Africana Studies is an interdisciplinary major degree-granting program which provides to the University community the African-American perspective to issues relevant to the education of all people, especially African Americans, for the 21st century. Some of the program courses are cross-listed with Political Science, Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies, American Studies, English, Communication and Journalism and other departments. All of these courses may be taken toward a degree, substitutes for required courses may be made with prior approval of the student’s major department, or as electives.
The Charlie Morrisey Research Hall is a repository of documents including photographs, rare books and artifacts documenting the presence of Africans and African-Americans in New Mexico in particular and the Southwest in general. Presently, the Hall has more than 4,000 photographs, books and other documents.
The CMR Hall also organizes public lectures and panel discussions. These lectures and panels address the presence and contributions of Africans and African-Americans to the Southwest. Periodically, the CMR Hall organizes major exhibitions of its rare photographs and other artifacts. Interested organizations may request rental of the Hall’s traveling exhibition of The Charlie Morrisey collections of rare photographs and artifacts.
The “African Field History Experience” Project was established in 2000. The Project subscribes to the holistic approach to education. Its main goal is to bridge the gap between the intellectual encounter with Africana Studies courses and the experiential. Therefore, students will participate in a 2-3 week educational excursion and research experience in an African Community. Students earn 3-6 undergraduate or graduate credits.
Courses
AFST 101.
Swahili I.
(3)
Foundation course for all beginning students interested in reading or speaking the language.
{Offered upon demand}
AFST 102.
Swahili II.
(3)
This course builds directly upon AFST 101, and is designed to bring the students beyond a novice-intermediate or intermediate level of competence.
Prerequisite: 101
AFST 103.
Foundation of Africana Studies.
(3)
An exploration of the philosophical basis for the creation and the existence of African-American Studies program.
{Fall, Spring}
AFST 106.
Elementary Arabic I.
(3)
(Also offered as ARAB 101)
A course in elementary modern standard Arabic.
AFST 107.
Elementary Arabic II.
(3)
(Also offered as ARAB 102)
A course for those with very minimal exposure to modern Arabic Language.
AFST 115.
Communication Across Cultures.
(3)
(Also offered as CJ 115)
An introduction to communication among people from different cultural backgrounds, emphasizing intercultural relations. The class seeks to identify, honor and enhance the strengths of different cultural perspectives.
AFST 206.
Intermediate Arabic I.
(1)
(Also offered as ARAB 201)
The course covers the writing system, phonology, vocabulary, morphology and syntax structures of the Arabic language. Students will attend language laboratory to enhance their listening, comprehension and pronunciation skills.
Prerequisite: 106 and 107
Restriction: permission of instructor
AFST 207.
Intermediate Arabic II.
(3)
(Also offered as ARAB 202)
The course increases student’s reading, writing and speaking skills in Arabic including student’s knowledge of the writing system, the phonology, the vocabulary, the morphology and the syntax structures of the language. Language laboratory requirement is optional.
Prerequisite: 206
Restriction: permission of instructor
AFST 250.
Black Woman.
(3)
(Also offered as WMST 250)
A comprehensive survey of the role the Black woman has played in the society of the United States. Emphasis will be placed on achievements and contributions.
{Fall}
AFST 251.
African-American Literature I.
(3)
(Also offered as ENGL 281)
The course introduces students to the African American classics of the slavery era. Daily experiences of the characters in these books become the basis for discussing race, class, gender, revolt, freedom, peace and humanity.
AFST 280.
African-American Culture.
(3)
(Also offered as AMST 250)
An analysis of the political, economic, religious and familial organization of African-American communities in the United States.
AFST 284.
African-American History I.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 284)
A comprehensive survey of the story of African-Americans from pre-European days in Africa to the Civil War, U.S.
AFST 285.
African-American History II.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 285)
This course will explore each of the major historical events, Black leaders of those times and their influence on the social and political advancement of African-American from the Civil War to the present.
Restriction: permission of instructor
AFST 297.
Interdisciplinary Topics.
(1-3)
Special topic courses in specialized areas of African-American Studies. Community Economic Development; Race and American Law; Culture and Personality.
AFST 299.
Black Leaders in the U.S..
(3)
A comparative study of major African-American leaders and their impact on race relations in the United States.
AFST 301.
Advanced Arabic I.
(3)
(Also offered as ARAB 301)
Improves functional use of Arabic language and culture. Class is for students with four years of Arabic study or for heritage speakers. Students will attend language laboratory to enhance their listening, comprehension, and pronunciation skills.
AFST 303.
Introduction to Black Liberation and Religion.
(3)
(Also offered as RELG 303)
Students will be introduced to the Black experience, which necessitates the redefinition of God and Jesus Christ in the lives of Black people as the struggle for transcendental and political freedom.
AFST 307.
Blacks in the U.S. West.
(3)
(Also offered as AMST 351)
A survey of the lives of Blacks in the American West (1528–1918).
AFST 309.
Black Politics.
(3)
(Also offered as POLS 309)
A study of the history and diverse educational and political maturation processes of elected American officials and functions of the political process.
{Fall}
AFST 318.
Civil Rights Politics and Legislation.
(3)
(Also offered as POLS 318)
An analysis of the dynamics of the major events, issues and actors in the civil rights movement (and legislations) in view of the theories of U.S. politics.
Prerequisite: 103
AFST 320.
Arabic Study Abroad.
(1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
(Also offered as ARAB 320)
An introduction to Arabic cultures and language through study abroad. Course locations vary according to course content.
AFST 329.
Introduction to African Politics.
(3)
(Also offered as POLS 329)
An introductory course in the volatile politics in Africa. The various ideologies that underlie political movements and influence African governments will be explored.
AFST 333.
Black Political Theory.
(3)
Survey course of the literature and philosophy of the Black Diaspora.
AFST 380.
African Literature.
(3)
An analytical look at the works of major African writers and their usage of African symbols to portray Africa of the past, present and the future.
AFST 381.
African-American Literature II.
(3)
(Also offered as ENGL 381)
This is the second phase of a three-part journey through the African-American experience in search of humanity and peace. The vehicle is post-slavery books written by and about African-American people. Issues raised and the characters in the books provide the occasion for in-depth discussion of inhumanity, protests, self definition, race relationships, liberalism, etc.
AFST 385.
The African World.
(3)
An interdisciplinary introduction to the study of Africa; its political and economic geographies; its traditional and new societies; and its politics in global perspectives.
AFST 386.
Peoples and Cultures of the Circum-Caribbean.
(3)
(Also offered as ANTH 387)
Outlines the sociocultural transformation of the region since 1492. Emphasis upon cultural legacies of, and resistance, to colonialism, the Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic heritages, and the contemporary trans-nationalization of island identities.
AFST 388.
Blacks in Latin America I.
(3)
A comprehensive analysis of the plight of Black people in Latin America as compared with their experiences in North America, from the 15th to 19th century.
AFST 391.
Problems.
(1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)
AFST 392.
Black Liberation and Religion.
(3)
(Also offered as RELG 392)
Introduction to some traditional western religious schools of thought as a basis for intensive examination of the works of prominent Black liberation theologians.
AFST 395.
Education and Colonial West Africa.
(3)
A study of European education and its psychological, sociological and cultural impact on traditional African society.
{Fall, Spring}
AFST 396.
Emancipation and Equality.
(3)
The course examines the ending of and aftermath of slavery focusing on Silversmith’s The First Emancipation and also the general emancipation of the Civil War era.
AFST *397.
Interdisciplinary Topics.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
Special topic courses in specialized areas of African-American Studies. African-American Literature; Sociopolitics: Africa; Politics of Southern Africa; Black Books III, Education and African-American Education and Free Society.
{Fall, Spring}
AFST 399.
Culture and Education.
(3)
(Also offered as LLSS 424)
Analysis of the different child-rearing practices and their effects on the academic performances of children. Analyzes the role of culture in education.
AFST 453.
African American Art.
(3)
(Also offered as ARTH 453)
This class provides an overview of African American artists and contextualizes their creativity within the wider framework of U.S. art. What, for example, are the benefits and pitfalls of assigning race to any creative practice?
AFST *490.
Black Liberation and Religion.
(3)
(Also offered as RELG 490)
Introduction to some traditional western religious schools of thought as a basis for intensive examination of the works of prominent Black liberation theologians.
AFST *491.
African-American Religious Traditions.
(3)
(Also offered as RELG 491)
This course will examine the bipolarity of religion in African-American history, showing how Black religion in the U.S. has served as an institution both for acculturation and also for self and cultural assertion.
