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African Studies

Interdisciplinary Concentration in African Studies

Sponsors: P. Kendrix-Williams (African American Studies/English) and K. Pearson (Interactive Multimedia/English)

The interdisciplinary concentration in African World Studies focuses on the history and culture of the African continent and of people of African descent throughout the world. Because of the enormous breadth of this subject African World Studies has three distinct emphases: African Studies, Diaspora Studies, and African American Studies.

The African Studies Concentration focuses on the history and culture of the myriad ethnic, linguistic, socio-political, and religious groups of the African continent. In-depth examinations of African life before and after the slave trades, and during and after European colonial domination, help students understand the role that Africa has played in ancient, medieval, and contemporary global history. American and European economic and political interactions with African indigenous culture, history, and popular culture are explored.

Option B Alternatives

The interdisciplinary concentration in African Studies focuses on the history and culture of the African continent and of people of African descent throughout the world. Through careful advisement, using the Option B mechanism—or a combination of Options A and B, students may also complete additional emphases, including, but not limited to:
Caribbean Studies, Francophone Studies, Africana Herstory, and/or Race, Justice and Equality.

Courses and Requirements

The interdisciplinary concentration in African Studies requires a total of six courses from the lists below plus one approved course in laboratory science and one in quantitative reasoning. Each emphasis requires some core courses plus others as specified. First Seminars may count toward completion of this concentration if their subject matter is appropriate. Students must consult with faculty sponsors to determine whether their first year seminars can be so applied, and to obtain written permission to do so. Courses listed in the following emphases do not have prerequisites unless specified.

 

African Studies Emphasis

Core Courses (three of the following)

Arts and Humanities

  • AAS 338/African Literature

Social Sciences and History (one of the following)

  • AAS 280/Women of African Descent in Global Perspective
  • HIS 351/Ancient and Medieval Africa (same as HIS 351)
  • HIS 352/Colonial and Modern Africa (same as HIS 352)
  • HIS 353/African History in Film, Literature, and Music

Arts and Humanities Courses (one of the following)

  • AAS 346/African Art History
  • AAS 365/African Cinema: Francophone African Experience through Film

Additional Courses (three of the following, making sure that all together there are at least two from Arts and Humanities and two from Social Science and History)

Arts and Humanities

  • AAS 201/African and Diaspora Religions
  • AAS 346/African Art History
  • AAS 365/African Cinema: Francophone African Experience through Film
  • AAS 428/Writings of WEB DuBois

Social Science and History

  • AAS 280/Women of African Descent in Global Perspective
  • HIS 153/Imagining Africa
  • HIS 354/South African History
  • HIS 355/East African History
  • HIS 351/Ancient and Medieval Africa
  • HIS 352/Colonial and Modern Africa
  • HIS 356/State and Slavery in West Africa
  • HIS 357/Religion and Politics in Africa
Please note: The Liberal Learning Program has been renamed The College Core, and some of its components have also been renamed. Learn More
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