PROGRAMS

Major | Minor/ BIS | Certificate | Graduate Certificate

The African and African American Studies program offers an interdisciplinary examination of the many ways in which African and African-descended peoples have created robust lives for themselves and, in turn, contributed to the creation of the modern world.  The program’s mission is advanced by its core undergraduate curriculum and certificate and minor programs that examine the culture, arts, history, politics, economics, and current status of African Americans, Africans, and the African Diaspora, especially in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.  The curriculum combines a research-based understanding of the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and the arts with practical applications (internships, community/civic engagement, and research projects) to prepare students for lifelong learning, advanced study in a variety of fields, and successful careers and productive public service in an increasingly diverse society, especially in Arizona.

AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES–BA

Course Requirements
The major in African and African American Studies (AAAS) requires 45 semester hours of course work.  A minimum of 30 semester hours must be AFH, AFR, and AFS courses.  The remaining course work must be in a related field approved by an AAAS advisor.  All students in the major are required to take the following 15 semester hours of core courses:

AFH 300 Pre-colonial Africa (3)
AFS 200 Introduction to African and African Diaspora Studies (3)
AFS 301 Race and Racism in Africa/African Diaspora (3)
AFS 318 African and African Diaspora Women Writers (3)
AFS 484 Field Experience/ Internship (3) or AFS 498 Pro-Seminar (3)

Regional Emphasis Area
In addition to the 15-semester-hour core curriculum, students in the AAAS program may choose a 15-semester-hour regional emphasis area in Africa, Caribbean and Afro-Latin America, or African America.  The courses that satisfy the requirements for each regional emphasis area are grouped thematically (History; Governance and Politics; Family, Health, Gender, and Society; and Culture and Literature) to provide students a variety of choices to satisfy their academic interests.

Africa Emphasis Area Requirements
Students who opt for the Africa regional emphasis area must take the following courses:
           
AFS 355 Democracy and Civil Society in Africa (3)
AFS 340 The Making of Modern Africa (3)
Related Courses * (9)
Total 15

*Six semester hours of Africa-related courses (i.e., 50 percent or more Africa content) at the 300 level and three semester hours of courses at the 400 level are required. At least nine of the 15 hours in this emphasis area must be completed at ASU.

Caribbean and Afro-Latin American Emphasis Area Requirements
 Students who opt for the Caribbean and Afro-Latin America regional emphasis area must take the following courses:

AFS 304 Islands of Globalization (3) or AFH 319 Black Experience in Latin American (3)
AFS 345 The Making of the Caribbean Society (3)
Related courses* (9)
Total 15

*Six semester hours of Caribbean and Afro-Latin American-related courses (i.e., 50 percent or more Caribbean and Afro-Latin American content) at the 300 level and three semester hours of courses at the 400 level are required.  At least nine of the 15 semester hours in this emphasis area must be completed at ASU.

African America Emphasis Area Requirements
Students who opt for the African America regional emphasis area must take the following courses:

AFR 210 Introduction to African American Studies C (3)
AFS 363 African American History to 1865 SB, C, H (3) or AFH 364 African American History Since 1865 SB, C, H (3)
Related courses*
Total 15

*Six semester hours of African American-related courses (i.e. 50 percent or more African American content) at the 300 level and three semester hours of courses at the 400 level are required. At least nine of the 15 semester hours in this emphasis area must be completed at ASU.

Thematic Emphasis Area
Students in the African and African American Studies program may also opt for a 15-semester-hour thematic emphasis area by taking the following courses:
AFH 305 The Global History of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (3); or
AFS 415 Black Political Thought and the Limits of Liberal Democracy (3)
Related courses*
Total 15

*Twelve semester hours of courses chosen from at least three thematic areas listed below; or from other African and African American Studies-related courses (i.e. 50 percent or more thematic content) at the 300 and 400 levels are required.  At least nine of the 15 semester hours in this emphasis must be completed at ASU.

History
AFH 300 Pre-colonial Africa (3)
AFH 305 The Global History of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (3)
AFH 319 Black Experience in Latin America (3)
AFH 465 Harlem Renaissance: A Cultural History: 1877-1945 (3)
AFS 340 The Making of Modern Africa (3)
AFS 345 The Making of the Caribbean Society (3)
AFS 363 African American History to 1865 SB, C, H (3)
AFS 364 African American History since 1865 SB, G, H (3)
AFS 366 African Archaeology: Pre-colonial Urban Culture SB, C, H (3)
AFS 466 Peoples and Cultures of Africa SB, G, H (3)

Governance and Politics
AFR 210 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
AFS 200 Introduction to African and African Diaspora Studies (3)
AFS 301 Race and Racism in Africa/African Diaspora (3)
AFS 304 Islands of Globalization: Caribbean Political Economy 93)
AFS 320 Africa: Politics, Environment, and Development (3)
AFS 327 Human Rights in Africa (3)
AFS 355 Democracy and Civil Society in Africa (3)

Culture and Literature
AFH 303 African and African American Art (3)
AFH 318 African and African Diaspora Women Writers (3)
AFH 331 Studies in African American Women Writers of Pre-Harlem Renaissance (3)
AFH 333 American Ethnic Literature L/HU, C (3)
AFH 335 Survey of African Literatures (3)
AFH 353 African American Literature: Beginnings Through the Harlem RenaissanceL/HU, C (3)
AFH 354 African American Literature: Harlem Renaissance to the Present (3)
AFH 459 Studies in African American/Caribbean Literatures L (3)

Gender, Family, and Society
AFR 375 Race, Gender, and Sport SB, C (3)
AFR 428 Critical Race Theory (3)
AFR 460 Race, Gender, and Media  C (3)
AFS 312 Contemporary African And African Diaspora Women (3)
AFS 360 Black Families in the Diaspora: U.S. and Caribbean (3)
AFS 370 Family, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity SB, C  (3)

Of the remaining course work, 15 hours may be taken in related area courses (i.e., non-African and African American Studies programs prefixes with at least 50 percent African, Caribbean, and Afro-Latin American, or African American content) in consultation with the AAAS advisor and/or director.

Students are expected to fulfill the college’s language requirement in African languages or any of the languages spoken by the African Diaspora, such as Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

CERTIFICATE IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

Course Requirements
The certificate requires 24 semester hours. Fifteen core hours must be taken from the following courses:

AFH 353 African American Literature: Beginnings Through the Harlem RenaissanceL/HU, C  (3); or
AFH 354 African American Literature: Harlem Renaissance to the present L/HU, C (3)
AFR 210 Introduction to African American Studies C (3)
AFR 429 African American Studies Theory and Methods (3)
AFS 363 African American History to 1865 SB, C, H  (3)
AFS 365 African American History since 1865 SB, C, H (3)

In addition, one course from each of the three concentrations (i.e., social and behavioral sciences, humanities/arts, politics and society) must be taken.  These courses are in addition to the required core courses.  Courses should be selected in consultation with the major advisor.

MINOR IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERIAN STUDIES

Course Requirements
The minor requires 18 semester hours. All African and African American Studies minors must take the following six core hours.

AFH 300 Pre-colonial Africa (3)
AFS 200 Introduction to African and African Diaspora Studies (3)
Choose one of the following regional courses (3)
            AFH 319 Black Experience in Latin American (3)
            AFR 210 Introduction to African American Studies C (3)
            AFS 340 The Making of Modern Africa (3)
            AFS 355 Democracy and Civil Society in Africa (3)
Related courses* (9)
Total 18

*Nine semester hours are required, with one 300 or 400 level course from each of the following thematic areas: Culture and Literature; Politics and Governance; and Family, Gender, and Society.  At least 50 percent of the course content (which may or may not be AFH or AFS) must deal with African peoples inside and outside the African continent.  At least nine of the 18 semester hours in this certificate must be completed at ASU.

BIS CONCENTRATION
A concentration in African and African American Studies is available under the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree, a program intended for the student who has academic interests that might not be satisfies with existing majors.  Building on two academic concentrations (or one double concentration) and an interdisciplinary core, students in the BIS program take active roles in creating their educational plans and defining their career goals.  For more information, see the School of Interdisciplinary Studies.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

The graduate certificate in African & African Diaspora Studies is open to students who are already enrolled in a graduate discipline and want to take courses in African and African Diaspora Studies to complement their graduate studies or to enhance their career interest. Courses are offered in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Health. The program will offer opportunities to former or aspiring members of the Peace Corps in Africa or its Diaspora who may need the certificate in order to attain a better knowledge and qualification about areas and cultures where they have lived or plan to live. Teachers, especially K-12, requiring an advanced diploma in diversity education or competence in the teaching of African and African American studies will find this program very attractive.

Certificate Requirements

18 hours of course work including one core course (3 hours), three courses (9 hours) from the concentrations, one elective course (3 hours), and a capstone project (3 hours)

Selected Course Offerings

AFH 465/ 598: The Harlem Renaissance- African American Cultural History
AFH494/ 598: Blacks in the Military
AFH 494/ 598: Special Topics in African Health.

AFR 466/ 598: Peoples and Cultures of Africa
AFR 500: Africa and the African Diaspora World
AFR 508: Colonial Rule and the African Experience
AFR 525: Foundation of Caribbean Studies
AFR 526: Selected Topics in Caribbean Politics
AFR 594: Women’s International Human Rights

AFS 494/598: Archaeology of African Diaspora
AFS 494: African in the Atlantic World
AFS 598: Islam and the Black American
AFS 598: Islam and World Affairs