SPEC.BLK - Black Studies - Specialization

The Specialization in Black Studies is open to students in the Honours program in Sociology, and is available at Trent's Durham GTA campus only.

This specialization will enable students to explore the complex histories and enduring presence of Black communities in Canada, the Americas, and beyond. Students will delve into the struggles and triumphs of African Canadians and other African peoples as they challenge and dismantle various structural and institutional barriers. Through courses in Black Studies, students will gain critical insights into the impactful contributions Black communities have made to shape and humanize Canada—and the world. They will engage with thought-provoking content such as Black political cultures of resistance, Black futurism, racial profiling, environmental racism, Black-Indigenous solidarity, police violence, housing precarity and unemployment, sharpening their theoretical understanding and practical skills. This will empower them to drive meaningful change within Black communities.

In their final year, students will have the opportunity to apply the theories and foundational knowledge gained to explore community-centred solutions aimed at dismantling anti-Black racism and enhancing the health and well-being of Black populations through SOCI 4410H and SOCI 4850H, which can include an assessment component that is a community engagement activity (attendance at or creation of workshop content, attendance at a community event, or organizing a community/activists/community based event).

The specialization will equip students with the knowledge and skills to pursue diverse career paths, including social services, public policy, business, law, international affairs, social work, medicine, and the arts.

Students who have fulfilled the requirements for a single- or joint-major Honours degree in Sociology may graduate with a Specialization in Black Studies if they have successfully completed the following 4.0 credits:

• 1.5 SOCI credits consisting of SOCI 1003H, 2002H, and 3002H

• 2.5 credits from SOCI 2003H, 2220H, 2340H, 3052H/4052H, 3601H, 3615H, 3661H, 3860H, 4410H, 4850H, ENGL-GESO 4351H, GESO-CUST-MDST 2210H, or with prior approval from the department, reading courses (SOCI 3900Y, 3901H, 3902H, 4900Y, 4901H, 4902H), community-based research courses (SOCI 3570Y, 3580H, 4570Y, 4580H), research practica (SOCI 4021Y, 4022H, 4023H), or thesis courses (SOCI 4010Y or 4020D) focused on race, ethnicity, equity, or social justice content