African American Studies Major
Coordinator:
Edwins Gwako, Associate Professor, Chair
African American Studies celebrates the achievements of Africans and peoples of African descent throughout the Diaspora while addressing their pursuit of justice, equality, and self-determination. The major focuses on North America while encompassing Africa, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world. It seeks to develop greater respect for scholarship as a tool for problem-solving and to prepare students to become agents of change who will pursue social justice and promote an appreciation of racial and cultural differences in the United States and the wider world.
Courses are taught from different disciplinary and philosophical perspectives, and students are encouraged to examine their own values and develop their own perspectives. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Study Abroad semester in Ghana and to get involved in the local Greensboro community through internships and service projects. African American Studies helps prepare students for a wide range of careers in such fields as human relations, social work, sports management, health care, criminal justice, education, management, and law and lays a foundation for graduate studies in the field.
Degrees Offered
The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in African American studies.
Major Requirements
African American Studies is an interdisciplinary major that requires students to have a second major in a discipline and an advisor in both the disciplinary major and African American Studies. The major requires at least eight courses (32 credit hours). No more than two of these courses may be at the 100 level. Other requirements are as follows:
1. Historical Dimensions: one course |
4 credits |
HIST 225 African American History |
|
2. Creative Voices: one course |
4 credits |
ENGL 230 African American Literature |
|
ENGL 331 Black Women Writers |
|
ENGL 332 Black Men Writers |
|
3. Theoretical Frameworks: one course |
4 credits |
PSCI 222 African Government and Politics |
|
PSY 242 Psychology of African Americans |
|
PSY 349 Multiculturalism and Psychology |
|
SOAN 265 Racial and Ethnic Relations |
|
4. African Connections: one course |
4 credits |
ENGL 334 African Women Writers |
|
HIST 241 Africa before 1800 |
|
HIST 242 Africa since 1800 |
|
HIST 343 Women in Modern Africa |
|
SOAN 235 African Families in Transition |
|
SOAN 325 Underestanding Poverty |
|
SOAN 358 African Cultures in Film |
|
SOAN 415 Gender and Development in Africa |
|
5-6.Two courses from: |
8 credits |
MUS 110 Jazz Appreciation |
|
ENGL 151 HP:Black Women's History and Literature |
|
ENGL 230 African American Literature |
|
ENGL 331 Black Women Writers |
|
ENGL 332 Black Men Writers |
|
ENGL 334 African Women Writers |
|
ENGL 338/IDS 422 Harlem Renaissance |
|
ENGL 378 Caribbean Literature |
|
HIST 241 Africa before 1800 |
|
HIST 242 Africa since 1800 |
|
HIST 308 The Underground Railroad |
|
HIST 315 The Civil Rights Movement |
|
HIST 343 Women in Modern Africa |
|
JPS 365 Race in Criminal Justice |
|
JPS 439 Understanding Oppressive Systems |
|
PHIL 261 Philosophy and Race |
|
PSY 242 Psychology of African Americans |
|
PSY 213/SOAN 213 Class, Race and Gender |
|
PSY 349 Multiculturalism and Psychology |
|
REL 103 Voices of Liberation |
|
SOAN 215 Anthropology of Slavery |
|
SOAN 235 African Families in Transition |
|
SOAN 265 Racial and Ethnic Relations |
|
SOAN 325 Underestanding Poverty |
|
SOAN 358 African Cultures in Film |
|
SOAN 415 Gender and Development in Africa |
|
SPST 111/THEA104 Jazz Dance |
|
7. One course from: |
4 credits |
ENGL 230 African American Literature |
|
ENGL 331 Black Women Writers |
|
ENGL 332 Black Men Writers |
|
ENGL 338/IDS 422 Harlem Renaissance |
|
ENGL 378 Caribbean Literature |
|
HIST 308 The Underground Railroad |
|
HIST 315 The Civil Rights Movement |
|
JPS 365 Race and Criminal Justice |
|
JPS 439 Understanding Oppressive Systems |
|
PHIL 261 Philosophy and Race |
|
PSY 213/SOAN 213 Class, Race and Gender |
|
PSY 242 Psychology of African Americans |
|
PSY 349 Multiculturalism and Psychology |
|
SOAN 215 Anthropology of Slavery |
|
SOAN 265 Racial and Ethnic Relations |
|
SOAN 325 Underestanding Poverty |
|
SOAN 415 Gender and Development in Africa |
|
8. Practical Applications: A one-semester advanced internship or independent study in the senior year, supervised by a faculty member teaching regularly in the African American studies program. One course from: |
4 credits |
AFAS, ENGL, HIST, JPS, PHIL, PSY, SOAN 260, 360, 460, 290, 390 Independent Study/Internship |
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Total credit hours required for A.B. degree in African American studies |
32 credits |