Africana Studies (AFST)
101.
Swahili I.
(3)
(Also offered as SWAH 101)
Foundation course for all beginning students interested in reading or speaking the language.
{Offered upon demand}
102.
Swahili II.
(3)
(Also offered as SWAH 102)
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.
1110 [104].
Introduction to Africana Studies.
(3)
An interdisciplinary course that introduces students to the histories, cultures, and experiences of global people of African descent.
1120 [109].
Race in the Digital Age [Introduction to Comparative Global and Ethnic Societies].
(3)
The digital realm is comprised of storied sites such as commerce, employment, education, therapy, community, political expression, crime, and ideas. Technology has transformed the who, what, where, and why of how we define community and identity in the digital age. However, who you are and where you are still matters, despite the benefits of anonymity in cyberspace. This course will investigate the relevance of race, gender, class, identity, and the “cultural capital” that one can spend in our Digital Age economy. To this end, we will start with critical race scholar, Prof. Derrick Bell’s 1990 sci-fi influenced work which prophesied a 21st century “post-racial” American: entwining over two centuries of racial designations on an ever evolving economic marketplace. This course will approach our present “post-racial” moment as an exceptional period for developing new models for identity formation.
2110 [250].
African American History [Survey of African American History].
(3)
Survey of African-American history from the African past to the present. Themes covered are the African background, holocaust of enslavement, emancipation and reconstruction, Jim Crow, civil rights, Black power, and the post-industrial/post civil rights eras.
2140 [255].
Black Women in the African Diaspora [Black Women and the Diaspora].
(3)
This survey course reviews the contributions of Black women to the Black Diasporic story.
249.
Race and the Black Male.
(3)
This course explores the historical construction of Black Manhood in America. Students in this class will critically analyze the construction of Black male identity in America within the contexts of education, religion and mass incarceration.
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.
299.
Black Leadership.
(3)
A comparative study of major African-American leaders and their impact on race relations in the United States.
303.
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.
307.
African Diaspora in the Southwest [Blacks in the Southwest].
(3)
(Also offered as AMST 351)
A survey of the lives of Blacks in the American West (1528–1918).
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}
315.
Race and the Law.
(3)
Explores the historical and contemporary treatment of race in the United States by the courts and the legislature, and the construction of race as a concept and position of identity through the law.
317.
Civil Rights Movement.
(3)
This course surveys the Civil Rights Movement, focusing on legal decisions, events, and consequences of the era. Black radicalism, federal policies, world affairs, the role/impact of gender, and post-Civil Rights America will be explored.
322.
Africana Study Abroad.
(1-6 to a maximum of 9 Δ)
This course surveys the Civil Rights Movement, focusing on legal decisions, events, and consequences of the era. Black radicalism, federal policies, world affairs, the role/impact of gender, and post-Civil Rights America will be explored.
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.
333.
Black Political Theory.
(3)
Survey course of the literature and philosophy of the Black Diaspora.
335.
Sociology of Black Communities.
(3)
This course examines issues and introduces relevant sociological theories and concepts related to Black social life in America and Afro-Latin communities from a historical and contemporary frame of reference.
340.
Race and Globalization.
(3)
This course highlights the intersection and impact of race and globalization on people and communities worldwide and their resistance to the most oppressive consequences of economic, political, and cultural globalization.
345.
Foundations in Critical Race Theory.
(3)
This course interrogates theories related to race, racism, racial power, racialization, white supremacy and anti-black ideology.
360.
The Harlem Renaissance.
(3)
This course introduces the art, literature, and music of the Harlem Renaissance and the development of Black identity. The course will also review the historic roots of the Black Arts Movement and Hip Hop Culture.
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.
381.
African-American Literature II.
(3)
(Also offered as ENGL 366)
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.
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.
388.
Blacks in Latin America.
(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.
391.
Problems.
(1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)
395.
Education in Colonial Africa [Education and Colonial Africa].
(3)
A study of European education and its psychological, sociological and cultural impact on traditional African society.
{Fall, Spring}
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.
*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}
398.
Africana Philosophy and Methods.
(3)
This course draws upon significant philosophical ideas and methodological practices, which outline an Africana worldview.
399.
Race, Culture and Education.
(3)
Analysis of the different child-rearing practices and their effects on the academic performances of children. Analyzes the role of culture in education.
453.
African American Art.
(3)
(Also offered as ARTH 453 / 553)
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?
*495.
Topics in Africana Studies.
(1-3 to a maximum of 24 Δ)
Explorations of a variety of advanced topics in Africana Studies.
497.
Advanced Community Organizing.
(1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
This course serves as one of the possible capstone experiences for Africana Studies majors. Students engage in research and/or community projects.
498.
Research Seminar.
(3)
This course examines several types of research and mixed-methods as tools for understanding the role of theory, research, methods, and practice across disciplines related to Africana Studies.
