Students must select a focus from one of three areas: a Geographical focus (i.e., Africa, Caribbean, North America); a Disciplinary focus (i.e., literature, history, the fine arts); or a self-designed program (i.e., women and development, comparative slavery, women and health).

Students must take four courses in the specialization options section of the major. Students are also required to take three elective or cognate courses (i.e., racism and the law, race, class and gender, or African-American history).