Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Africana Studies Program

AFS 100 Introduction to Africana Studies

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

Course Attribute

LAH1-History and LAMS-Multicultural Studies and GT History

AFS 101 Development of Black Identity

Addresses social conditions that led to formation of Black identity, including that of African American. Of special interest are Negro-to-Black conversion experiences, concepts of racism and racial subordination, plus the construction of racial identity.
3

Course Attribute

LAH1-History and LAMS-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 including initial capture, enslavement and emancipation - 1526 - 1865.
3

Course Attribute

LAH1-History and GT History

AFS 202 African American History II

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

Course Attribute

LAH1-History and GT History

AFS 205 Survey of African American Literature

Literature by African Americans is explored. Genres include political tracts, novels, speeches, essays, autobiographies, folk literature, biographies, poetry and drama from the early years of the United States through today.
3

Course Attribute

LAA2-Arts&Hum-Lit&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 395 Aspects of the African Experience in the World

This is an advanced variable-titled seminar that examines diverse topics in African/African diaspora/African American history and culture determined by the course subtitle.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall, Spring, and/or Summer - Check with department/school for next offering

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

Supervised field work on a community-based project related to issues in Africana Studies. Paper analyzing experience required. S/U graded.
1-4

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 4 credit hours

AFS 404 History of Blacks in Film

This course will evaluate the depictions of African Americans and other Blacks in cinema. Students will be expected to analyze those portrayals in historical, political 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 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

Special Notes

Maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

AFS 450 African American History, 1896-Present

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

AFS 456 The Black Church and Religious Traditions

Since the African American culture is not monolithic, the course will explore diverse perspectives on how religion and spirituality relate to the Black experience in cultural, political, and personal ways.
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 and AFS 104 and AFS 201 and AFS 202 with a minimum grade of D-)