← African American Studies (AFROAMER)

Hardest courses in African American Studies

Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.

Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.

Find your fit

10 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.

This introductory survey covers African society, culture, polity, and economy from prehistory to contemporary developments using multidisciplinary perspectives.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of James Delehanty, Neil Kodesh: Workload includes heavy reading and essays or exams, but reviewers note these are manageable if students complete the assigned work.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

CIVIL RIGHTS: POLICING, PRISONS, VOTING, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT explores civil rights, discrimination, and legal constraints on government remediation.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Surveys the medical and scientific constructions of race and racial theories within social and political contexts, focusing on racial science in slavery and colonialism.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2023

AFROAMER 271 is an introductory course exploring specific topics within African American culture.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Workload is low, consisting of weekly vocab quizzes and short writings graded easily, with exams focused on memorizing test bank questions.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Introduction to comparative ethnic studies examining race, ethnicity, and indigeneity in the US.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Christy Clark-Pujara, Timothy YU: Workload includes readings and essays that some found easy to understand and grade. One reviewer noted completing only textbook readings for an A, while another mentioned three essays and a final exam.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Introduction to Afro-American Art is a historical survey examining the evolution of African American art from African heritage to the 1970s.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Requirements include one midterm with slide identification, three short reading summaries, and two longer analysis papers, with reading responses taking longer than expected.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Examines the aesthetic and political evolution of hip-hop culture and its relationship to contemporary social issues.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course requires extensive reading, which forms the basis for three major papers that constitute the majority of the grade. While the reading volume is high, reviewers note the material is relevant and the papers are not overly difficult if the readings are completed.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Examines the interaction between African American musical culture and its historical context from 1920 to the present.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Assessment structures vary, with some reviews citing two exams and one paper, while others describe grading based on three essays and discussion attendance without exams.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Examines the influence of West African dance and music heritage on the development of hybrid cultural forms in the Americas through historical and social contexts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Reviewers report a heavy weekly workload involving approximately 15 assignments and 50-100 pages of reading, with strict requirements for using quotes in written work.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Survey of the decisive role played by race in American politics, 1932-present.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Workload varies by term. Some students found exams comprehensive and time-consuming, while others noted fewer papers and manageable grading. One reviewer warned against expecting an easy grade, while others found the structure reasonable.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026