Major & Minor Requirements

Major

The Africana Studies major requires that you take 10 courses. Students can take the courses in any sequence, although we recommend starting with the lower-level courses. All majors must take 2 of the introductory courses and the Africana intellectual history course. In line with the diasporic outlook of the program, students must take at least one course on each of the geo-cultural regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and Black America (US). Students are also required to take a gender-specific course. In addition to these requirements, majors must complete 3 elective courses. Finally, all majors must have a capstone/senior seminar experience. Please note that at least 2 of the courses for the major must be at the 300-level and no more than 3 of the 10 courses may be individualized study courses, including the capstone. Details are provided below:

I. Core Requirements:

  • Two from the AFS introductory courses: AFS 130, 131, 132
  • One course on Sub-Saharan Africa from the following: AFS 233, 262, 321, HIST 271, 272, 371, 373, 376, ECON 212 or other approved Africa-specific course. [AFS 131 may be used if not taken as introductory course requirement]
  • One course on the Caribbean from the following: AFS 225, 236, 238, 246, 251, 270, 274, 325, 346, 370, 374, LAS 223 or other approved Caribbean-specific course. [AFS 132 may be used if not taken as introductory course requirement]
  • One course on gender from the following: AFS 248, 267, 274, ENG 258, WGS/LAS/ANTH 231 or other approved gender-specific course.

II. Intellectual History Course:

  • AFS 331

III. Senior Seminar/Capstone:

  • Senior Seminar/Capstone: AFS 450, 460, 470 (Individualized Study-Internship-Study Abroad)

IV. AFS Electives:

  • Three additional AFS, cross-listed or affiliated courses. May include AFS 130 (if not taken as introductory course), ANTH 239, ECON 250, 253, EDUC 220, ENG 235, 236, 353, FREN 331, HIST 236, 238, 270, 271, 272, 346, 364, 373, 374, 413, 424, MUS_CLAS 110, POL 363, SOC 209, WGS/LAS 231. At least one must be at the 300-400 level

Minor

Students wishing to minor in Africana Studies are required to complete 6 courses: two from AFS 130, AFS 131, and AFS 132; the intellectual history course—AFS 331, a second 300-level AFS course, and two (2) other core, cross-listed, or affiliated courses. Students should consult with an Africana Studies advisor for guidance. Please see details below:

I. Requirements:

  • Two from the following: AFS 130, 131, 132
  • AFS 331
  • 300-level AFS course, cross-listed or affiliated course
  • And two other AFS, cross-listed or affiliated courses: May include ANTH 239, ECON 250, 253, EDUC 220, ENG 235, 236, 250, 252, 263, 353, 403, FREN 331, HIST 106, 236, 238, 270, 271, 272, 346, 364, 373, 374, 413, 424, MUS_CLAS 102, 110, POL 363, SOC 209, WGS/LAS 231

Acceptable Non-AFS Courses

History

  • HIST 106: The Atlantic World 1600-1850
  • HIST 238: African American History
  • HIST 270: Topics in African History
  • HIST 271: African History & Society to 1880s
  • HIST 272: African History & Society since 1880s
  • HIST 346: Slavery, Rebellion and Emancipation
  • HIST 350: The Modern Black Freedom Struggle
  • HIST 364: Social Difference in Brazilian History
  • HIST 371: Modern African Environments
  • HIST 373: Sub-Sahara Africa in the 20th Century
  • HIST 376: France and Sub-Saharan Africa
  • HIST 413: Decolonization in Africa
  • HIST 424: Race on Trial

English

  • ENG 235: Survey of African American Literature
  • ENG 252: 20th Century African American Literature
  • ENG 262: Contemporary African American Literature
  • ENG 263: Voice & Visibility
  • ENG 362: LGBTQ African American Literature
  • ENG 367: James Baldwin in Fiction and Essays
  • ENG 378: Autobiography in African American Narrative
  • ENG 403: The Bible & African American Literature

Economics

  • ECON 212: African Economic History & Development
  • ECON 250: Economic Development
  • ECON 253: Intro to Political Economy & African Diaspora
  • ANTHROPOLOGY
  • ANTH 231: Gender & Change in Africa and Afro-Latin America (cross-listed with WGS/LAS 231)
  • ANTH 239: African Modernities

Philosophy

  • PHIL 247: Philosophy of Race
  • PHIL 366: Great Philosophers (if only on Anna Julia Cooper & W.E.B. Dubois)

Sociology

  • SOC 209: Race and Ethnicity

French

  • FREN 331: Francophone Identities (French proficiency required)

Political Science

  • POL 363: Politics of Developing Areas

Music

  • MUS_CLAS 102: World Music Survey
  • MUS_CLAS 110: Survey of Jazz
  • MUS_ENS 171: Jazz Ensemble*
  • MUS_ENS 194: Jazz Dispatch*

* Credit for these courses are granted on a case-by-case basis. For details, see Chair of Africana Studies.