Undergraduate 2019-2020

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 

Program of Africana Studies

AFS 100 Introduction to Africana Studies

Reviews the emergence of Africana Studies as an interdisciplinary field and also presents a rudimentary panorama of African American history. Methodological questions and intellectual debates within the field are introduced.
3

Course Attribute

LC4-History and LC8-US Multicultural Studies and GT History

AFS 101 Development of Black Identity

Addresses social conditions that lead to formation of black identity in America. Of special interest are Negro-to-Black conversion experience, concept of racism, subordination and role of Afro-American culture.
3

Course Attribute

LC4-History and LC8-US Multicultural Studies and GT History

AFS 102 The Black Woman in America

Review the contributions of African American women historically in this country in the areas of social and political struggle, education, business, science and sports.
3

AFS 104 Survey of Africa

Explores the geography, culture, philosophy, history, art, politics, economics, women and literature of Africa.
3

AFS 201 African American History I

A survey of the black experience from the African homeland to initial capture, enslavement and emancipation – 1619 - 1865.
3

Course Attribute

LC4-History and GT History

AFS 202 African American History II

Examines the lives of African Americans from emancipation to the present.
3

Course Attribute

LC4-History and GT History

AFS 205 Survey of African American Literature

Literature by people of African descent receives selective attention: African, Latin American, Caribbean, African American works are explored. Genres: political tract, novel, essay, autobiography, folk literature considered at various historical junctures.
3

Course Attribute

LC3b-Literature & Humanities and GT Literature

AFS 240 Dynamics of Racism

Racism, its social connection to human physical difference (i.e. race) studied. References made to African/European relations, development of racist thought, major sociological models used in United States, re: race relations.
3

AFS 303 Blacks in the American West

A guided exploration into the lives and accomplishments of African Americans in the western United States. The periods concentrated on will be from the early contact through the 21st century.
3

AFS 310 African Americans and U.S. Education

This course introduces students to the history of African American diverse educational experiences and accomplishments within the U.S. educational system. Students will be able to articulate the historical, economical, social and political precedents when examining contemporary educational issues and policy.
3

AFS 340 The Black Family

A social system approach to the study of the African American family, dynamics of family relationships and effects of social, political and economic institutions on black family life.
3

AFS 360 Routes of Black Music

The historical, thematic and stylistic development of black music from ancient Africa to the present.
3

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: AFS 360 and MUS 363

AFS 386 Political Economy of Modern Africa

Comparison of various nationalist movements of the African Continent that led to liberation and independence.
3

AFS 395 Aspects of the African-American Experience

Topics include Afro-American cultures, black psychology and black media. .
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

AFS 396 African and African American World Views

African and African American world views. A study of the philosophy of people of African descent from ancient Africa to the New World.
3

AFS 399 Community Study Project

Do field work in a community-based project in housing, education or social services.
1- 4

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 4 credit hours

AFS 404 History of Blacks in Film

This course will address issues surrounding the depiction of African Americans and other Blacks in cinema. Students will be expected to evaluate African American movie portrayals in both historical and social contexts.
3

AFS 415 Black Psychology

Examines Psychological issues such as African world views, social constructivism, stages of Black identity development, the impact of racism on Black psychology, mental health, trauma, abuse, and addiction issues.
3

AFS 420 African American Leadership and Politics

A course to examine the concept of African American leadership and politics within the context of local, state and national governments and laws from Reconstruction to the 21st century.
3

AFS 422 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
1- 4

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

AFS 450 African American History 1896-2016: From Homer Plessy to Barack Obama

A critical examination of African American history from the pivotal 1896 Homer Plessy U.S. Supreme Court decision to the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
3

AFS 456 The Black Church and Religious Traditions

Investigates the role of the Black Church in the development of the African American family, philosophy and leadership style from slavery to the present.
3

AFS 490 Seminar in Africana Studies

Preparation for advanced reading and research in Africana Studies. Topics address theories, research methodology and issues of current interest in Africana Studies research. Consultation required on research project chosen by student.
3

Prerequisites

AFS 100: with minimum grade of D- and AFS 104: with minimum grade of D- and AFS 201: with minimum grade of D- and AFS 202: with minimum grade of D-