. Therefore, the BCS goes beyond a desire to transform social attitudes toward racialized peoples. Indeed, it becomes a study of Black cultures and histories as a valuable enterprise in and of itself.
Add to your degree:
Completing the certificate with your current undergrad program allows you to combine your degree's specific skills while acquiring knowledge of Black cultures. The certificate will be particularly useful for students interested in education, social services, law, business, journalism, advertising, media, the arts and public policy.
Stand-alone option:
Students pursuing the certificate as a stand-alone program must apply to the Office of Admissions using the online application form for future students.
Forms
Requirements
The certificate may be taken as a stand-alone option or combined with an existing major or double major degree. Students completing the Black Canadian Studies Certificate must complete 24 credits in compliance with York University Senate requirements for an undergraduate disciplinary certificate.
Pre-requisite at the 1000-level, AP/HUMA 1300 9.0 Cultures of Resistance in the Americas.
Successful completion of HUMA 1300 9.0 (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for admission into the certificate program. The prerequisite will not count for credits toward the certificate but is required to proceed through the program. Students wishing to take the certificate are strongly encouraged to take HUMA 1300 for their Humanities General Education requirement in their first year.
Second-year core course, AP/HUMA 2310 6.0 Caribbean Identities and the Canadian Experience.
Eighteen (18) credits at the 3000-level or higher.
The 18 credits include nine required credits in Humanities, six required credits in History, and three additional credits from one of English, Music, Public Policy and Administration, Business and Society or the Black Canadian Studies placement course.
Fifteen required credits at the 3000 and 4000-level in Humanities and History:
- AP/HUMA 3165 3.0 Griots to Emcees: Examining Culture, Performance and Spoken Word (same as AP/CLTR 3165 3.0)
- AP/HUMA 3315 3.0 Black Literatures and Cultures in Canada
- AP/HUMA 3318 3.0 Black Popular Culture (same as AP/CLTR 3318 3.0)
- AP/HIST 3535 6.0 African Canadian History or AP/HIST 4830 6.0 In Slavery and Freedom: Blacks in the Americas
Three credits at the 3000 and 4000-level chosen from the following:
- FA/MUSI 3406 3.0 History of Gospel Music
- FA/MUSI 3510 3.0 African American Popular Music
- AP/HUMA 4306 6.0 Imagining Slavery and Freedom
- AP/HUMA 3316 3.0 Black Women’s Writing
- AP/EN 3410 3.0 Caribbean Literature
- AP/HUMA 4305 3.0 Black Canadian Studies Placement
- AP/PPAS 4052 3.0 Race, Ethnicity and Social Policy (same as AP/MIST 4052 3.0)
- AP/SOSC 3043. 3.0 Comparative Perspectives on Social Exclusion and Business
The cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all 24 credits must be 4.0 or greater.
At least 12 of the credits counted toward the certificate requirements must be in addition to those used to satisfy requirements of the undergraduate program major.
Questions?
For further information, please contact the interim certificate coordinator Professor Andrea Davis at aadavis@yorku.ca.