Africana Studies, Minor

Africana Studies is a major and minor in the College of Arts and Sciences designed for students to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to study by taking courses in a variety of disciplines. It provides studies of the historical, cultural, literary, and artistic aspects of people of African descent worldwide. The arts and humanities focus of this major and minor will help prepare students to effectively negotiate in a world that increasingly requires the crossing of racial, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries in knowledge and vocational pursuits. Various career and graduate studies opportunities are available for students completing this major and minor; these include social sciences, humanities, law, education, ethnic and women’s studies, government, policy studies, international relations, diplomatic service, non-profit organizations, and public agencies. Students who plan for a dual degree expand their career and graduate studies opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Africana Studies are expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural nature of Africana Studies;
• Show significant improvement in their organizational and critical analysis skills through research and writings;
• Exhibit familiarity with the creativity and diversity that exist among Africana peoples worldwide;
• Demonstrate ability to utilize interdisciplinary approaches used in, and the range of literatures derived from, scholarly research in the field of Africana Studies;
• Ability to critically analyze social and cultural issues pertinent to Africana peoples from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives;
• Able to understand and apply concepts of African continuity, unity, transformation and Diasporic identity when analyzing cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora.