African American Studies Courses

 

Explore topics in African and African American studies

The following course list includes all options for this minor. The typical offerings listed for each course are estimates and subject to change. Work with your advisor when scheduling your classes each semester.

  • AAS 100 Introduction to African American Studies

    General Education Course (Focus on Humanities).

    The course provides a multidisciplinary introduction of the many dimensions of the African American experience, including the African heritage and diaspora, slavery and freedom, African American artistic and literary expression, and the problem of racism in American society.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Spring
  • ANT 330 Peoples and Cultures

    Anthropological study of a cultural region of the world (such as the Caribbean, Latin America, or Southeastern Indians), including environment, subsistence, technology, economy, social and political organization, and religion. Identical with AAS 330. Cannot receive credit for both ANT 330 and AAS 330. Variable content course. May be repeated when topic changes.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    1-3Upon demand
  • ANT 332 Peoples and Cultures of Africa

    An exploration of African societies (especially sub-Saharan), including family structure, gender relations, social and political organization, beliefs, economics, art, oral literature, music, dance, and other aspects of culture. Identical with AAS 333. Cannot receive credit for both ANT 332 and AAS 333.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • ANT 490 Field Experience in Anthropology

    Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

    Supervised group study and/or research in an off campus setting. A fee may be charged to cover travel expenses. Identical with AAS 490. Cannot receive credit for both ANT 490 and AAS 490. Variable content course. May be repeated when topic changes.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    1-6Upon demand
  • ART 273 Survey of the Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

    General Education Course (Focus on Humanities).

    A survey of the art and architecture produced by the cultures of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Spring
  • ART 488 Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts

    Prerequisite: ART 273 and permission of instructor.

    This course combines advanced art historical study and research of art and artifacts with a hands-on introduction to basic conservation techniques. Identical with MST 488. Cannot receive credit for both ART 488 and MST 488.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Upon demand
  • CRM 415 Difference and Diversity in Criminology

    Prerequisite: CRM 210 and CRM 250 and CRM 260 and CRM 270.

    Students will examine how identities, such as race, class, and gender, impact criminal offending, victimization, and professionalism in the criminal justice system. Students will be encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of cultural competency and will conduct academic research in an effort to develop an understanding of the social and criminal justice related factors that create challenges to achieving cultural diversity and the ethical treatment of diverse groups.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Spring
  • ENG 355 African American Literature

    Prerequisite: ENG 110.

    Survey of representative works of fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction in the context of social and cultural movements. Identical with AAS 355. Cannot receive credit for both ENG 355 and AAS 355.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring
  • ENG 363 Introduction to African Literature

    Prerequisite: ENG 110.

    Survey of representative works of fiction, poetry, drama, folklore, personal narratives, and essays from various countries on the African continent written in or translated into English. Identical with AAS 363. Cannot receive credit for both ENG 363 and AAS 363.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • ENG 455 African American Drama

    Prerequisite: ENG 110.

    Study of African American drama from the antebellum period to the present, with emphasis on the intersections of dramatic art and such social and cultural movements as abolitionism, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Black Arts Movement. Identical with AAS 455. Cannot receive credit for both ENG 455 and AAS 455.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • GRY 507 Geography of Subsaharan Africa

    An in-depth geographic study of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Surveys physical and political geography, climate, tribalism, religion, demography, natural resources, transportation, industry and economic activities of African states South of the Sahara. Students are required to complete one research project. May be taught concurrently with GRY 607. Cannot receive credit for both GRY 507 and GRY 607.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 323 Women in Africa

    Recommended Prerequisite: HST 103 or 104. This course will introduce students to women's participation in Africa's history and contemporary issues. The readings cover a broad geographical range of North, West, Central and Southern Africa. The course will include five topics: Women and the Family; Women, Politics, and Economics; Religious Women; Women in Colonial Rebellion; and Women and National Revolutions. Identical with AAS 323. Cannot receive credit for both HST 323 and AAS 323.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 331 African American History I

    Recommended Prerequisite: HST 121 or AAS 100. Survey of the experiences of Americans of African descent to 1865. Emphasis on African heritage; African-American contributions and institutions; slavery and quasi-freedom. Identical with AAS 331. Cannot receive credit for both HST 331 and AAS 331.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 332 African American History II

    Recommended Prerequisite: HST 122 or AAS 100. Continuation of HST 331, 1865-present. Emphasis on the struggles for racial justice; protest organizations, philosophies and tactics. Identical with AAS 332. Cannot receive credit for both HST 332 and AAS 332.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 334 Conflict and Peace Building in Africa

    Recommended Prerequisite: HST 103 or HST 104 or HST 121 or AAS 100. This course examines the historical roots, dimensions, and causes of conflict in Africa. Thematically organized to capture developments across the different regions in the continent, the course offers critical insights into the preponderance of conflict in Africa since the Cold War. In addition, the course explores the various ways through which Africans, its partners, and international organizations have fostered peace and conflict resolution in Africa over the years. Identical with AAS 334. Cannot receive credit for both HST 334 and AAS 334.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 335 African Civilization

    Recommended Prerequisite: HST 103 or 104. Historical developments in Africa from antiquity to the present. Emphasis on south Saharan Africa for the period before European contact. Topics in modern nationalism and independence. Africa in the context of world history. Identical with AAS 335. Cannot receive credit for both HST 335 and AAS 335.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 338 Sources and Methods in African History

    This course deals with knowledge generation, production, and dissemination about Africa and its peoples. It traces the origin, progress, and current state of scholarship on Africa and about Africans. It is about writing and understanding Africa and its history. It examines the kind of history that has been written about events in Africa. In other words, it is concerned with the study of and nature of history in Africa. Given this basic disposition, the course is a reflection on history in Africa as a discipline and the problems involved in the writing of African history globally. Identical with AAS 338. Cannot receive credit for both HST 338 and AAS 338.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 339 Africa and the Wider World

    Recommended Prerequisite: HST 103 or HST 104 or HST 121 or AAS 100. This course traces the history of Africa from the slave trade to independence. The course is thematically organized to capture developments across the different regions in the continent; and offers critical insights into the place of Africa in world history, especially in relations to and with global developments. As a survey course, the course offers insights into the different regions, paying particular attention to cultural, economic and political changes. Identical with AAS 339. Cannot receive credit for both HST 339 and AAS 339.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • HST 531 African American Leaders and Movements

    Prerequisite: 50 hours.

    Study of African American leaders and movements in the United States, with emphasis on the period since World War II. Identical with AAS 531. Cannot receive credit for both HST 531 and AAS 531. May be taught concurrently with HST 631. Cannot receive credit for both HST 531 and HST 631.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • PLS 550 Modern African Politics

    Prerequisite: PLS 101.

    Recommended Prerequisite: 50 hours. A comparative study of the political and economic systems of contemporary Africa with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. Ideologies and strategies pursued by selected African governments are covered, including an assessment of contemporary economic, political, and strategic ties within the region and internationally. The class will emphasize such areas as Mauritania, Senegal, Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria, and South Africa. Identical with AAS 550. Cannot receive credit for both PLS 550 and AAS 550. May be taught concurrently with PLS 650. Cannot receive credit for both PLS 650 and PLS 550.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall
  • REL 345 African American Religious Experience

    Recommended Prerequisite: REL 131. Explores the establishment and maintenance of African American religious institutions, particularly the Black Churches and their future development. Identical with AAS 346. Cannot receive credit for both REL 345 and AAS 346.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • SOC 336 Race and Ethnicity

    This course explores the social construction of race and ethnicity. Issues of differential power between racial and ethnic groups and the economic, political, and social structures which are utilized to maintain these power differences are identified. Social movements and social policies designed to address social inequality, prejudice and discrimination are also examined. Identical with AAS 336. Cannot receive credit for both SOC 336 and AAS 336.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • SWK 219 Human Diversity

    General Education Course (Focus on Cultural Competence).

    Content and skill development pertinent to working with diverse racial, cultural, ethnic, and other populations such as persons with physical disabilities and mental illnesses. This course is designed primarily to inform and sensitize individuals for effective interventions within a heterogeneous society. A C grade or better is required for admission to the BSW program.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Spring