Taking as its central mission the study of peoples of African descent on the continent and in the diaspora, the Africana Studies major seeks a nuanced and interdisciplinary understanding of the human experience. The Africana Studies major does so through the humanities, arts, and social sciences, with particular emphasis on continuities and discontinuities across geography and time. Its broad educational objectives are to engender among all students an intellectual appreciation of black lives and their saliency for all human experience; to deepen students’ critical analytic skills; and to value social equality, democracy, and humanitarianism. The Africana Studies major strives to provide students with substantive knowledge of the black world and its linkages to national as well as pre-, sub-, supra-, and transnational processes. Students play an active role in the Africana Studies Institute’s mission to facilitate respect and positive intersocial relationships within the university community. Completion of the B.A. in Africana Studies prepares the student for work in government, community agencies, international organizations, business, journalism and communications, or for graduate studies that lead to careers in research and teaching.
To satisfy the Africana Studies major, students must complete 27 total credits in AFRA courses. Students must complete nine credits from the Core Curriculum, 15 credits distributed in each of the Five Curricular Areas (Black History, Black Diasporic and Global Perspectives, Race, Society and Health, Black Arts, Literature, and Culture, Black Politics and Social Justice) and three elective credits in any AFRA curricular area including variable and special topics or independent study. Variable and Special topics courses may also be applied to the distribution areas based on course content and with advisor consent. Students must also complete 12 credits of related courses not cross-listed with AFRA.
Core Curriculum
AFRA 2211, AFRA 4994W (required); AFRA/ARTH/AAAS 2222; AFRA/HIST 2622. (Choose one additional course from the courses above).
Black History
AFRA/HIST 3025, AFRA/HIST 3206; AFRA/ANTH 3512; AFRA/HIST 3563, AFRA/HIST 3564, AFRA/HIST 3569, AFRA/HIST 3618, AFRA/HIST 3619W, AFRA/HIST 3753.
Black Diasporic and Global Perspectives
AFRA/HIST/LLAS 2621; AFRA/HIST 2752; AFRA/ANTH 3155; AFRA/HIST/LLAS 3208; AFRA 3224/HIST 3770, AFRA/HIST 3620.
Black Arts, Literature, and Culture
AFRA/ENGL2214/W; AFRA/ARTH3050/W; AFRA/DRAM 3132; AFRA/ENGL 3213/W, AFRA/ENGL 3215/W, AFRA/ENGL 3217/W; AFRA/HIST/AMST 3568.
Race, Society and Health
AFRA/SOCI 2250; AFRA/COGS 2345; AFRA/SOCI 2461, AFRA/SOCI 2510, AFRA/SOCI 2520; AFRA/HDFS/WGSS 3042; AFRA/PSYC 3106; AFRA/ANTH 3152, AFRA/ANTH 3320.
Black Politics and Social Justice
AFRA/SOCI/HRTS 2530; AFRA/POLS/PP 3033; AFRA/POLS 3252, AFRA/POLS 3642, AFRA/POLS 3647, AFRA/POLS 3652.
Any three elective credits from Special Topics, Variable Topics or Independent Study: AFRA 3295, AFRA 3299, AFRA 3898.
AFRA 2214W and AFRA 4994W satisfy the Information Literacy Competency and Writing in the Major requirements.
Related Courses
Students can take 12 credits to fulfill the major.
The major in Africana Studies is administered by the Africana Studies Institute. A minor in Africana Studies is described in the Minors section.