Bowie State’s New Hip-Hop Studies Minor Makes Us Want to Go Back to School

By Sameer Rao Mar 15, 2016

This fall, Bowie State University—Maryland’s oldest historically Black college or university (HBCU)—will make history with the launch of its hip-hop studies minor. 

The new interdisciplinary minor in "Hip-Hop Studies and Visual Culture" will commence in fall 2016 as part of the school’s Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts program. It’s the first of its kind in Maryland and at any HBCU. 

According to an announcement on the program’s website, "the minor focuses on research, critical discourse and creative projects on hip-hop and its elements as expressed through, but not limited to: DJ-ing, MC-ing, Graffiti, B-Boy-ing (Dance) and most importantly, Knowledge." The program links hip-hop to other studies about Black culture and history across disciplines and departments. To that end, students will have access to guest lectures and workshops from hip-hop scholars and figures. 

"Hip-hop studies can complement any existing area of study from education to marketing to technology or cultural studies," program coordinator and Universal Zulu Nation member Tewodross Melchishua said in Bowie State’s newsletter, BSYou.

Melchishua was also nice enough to offer this video in the minor description as well, perfect for contemplating what courses will look like: 

Read more about the program here

(H/t BSYouThe Root)