The Minor in Africana Studies

The minor in Africana studies aims to provide students with a broad yet selective exposure to the study of people of African descent on the continent of Africa and in the African diaspora. Students work with advisors to construct an individualized program of study which values the following:

• An anti-essentialist—or diverse—perspective: students learn about many Black identities and worldviews, rather than one “Black culture.”
• A rigorous methodological perspective: students learn to interpret specific historical and cultural evidence.
• An interdisciplinary perspective: students learn from different scholarly viewpoints.
• An intercultural perspective: students learn about how different cultures mix in Africa and the African diaspora.

Students take courses that engage four key interdisciplinary themes:

I. History 

II. Politics (including political theory and peace studies)

III. Cultural and Social Evidence (including anthropology, sociology, philosophy, religion, education, interdisciplinary studies, and intercultural studies)

IV. Expressive Discourses (including literature, fine arts, dance, theater, music, and other arts)

A student who elects to minor in Africana studies is required to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours in the following manner:

Students must complete one core course entitled “Introduction to Africana Studies” (AFR 200).

Students must complete one 300-level course (from the choices listed below).

Students must complete four 100- or 200-level courses, one from each of the four key interdisciplinary themes. Of these four courses, only one may be a 100-level course.

Some aspects of the program of study may change.