Course Overview
This course is designed to give students an in-depth view into the artwork, lives, and political climate of African American artists in the Harlem Renaissance. Students will connect previous understandings of Black American culture and history through a visual context as they learn about a different perspective of American art and art history. Lectures will cover a range of visual media, including painting, sculpture, prints, and photography through the lens of Black aesthetic interpretations from art made during 1920-1940’s. A core understanding of the activism of Black artists and their contributions to Black culture, history, art and art education will be discovered through dialogue, artmaking, interactive projects, and an analysis of historical public art.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
- Identify major Black political and cultural figure influences in the formation of the new African American identity in the early 1920’s.
- Analyze major policies that positively influenced the rise in African American artists during the 1920s-1950s.
- Identify notable African American artists, works, and their impact.
- Identify the contributions of African American artists in community engaged art education.
- Understand the access to opportunities to enter arts practices surrounding African American artists through gender, race/colorism, and socioeconomic status during the era.
- Develop an appreciation for Black artists, their art, and the impact individuals made that still influences Black contemporary artists.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: TBD
Format: Online
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior or senior status – or a 2026 high school graduate.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: A-F
Cost: $1,995
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – Online: Explore college life before stepping foot on campus! High school students can enroll in a college-level course, pursue their academic interests, and meet likeminded students in daily virtual events and activities.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College -Online | 3-Week Session I: Monday, July 6 – Thursday, July 23, 2026 | Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. – Noon (12 p.m.) | Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Required Supplies
Required Textbooks:
- Lewis, S. (2003). African American art and artists (Fourth edition, revised and expanded.). Berkeley: University of California Press. (Soft cover)
- Haygood, W., & Genshaft, C. (2018). I Too Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100. Rizzoli Electa.
Other Supply Requirements:
- Laptop with a camera
- Notebook
- Writing utensils
- Access to internet
- Art supplies
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
Students will learn through professor prompted discussions & interactive activities.
Class Structure Overview:
- New Content/Mini Lecture
- Student check-in/Attendance Check
- Small Groups/Discussion Prompt
- Large Group Content Discussion
- Access Break
- Large Group Discussion
- Questions, Announcements & Assignments
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College virtual activities to meet and connect with other students across the world. Check out our Virtual Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Beatrice CareyCarter
Beatrice CareyCarter is a practicing artist and adjunct professor at Rowan University. Her current research and art practice focuses on the intersections of visual arts-based research, student voice, and access within minoritized populations in K-12 and higher education. Beatrice is currently finishing her PhD in Education and holds a MFA in Fine Art from Kingston University London, a BA in Art with a concentration in Africana Studies and minor in Education from Rowan University and is active in her professional art practices being proficient in painting, printmaking, drawing techniques, and currently in conceptual fine art photography. She has over 18 years of experience as an artist and has curated and participated in exhibitions abroad focusing on heritage, access, and belonging.