Africana Studies (AFS)

Examines the historical and contemporary manifestations of the sacred and secular continuum in African Diaspora Arts and Religion. Will study examples of music, dance, drama, literature and visual arts expressions of religion and theological values.

Offered Fall, Spring

An introduction to the discipline of Africana Studies. An overview of the philosophical underpinnings, evolution, theories and concepts, and practical applications of the disciplines; and the African-centered, holistic method of studying the African world.

Offered Fall, Spring

Students study African civilization from antiquity to the present. The course explores African civilizations interaction with and contribution to world civilizations like Greek, Asian, European and American civilizations.

Offered Fall, Spring

Hip Hop, the music and lifestyle, is rooted in African American urban life in the middle 1970's on the streets of New York City. This course will critically explore the evolution of Hip Hop as a socio-cultural political movement. This course is restricted to 1st time Freshman going through the First Year Experience. Offered Spring term only.

Offered All terms, Fall, Spring

Explores the lived experiences of the Ethnic/Global communities in the U.S. and their places of origin. The course will examine the socio-cultural dynamics in, Africana Asian-Pacific and Chicano/Latino communities.

Offered Fall, Summer

This course provides students with an overview of the geographical, historical, and cultural foundations of African world peoples and societies.

Offered Fall, Spring

The course examines literary traditions developed by people of African descent who reside in Africa as well as throughout the world.

Offered Fall

Examination of the history of African people throughout the world from 1450-1888. Identifies African migration, national culture, and political divisions. Examines the dynamics of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and surveys the territorial dispersal of African people around the globe, their links and metamorphoses.

Offered Infrequent

An examination of the history of African world peoples from 1888 with the end of slavery in Brazil to the present. The dynamics of apartheid and colonialism, nationalism, civil rights and liberation movements are central themes.

Offered Infrequent

An examination of a specific topic and/or subject area of Africana Studies. Repeatable for credit. Topic will be announced in Schedule of Classes.

Offered As needed

Prerequisite: AFS 200 and AFS 220. Africana music course designed to introduce the music and musicians of Africa and the African Diaspora culture, establishing the African foundation of the musical practices and exploring early developments in the Diaspora with special focus upon developments in all parts of the Americas from 1619 to 1888.

Offered As needed

Prerequisite: AFS 200. An introduction to the theories and approaches utilized by Africana Studies scholars. Focus is on the intellectual approaches to the study of African peoples from the perspective of Africana cultural imperative.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: AFS 200. Introduces students to intellectual debates in research methods in Africana Studies. It focuses on the applicability and relevance of different methods of acquiring, interpreting and presenting Africana knowledge systems.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: AFS 200 or permission from instructor. Introduces students to intellectual debates in research methods, theories, and approaches in Africana Studies. Focuses on applicability and relevance of different methods of acquiring, interpreting and presenting Africana knowledge systems.

Offered Fall

Analyzes the social, political and cultural environment of African Americans in the U.S. Course examines the influence of race on African Americans' social and historical development. Course focuses on modes in which African Americans establish and maintain its cultural space.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Explores the politics of globalization on Africana Communities over time. Focuses on how Africana communities have constructed new space in the Western Hemisphere. Emphasizes the impact of race, class and ethnicity on Africana community's development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisites: ENG 111, AFS 201 and AFS 220 or consent of Department Chair. In consultation with an Africana Studies faculty, student undertakes a major project such as the following: original research and thesis on a given African world historical or theoretical topic; a creative project such as an original musical composition, art work or performance with supporting scholarly program notes.

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisite: AFS 231. Survey course that introduces students to both Africana literature and culture. Provides students with an opportunity to study and appreciate major Africana political, cultural and historical issues and experiences through the lenses of Africana literature.

Offered Spring

Survey course that introduces students to both African literature and culture. Provides students with an opportunity to study and appreciate major African political, cultural, and historical issues and experiences through the lenses of African literature.

Offered Fall, Spring

Explores the artistic productions of key figures, scholarly works analyzing significant events and films of the time. Focuses on works examining race, culture, and social issues pertinent to people of African descent. Explores how the Harlem Renaissance influenced later movements.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Explores the dismantling of the overt practice of segregation by exploring the roles of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement, as well as the literature, art and music which contributed to their vitality.

Offered Fall, Spring

Examines the historical and contemporary manifestations of the sacred and secular continuum in African Diaspora Arts and Religion. Will study examples of music, dance, drama, literature and visual arts expressions of religion and theological values.

Offered Fall, Summer

Examines the economic, political and social position of Africana women in the global diaspora by analyzing the legal apparatuses, historical context and present-day realities of racism, sexism, class oppression and homophobia that impacts Africana women's daily lives

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Intensive study of a single period, figure, movement, or idea in African world history/culture. Course repeatable for credit. Topics will be announced in Schedule of Classes.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Supervised work experience in an African or African diaspora community with emphasis upon social and economic development in a local, national and/or international setting. Supervision emphasizes training and application of practical and technical skills. Students will be placed in settings suitable to their academic specialization. CR/NC grading. Repeatable courses. One hour of tutorial per week is required with instructor.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisite: AFS 200 is recommended. An examination of the life and times of important Africana leaders and their legacies to the African world. Emphasis will be on the major competing trends in the interpretations of the leaders¿ legacies and the interests that shape these trends. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: AFS 220 is recommended. Examines political opinions and ideas of Africana thinkers and leaders. Interrogates Africana political leaders and thinkers understanding and interpretation of the political dynamics in the African world.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: Completion of GWAR and consent of instructor. An integrative seminar serving as a capstone to the major in Africana Studies. A research report will be required. Additionally, other creative projects may be assigned in areas such as art, music composition and performance. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor. Independent study of particular topics in Africana Studies under the direction of a member of the Africana Studies faculty. Repeatable course.

Offered As needed

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Intensive study of an issue, concept or theme in Africana Studies. May be taken for credit only once for the major. Repeatable course.

Offered As needed

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Under the direction of the internship faculty associate, students work in an African diaspora community applying skills and knowledge learned in the classroom, as well as the workplace. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Directed readings on a particular Africana Studies topic or subject area under the direction of a member of the Africana Studies faculty. Repeatable course

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Introduces students to intellectual debates on research methods in Africana Studies. Focuses on selected articles that discuss different methods of acquiring, interpreting and presenting Africana knowledge. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

Critical analysis of Asian and Pacific Islander American artists and their creative expression in music, television, film, and on the internet. Examines issues of stereotyping and exclusion in Hollywood as well as empowerment through artistic expression and community engagement. GE F1

Offered As needed

Offered As needed

Prerequisites: Consent of Department Chair. Independent investigation of a research problem or directed readings in a selected area of Africana Studies.

Offered As needed

Prerequisite: AFS 201 is recommended. An intensive study of a concept, movement, school of thought, or individual within the discipline of Africana Studies. Intended for students with senior or graduate standing. Specific topic listed in Class Schedule. Repeatable course. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered As needed

Offered As needed

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and classified graduate standing. Extensive reading in selected areas under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Repeatable course.

Offered As needed

Independent research under direction of supervising faculty member in Africana Studies. Repeatable for credit for a maximum of six units.

Offered As needed

In consultation with a faculty member, writing of a master's thesis or completion of a project. Choice of area requires prior consent of advisor. Repeatable course.

Offered As needed

Graduate students who have completed their course work but not their thesis, project, or comprehensive examinations, or who have other requirements remaining for the completion of their degree, may maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in this course. Signature of graduate program coordinator required.

Offered As needed