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    Topics in African American Studies:
    Online Program

    Topics in African American Studies:

    by Northwestern College Prep

    Explore hip-hop’s origins through music and film, connecting Black cultural expression with deindustrialization, the welfare state, and mass incarceration.

    Last verified: 10 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    Topics in African American Studies at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Rising juniors and seniors; GPA 3.0+

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 16-18

    Location / Region

    Online

    Cost

    $5,781

    Duration

    2 weeks

    Format

    Online

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder
    HistoryFilmSocial Sciences
    Sessions / cadence: 8 × 3.5-hour classes, Monday-Thursday
    Credit: 1 Northwestern credit unit
    Latest verified cycle: Summer 2026
    Instructor: John Marquez
    Classroom experience: Undergraduate course with university students

    Topics in African American Studies summary

    Northwestern's Black Studies course uses hip-hop music and film to examine cultural expression alongside social and economic change.

    Students explore the South Bronx origins of hip-hop and connect artistic work with deindustrialization, welfare policy, and mass incarceration.

    It suits students who want to treat popular culture as a serious subject of historical and social analysis.

    What is Topics in African American Studies:?

    Topics in African American Studies: is a Northwestern College Preparation credit course in the Black Studies Program. Its specific topic, Hip-Hop Music and Film: The Golden Age, examines hip-hop's emergence in the South Bronx during the 1970s.

    Students listen to music and watch documentary and dramatic films to investigate the social conditions behind that cultural movement. The online course connects working-class Black and brown communities' creative responses with deindustrialization, the collapse of the welfare state, and mass incarceration.

    Why Succeed highlights Topics in African American Studies

    • The course connects a recognizable cultural movement with substantial questions about economic change and state policy.

    • Music, documentary film, and dramatic film offer several ways to examine the same historical context.

    • The undergraduate setting gives students a concrete test of university-level academic expectations.

    • College credit offers an academic outcome beyond subject exploration.

    Who is Topics in African American Studies for?

    Best for

    Students interested in Black history, film, and the relationship between popular culture and social change.

    Not ideal if

    You want music production training or need study that fits entirely around your own schedule.

    Is Topics in African American Studies worth it?

    The course offers a focused way to test whether you enjoy studying culture through historical and social questions. Its combination of music and film can make abstract issues concrete, while the undergraduate setting introduces university-level expectations.

    The concentrated class pattern requires substantial attention and reliable attendance. Choose it for the academic subject and experience: Northwestern explicitly says College Prep participation does not guarantee admission to the university.

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    Cost and what is included

    $5,781; includes Scheduled online course meetings., Music listening and documentary and dramatic film study., Standard allocation of one Northwestern college credit unit..

    Dates and time commitment

    2 weeks; 8 × 3.5-hour classes, Monday-Thursday.

    Provider details

    Review the Northwestern College Prep provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    What the student gains

    Potential output: The academic outcome is one Northwestern college credit unit under the standard credit-course allocation.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.

    Online support and safeguarding

    Check how online sessions are supervised, how mentor communication works, and what support route exists if the student needs help.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.

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    How much preparation does Topics in African American Studies need?

    Effort level

    High within a concentrated study period.

    Best started

    Begin four to six weeks before a future application deadline to prepare writing and arrange official transcripts.

    Main challenge

    Sustaining attention and protecting every scheduled class meeting.

    Typical preparation

    • Draft the two personal-statement responses and connect your interest to the course's academic themes.

    • Request official transcripts early and identify whether an English proficiency score is required.

    • Reserve the class blocks and allow additional study time around them.

    Useful if

    You want to test university-level study in Black Studies.

    What do students do on Topics in African American Studies?

    You study hip-hop as a cultural response to changing social and economic conditions. Music listening and documentary and dramatic film viewing provide the material for understanding that response.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Explore hip-hop's emergence in the South Bronx during the 1970s.

    2. 2

      Listen to music and watch documentary and dramatic films.

    3. 3

      Connect those works with deindustrialization, the welfare state, and mass incarceration.

    Topics in African American Studies dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Application deadline

    1 April 2026

    College Preparation credit-program application deadline.

    Reference date

    Programme dates

    6-19 July 2026

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Rising high school juniors and seniors.

    • Completed sophomore or junior year of high school.

    • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

    • Domestic and international applicants may apply.

    • Official high school transcripts must be in English.

    • English proficiency scores required when language or schooling conditions apply.

    How much does Topics in African American Studies cost?

    Application fee

    $60 — Non-refundable.

    Funding or discounts

    • Tuition scholarship: Domestic rising seniors with financial need and strong achievement.
    • Application fee waiver: Request form requires student and parent or guardian information.

    What's included

    Scheduled online course meetings., Music listening and documentary and dramatic film study., Standard allocation of one Northwestern college credit unit.

    How to apply to Topics in African American Studies

    1. 1

      Use Northwestern's College Preparation credit-program admissions process.

    2. 2

      Write approximately 500 words addressing your academic experience and program interest.

    3. 3

      List extracurricular activities with involvement dates, descriptions, and roles.

    4. 4

      Arrange official English-language high school transcripts through an accepted submission method.

    5. 5

      Provide TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores when required.

    6. 6

      Submit the application with the $60 application fee or an approved waiver.

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    Learning format

    The course uses scheduled online classes Monday through Thursday, from 2:00 to 5:30 pm. That pattern provides four 3.5-hour meetings and 14 scheduled class hours each week, with music listening and film viewing central to the study.

    Mentorship and feedback

    • John Marquez is the listed course instructor.

    • College Prep credit courses use Northwestern-affiliated instructors.

    • Instructors expect university-level commitment and involvement.

    Time-zone considerations

    • Classes follow a Monday-through-Thursday pattern.
    • The published meeting time is 2:00-5:30 pm.
    • Plan for 14 scheduled class hours each week.
    • International students may participate through online credit study.

    Portfolio / outputs

    Main deliverable / output

    The academic outcome is one Northwestern college credit unit under the standard credit-course allocation.

    Topics in African American Studies FAQs

    The course explores hip-hop's emergence in the South Bronx during the 1970s and its relationship to deindustrialization, the collapse of the welfare state, and mass incarceration.

    Students listen to music and watch documentary and dramatic films to understand hip-hop as a response by working-class Black and brown communities to social and economic change.

    Northwestern states that each College Preparation credit course carries one credit unit unless its description says otherwise. One unit is typically equivalent to four quarter hours or two and two-thirds semester credit hours.

    College Prep credit students take undergraduate courses alongside Northwestern and visiting university students.

    Northwestern-affiliated instructors expect the same commitment and involvement as they do from university students. Students should be self-directed, motivated, and able to manage their time.

    The application requires a personal statement of approximately 500 words, an extracurricular activities list, and official high school transcripts. English proficiency scores are required when the applicant's primary language or secondary schooling is not English.

    Northwestern admits international students to its credit program. Participation solely in online courses does not entail entry into the United States and does not provide eligibility for an F-1, J-1, or B-1/B-2 visa.

    No. Northwestern describes College Prep participation as one part of a student's application profile and says it does not guarantee university admission.

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources & verification

    Source types reviewed

    • International Students, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Pre-College Summer Programs for Credit: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Admission, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Tuition and Fees, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • FAQs, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • 2026 Application Fee Waiver Request
    • Topics in African American Studies:: Northwestern University School of Professional Studies

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 10 Oct 2026)

    • Official course page checked

    • Course schedule reviewed

    • Application deadline checked

    • Eligibility requirements reviewed

    • Tuition applicability assessed

    • Scholarship conditions reviewed

    • Online international guidance checked

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.