Africana Studies Major (B.A.)
www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/ba-africana-diaspora-studies
Faculty and Affiliated Faculty: Alexander (English); Green (History); Harris (Director of Africana Studies); Heer (Social Work); Matusevich (History); Mott (Political Science); Pritchett (Freshman Studies); Schultz (History): Togman (Political Science)
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Africana Studies, as well as a minor in Africana Studies.
The Africana Studies curriculum critically analyzes the historical and contemporary experiences of people of African descent in the United States, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and wherever communities of African descended people have emerged. The department utilizes multidisciplinary faculty and community-based expertise to prepare students to become servant leaders by fostering a commitment to rigorous intellectual inquiry and the movement for racial justice and equality. The program’s commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility is reflected in the balanced emphasis on traditional scholarship as well as experiential and co- curricular activities, such as guest lectures, internships, study abroad trips and community activism.
Depending on their preferences, graduates are prepared to work in social and educational institutions and agencies, government, business or the arts, libraries, museums, communication and other related areas. They are fully prepared to take advantage of graduate training in Black studies, the social and behavioral sciences, the arts, humanities and the professions.
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures encourages serious scholarship committed to social change and obtaining human rights. Through the study of the unique history, society and life of Black people, the department encourages active participation in the struggle for social justice and freedom for Black people and thus for all peoples.
Since 1970 and prior to joining the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, the Department of Africana Studies has been a community of scholars founded on and rooted in the emerging discipline of Africana Studies. It is based on several sources, including the Black Intellectual Tradition, the traditional academic disciplines, and the insights and lessons of the historic struggle against racism and for social justice.
To attain the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete the Core Curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences, the major requirements and free electives to total 120 credits. Upon completion of work for the degree, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Each student will be assigned a faculty adviser who will assist in planning a four-year program.
Link to College Core requirement.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| AFAM 1111 | Introduction to African-American Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 1201 | History of African Civilization I | 3 |
| or AFAM 1202 | History of African Civilization II | |
| AFAM 2313 | Black Politics | 3 |
| AFAM 2375 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2376 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2910 | 3 | |
| AFAM 3316 | Intell Trad-Global African Exp | 3 |
| AFAM 5511 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| AFAM Culture/Art/Music Elective | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| Electives | ||
| Students must complete four elective courses, no more than two from any of the following tracks: | 12 | |
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
History Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 2212/HIST 3364/POLS 2312 | History of the Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| AFAM 2213/POLS 2311 | History of Black Nationalism | 3 |
| AFAM 2219/HIST 3554 | History of North Africa | 3 |
| AFAM 2221 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2332 | African Diasporas in the U.S.A | 3 |
| AFAM 3420 | Hist Relig-Soc Early LatinAmer | 3 |
| AFAM 3450 | Race-Nation in Latin America | 3 |
Literature Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 2410/ENGL 2618 | Africana Literature | 3 |
| AFAM 2411/ENGL 3613 | Early African-American Literature | 3 |
| AFAM 2412/ENGL 3614 | ||
| AFAM 2413/ENGL 3617 | Literature of the Harlem Renaissance | 3 |
| AFAM 2418/ENGL 3616 | Contemporary African Literature | 3 |
| AFAM 2420/ENGL 3615 | Major Figures in African-American Literature | 3 |
| AFAM 3411 |
Social Science Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 1518/SOWK 1314 | Social Work and Law | 3 |
| AFAM 2214 | History of Black Education | 3 |
| AFAM 3311 | ||
| AFAM 2312/POLS 2615 | African Political Institutions | 3 |
| AFAM/POLS 2313 | Black Politics | 3 |
| AFAM 2319 | American Foreign Policy in Africa | 3 |
| AFAM 2321 | Community Health | 3 |
| AFAM 2322 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2323 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2325 | Political Economy of Racism | 3 |
| AFAM/POLS 2326 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2327/POLS 2327/SOWK 2327 | Organizing Grassroots Communities | 3 |
| AFAM 2328/SOCI 2511 | 3 | |
| AFAM/ANTH 2331 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2332 | African Diasporas in the U.S.A | 3 |
| AFAM 2333/ANTH 2331 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2614 | Psych. of the Black Experience | 3 |
| AFAM 2617/WMST 2317 | The Black Man and Woman | 3 |
| AFAM/SOCI 2618 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2633 | 3 | |
| AFAM 3312 | 3 | |
| AFAM 3314 | 3 | |
| AFAM 3315 | Martin Luther King Jr. Honors Seminar | 3 |
| AFAM 3316 | Intell Trad-Global African Exp | 3 |
| AFAM 3329 | 3 |
Culture/Art/Music Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM/COJR 2330 | Mass-Media and Minorities | 3 |
| AFAM/ANTH 2331 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2332 | African Diasporas in the U.S.A | 3 |
| AFAM 2515/RELS 2419 | African Religions | 3 |
| AFAM 2516 | African Cultural Philosophy | 3 |
| AFAM 2517/RELS 2261 | The Black Church | 3 |
| AFAM 2521 | Performing Arts | 3 |
| AFAM 2524 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2529/ARTH 2109 | African American Art | 3 |
| AFAM 3315 | Martin Luther King Jr. Honors Seminar | 3 |
Additional Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 2181 | 3 | |
| AFAM 2182 | Topics in Africana Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 3181 | Topics in African-Amer Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 3182 | Topics in Africana Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 3190 | Independent Study | 1 |
| AFAM 3191 | Independent Study | 3 |
| AFAM 3195 | 2 | |
| AFAM 3820 | Study in the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFAM 3821 | 3 | |
| AFAM 3832 | 6 | |
| AFAM 3833 | Pract Orient.-Inner City Neigh | 6 |
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