Goals of Africana Studies Major/Minor
The Africana Studies major is designed to provide students with a rich intellectual experience through the critical and systematic study of the life, thought and practice of African peoples, Continental and Diasporan, in their current and historical dimensions. The Discipline of Africana Studies focuses on critical study of African Americans, Continental Africans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Afro-Latinos, but also allows for study of African peoples in Asia and Europe. Africana Studies seeks to critically examine and understand the Africana experience from an Afrocentric or African-centered perspective, i.e., from a position internal to the culture of the people studied, while retaining a respect for and openness to the multicultural character and instructive value of the total human experience. Thus, Africana Studies emphasizes an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to scholarship, teaching and learning as vital to the discipline and general educational enterprise. Within this understanding, Africana Studies expects students to develop a critical capacity for comparative analysis, holistic thinking, multicultural and international awareness, and sensitivity to issues of race, ethnicity, class and gender.
Given its appreciation for its origins and continuing rootedness in social and academic concerns and initiatives, the Africana Studies Department values and constantly expands its links with the local, national and world African community. It thus encourages students to take advantage of opportunities to do service learning and internships, and study abroad. The Department also encourages and supports faculty/student collaboration in conferences, forums, field trips and joint research and writing projects. The Department of Africana Studies also puts great emphasis on enhanced mentoring and advisement in the interest of pedagogy of cooperative teaching and learning which fosters academic excellence, student success, and social responsibility and engagement.
The Africana Studies major is designed to provide students with a rich intellectual experience through the critical and systematic study of the life, thought and practice of African peoples, Continental and Diasporan, in their current and historical dimensions. The Discipline of Africana Studies focuses on critical study of African Americans, Continental Africans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Afro-Latinos, but also allows for study of African peoples in Asia and Europe. Africana Studies seeks to critically examine and understand the Africana experience from an Afrocentric or African-centered perspective, i.e., from a position internal to the culture of the people studied, while retaining a respect for and openness to the multicultural character and instructive value of the total human experience. Thus, Africana Studies emphasizes an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to scholarship, teaching and learning as vital to the discipline and general educational enterprise. Within this understanding, Africana Studies expects students to develop a critical capacity for comparative analysis, holistic thinking, multicultural and international awareness, and sensitivity to issues of race, ethnicity, class and gender.
Given its appreciation for its origins and continuing rootedness in social and academic concerns and initiatives, the Africana Studies Department values and constantly expands its links with the local, national and world African community. It thus encourages students to take advantage of opportunities to do service learning and internships, and study abroad. The Department also encourages and supports faculty/student collaboration in conferences, forums, field trips and joint research and writing projects. The Department of Africana Studies also puts great emphasis on enhanced mentoring and advisement in the interest of pedagogy of cooperative teaching and learning which fosters academic excellence, student success, and social responsibility and engagement.
MAJOR IN AFRICANA STUDIES (120 units)
A minimum of 39 units is required for the major in Africana Studies; 12 lower division and 27 upper divison units. The distribution of courses within Africanan Studies affords the students the opportunity for in-depth exploration of either African American Studies or Continental African Studies areas or a combination of the two, as well as other Diasporan studies, e.g., the Caribbean basin. LOWER DIVISION (12 UNITS) Required Core Courses (6 units): AFRS 110 Introduction to Africana Studies AFRS 120 African American History to 1865 or AFRS 121 African American History 1865 to Present Elective Courses (6 units): one course from each of the following groups: GROUP A: (Social Science): AFRS 115 Introduction to African Politics AFRS 120 African American History to 1865 AFRS 150 Critical Thinking in Africana Studies AFRS 154 Introduction to Africana Women’s Studies AFRS 200 Ancient African Civilizations AFRS 201 History of Slavery AFRS 210 African American Community GROUP B: (Humanities): AFRS 140 Introduction to African-American Literature AFRS 155 African American Music AFRS 160 Introduction to Africana Arts AFRS 170A Elementary Swahili AFRS 170B Elementary Swahili AFRS 180 African American Language in America AFRS 205 Modern Black South African Literature AFRS 240 African and AFrican American Folklore and Culture AFRS 255 Introduction to Hip Hop UPPER DIVISION (27 UNITS) Required Core Courses (12 units): AFRS 330 Politics of the African American Community AFRS 335 Economic Development in the African American Community AFRS 354 African American Women and the Civil Right Movement AFRS 495 Research Methods in Africana Studies Elective Courses (15 units): one or more courses selected from each of the following groups: GROUP A: (Social Sciences) AFRS 304 The African Colonial Experience AFRS 310 African American Male and Female Relationships AFRS 319 The Ethnic Experience in the U.S. AFRS 325 Psychology of the Minorities AFRS 331 African American Juvenile AFRS 332 Civil Rights and the Law AFRS 337 Cultures of the Pan-African Peoples AFRS 345 Politics of Black Power AFRS 404 Contemporary Issues of the Africana World AFRS 410 The African American Family AFRS 430 African Political Leadership in the 20th Century GROUP B: (Humanities) AFRS 340 Research Topics in African-American Literature AFRS 343A African and Caribbean Literature AFRS 343B Caribbean Literature AFRS 346 Africana Theatre AFRS 353I Black Religion AFRS 363 History of African Art AFRS 370 African and African American Images in the Mass Media AFRS 415 International Black Children’s Literature GROUP C: (Theory) AFRS 380 African Political Theory AFRS 400I Afro-American Social Thought AFRS 454I Africana Womanism: An Intellectual History AFRS 460 African Thought AFRS 475 Racism and Sexism: An Analytical Approach AFRS 498I Ancient Egyptian Ethnical Thought |
MINOR IN AFRICANA STUDIES
The minor in Africana Studies requires a minimum of 24 units of which at least 12 units must be in upper- division courses, with two or more courses selected from each of the following: Core Courses: AFRS 110 Introduction to Africana Studies AFRS 495 Research Methods in Africana Studies Group A: AFRS 120 African American History to 1865 AFRS 121 African American History 1865 to Present AFRS 154 Introduction to Africana Women’s Studies AFRS 200 Ancient African Civilizations AFRS 201 History of Slavery AFRS 210 African American Community AFRS 304 The African Colonial Experience AFRS 310 African American Male and Female Relationships AFRS 325 Africana Psychology AFRS 330 Politics of the African American Community AFRS 332 Civil Rights and the Law AFRS 335 Economic Development in the African American Community AFRS 354 African American Women and the Civil Rights Movement AFRS 370 African and African American Images in the Mass Media AFRS 400I African American Social Thought AFRS 404 Contemporary Issues of the Africana World AFRS 410 The African American Family AFRS 420 African American Children in Public Schools AFRS 430 African Political Leadership in the 20th Century Group B: AFRS 140 Introduction to African American Literature AFRS 155 African American Music AFRS 160 Introduction to Africana Arts AFRS 180 African American Language in America AFRS 205 Modern Religions of African Peoples South African Literature AFRS 255 Introduction to Hip Hop AFRS 337 Cultures of the Pan-African Peoples AFRS 340 Research Topics in African American Literature AFRS 343A African Literature AFRS 343B Caribbean Literature AFRS 346 Africana Theatre AFRS 353I Religions of African Peoples AFRS 363 History of African Art AFRS 370 African and African American Images in the Mass Media AFRS 415 International Africana Children’s Literature AFRS 450 Africana Writer’s Workshop AFRS 454I Africana Womanism: An Intellectual History AFRS 475 Racism and Sexism, An Analytical Approach AFRS 498I Ancient EgyptianEthical Thought Certificate Requirements in Africana Studies (code B/STCT01)Students majoring in other departments of the University but interested in Africana Studies may at the same time pursue a program leading to a Certificate in Africana Studies. Courses used to meet the certificate requirement may, where applicable, also be used simultaneously to meet General Education requirements or the major and minor requirements of cooperating departments. Requirements 1. A major in another academic discipline. Certificate can be completed prior to or simultaneously with completion of the B.A. requirement. 2. A minimum of 24 units of which at least 12 must be in upper-division courses, with two or more courses selected from each of the following: GROUP A: AFRS 110 Introduction to Africana Studies AFRS 154 Introduction to Africana Women’s Studies AFRS 210 African-American Community AFRS 325 Psychology of the Minorities AFRS 330 Politics of the African American Community AFRS 332 Civil Rights and the Law AFRS 335 Economic Development in the African American Community AFRS 370 African and African American Images in the Mass Media AFRS 420 African American Child in the Public Schools GROUP B: AFRS 160 Introduction to Africana Arts AFRS 340 Research Topics in African American Literature AFRS 343A African and Caribbean Literature AFRS 346 Africana Theatre AFRS 363 History of African Art AFRS 450 Africana Writers Workshop GROUP C: AFRS 120 African American History to 1865 AFRS 121 African American History 1865 to Present AFRS 200 Ancient African Civilizations AFRS 201 History of Slavery AFRS 304 African Colonial Experience AFRS 330 Politics of the African American Community AFRS 337 Cultures of Pan-African People AFRS 354 African American Women and the Civil Rights Movement AFRS 400I African American Social Thought AFRS 410 The African American Family AFRS 454I Africana Womanism: An Intellectual History |
Contact the Department
Department Hours: M - F: 9am to 12pm; 12:30pm to 2pm Contact us at 562-985-4624 or stop by our office in PSY-306 Website: http://www.cla.csulb.edu/departments/africanastudies/ |