Johns Hopkins UniversityEST. 1876

America’s First Research University

Major Requirements

To fulfill the general requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students majoring in Critical Diaspora Studies (CDS) must complete a total of 36 credits via 12 courses in CDS or courses cross-listed in CDS, including the following.

Students majoring in CDS maintain a close working relationship with their major adviser and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, meeting at least twice each term to coordinate their progress through the program.

General Requirements

  • Required introductory course: Introduction to Critical Diaspora Studies (3 credits)
  • Required methods course: Methods in Critical Diaspora Studies or equivalent (3 credits)
  • Primary Focus Area Requirement
    Choose four courses in one of the following focus areas (Two of four courses must be at the 300-level or higher; the other two may be at any level. First-Year Seminar can count toward primary focus area requirement at the 100-level with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.):
    • Migration and Borders (CDS-MB)
    • Global Indigeneities (CDS-GI)
    • Empires, Wars, and Carceralities (CDS-EWC)
    • Solidarities, Social Movements, and Citizenship (CDS-SSMC)
  • Secondary Focus Area Requirement
    Choose three courses from a CDS focus area other than the student’s primary focus area. (At least one of these courses must be at the 300-level or higher; the two others may be at any level. First-Year Seminar can count toward secondary focus area requirement at the 100-level if not counted toward primary focus area requirement.)
  • Tertiary Focus Area Course
    One course at any level from a third CDS focus area.

Community-engaged learning requirement

Two consecutive courses community-engaged learning, or nonconsecutive in consultation with Director of Undergraduate Studies (6 credits). Consult with Director of Undergraduate Studies to understand which courses are approved as Community-Engaged Learning Courses. Usually, they will carry the CSC-CE POS tag.

Language requirement

Additionally, students majoring in CDS must complete the language requirement of four courses in language through the intermediate level (12–20 credits). Modern languages offered at JHU are automatically accepted towards this requirement. Other relevant languages can meet the requirement with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may waive some or all of the language requirement by taking a placement exam and in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.