New doctoral program will focus on African Diaspora

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) _ A new doctoral program at Indiana University could make the school's African-American studies program more distinctive.

The African-American and African Diaspora Studies program, approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education this month, will focus on the dispersion of African peoples from their original homelands to the U.S. and other places.

Only three other public universities nationwide offer a doctoral degree related to African-American studies, university officials said, and the program at IU Bloomington is the only one to focus specifically on the African Diaspora.

“With African-Americans in the U.S. at the core of our studies, we can focus our understanding of what has shaped the experiences of blacks in this country,'' said Valerie Grimm, who chairs the IU Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies.

The university plans to admit between five and 10 students a year in the program, Grimm estimated. She hopes students from abroad will also join the program to share their experiences.

“This unique program will attract outstanding students from Indiana, the nation and around the world and make Indiana University Bloomington a leader in scholarship relating to the study and representation of African American and African Diaspora issues and experiences,'' said Karen Hanson, IU provost and executive vice president.

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.hoosiertimes.com