Requirements

Students may pursue a major, supplementary major, or minor in Africana Studies.  

As an interdisciplinary field of academic study, Africana Studies draws on the strengths of faculty from a number of departments across the College of Arts & Letters, including Anthropology, American Studies, English, History, Political Science, Sociology, Gender Studies, Education, and Theology.

This interdisciplinary approach trains students to focus on the experiences of the peoples of the Africana diaspora while also learning the methodology of disciplines that take the Africana experience as a subject of inquiry. The experience of the African diaspora remains, always, the center of intellectual inquiry. The various disciplinary approaches facilitate a multi-faceted understanding of its multiple dimensions. We house a small group of core faculty and a growing number of affiliated faculty.

Together, in collaboration with the various institutes, centers, and other interdisciplinary departments at the University, students are provided with a number of different informal trajectories of study and a variety of courses to fulfill the major and minor for the department.

Requirements for Major

Africana Studies majors must complete a total of 10 3-credit courses (30 credit hours), as specified below. (See notes at end of page for additional specific information.)

1. Introduction to Africana Studies

2. Three Breadth Requirements* 

    One course in the social sciences (bears attribute AFSS)

    One course in fine arts or literature (bears attribute AFAL)

    One course in history (bears attribute AFHI)

3. Four additional upper division courses in Africana Studies (Must be 20000 level or above)

3. Two courses (six credits) of an approved thesis or internship completed in fall and spring of your senior year

Requirements for Supplementary Major

Africana Studies supplementary majors must complete a total of 8 3-credit courses (24 credit hours), as specified below. (See notes at end of page for additional specific information.)

1. Introduction to Africana Studies

2. Three Breadth Requirements* 

    One course in the social sciences (bears attribute AFSS)

    One course in fine arts or literature (bears attribute AFAL)

    One course in history (bears attribute AFHI)

3. Four additional upper division courses in Africana Studies (Must be 20000 level or above)

Requirements for Minor 

Africana Studies minors must complete a total of 5 3-credit courses (15 credit hours), as specified below. (See notes at end of page for additional specific information.)

1. Introduction to Africana Studies

2. Three Breadth Requirements* 

    One course in the social sciences (bears attribute AFSS)

    One course in fine arts or literature (bears attribute AFAL)

    One course in history (bears attribute AFHI)

3. One additional upper division courses in Africana Studies ( Must be 20000 level or above)

* Breadth requirements may be 10000-level courses. 

** Beginning with the Fall of 2018, the Department of Africana Studies will allow Africana Studies courses to also count for University and College level requirements with the appropriate UNIVERSITY LEVEL designations (Way of Knowing attributes). 

*** The Department of Africana Studies is also pleased to accept AP Seminar focused on the African Diaspora for credit (1 three credit elective course) toward the Africana Studies program with a score of five (5). Please note, the AP Seminar on the African Diaspora does not replace the Introduction to Africana Studies requirement.