Undergraduate Programs
The Africana Studies (AFRS) major is a multidisciplinary academic major (45 units) designed for students who wish to gain an understanding of the history, psychology, sociology, literature, culture and education of African Americans and other Africans in the diaspora and the continent.
There are two components to the Africana Studies Major:
- The completion of the core requirements (21 units)
- The completion of one of three specific options (24 units). For each of the options, there are specific Lower and Upper Division core courses and electives that are relevant to that concentration. All students who major in Africana Studies must select one of the three options, each of which is designed to prepare students for graduate study or for a career of their choice. The three specific options within the major enable students to concentrate their efforts on certain aspects of this broad subject.
(45 Units)
Core Requirements for all Options: (21 Units)
- AFRS 100 Introduction to Black Studies and Culture (3)
- AFRS 168 Introduction to the African Diaspora (3)
- AFRS 201 Economics of the African American Community I (3)
- AFRS 220 Psychological Environment of the African American (3)
or AFRS 221 Social Environment of the African American (3) - AFRS 245 African American Literature Since 1930 (3)
or AFRS 252 Popular Culture and the Black World (3) - AFRS 271 African American History to 1865 (3)
- AFRS 272 African American History Since 1865 (3)
Required Courses in Option 1 (21 Units)
- AFRS 301 (3) Economics of the African American Community II
- AFRS 320 (3) African American Personality Development OR AFRS 322 (3) African American Family
- AFRS 350 (3) Advanced Writing
- AFRS 361 (3) African American Politics
- AFRS 392A-Z (3) Fieldwork in the African American Community OR AFRS 486SOC (3) Social Science Career Internship
- AFRS 398 (3) Research Methods and Paradigms in Pan African Studies
- AFRS 498 (3) Proseminar in Pan African Studies
Electives (3 Units) Select from the following:
- AFRS 161 (3) American Political Institutions: A Black Perspective
- AFRS 165 (3) Introduction to Pan Africanism
- AFRS 311 (3) Black Psychology
- AFRS 367 (3) African American Social Movements
- AFRS 466A (3) The United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, and Africa
- AFRS 466B (3) Model Organization of African Unity Practicum
- AFRS 488 (3) Sustainability and Environmental Justice in African and Diaspora Communities
- AFRS 490 (3) Statistical Research and Methods in Pan African Studies
(45 Units)
Core Requirements for all Options: (21 Units)
- AFRS 100 Introduction to Black Studies and Culture (3)
- AFRS 168 Introduction to the African Diaspora (3)
- AFRS 201 Economics of the African American Community I (3)
- AFRS 220 Psychological Environment of the African American (3)
or AFRS 221 Social Environment of the African American (3) - AFRS 245 African American Literature Since 1930 (3)
or AFRS 252 Popular Culture and the Black World (3) - AFRS 271 African American History to 1865 (3)
- AFRS 272 African American History Since 1865 (3)
Required Courses in Option 2 (18 Units)
- AFRS 226 Traditional African Cultures (3)
- AFRS 332 African American Music I (3)
or AFRS 346 Contemporary Black Female Writers (3) - AFRS 344 Literature of the Caribbean and African Experience (3)
or AFRS 451 Mass Communication in the African American Community (3) - AFRS 350 Advanced Writing (3)
- AFRS 366 Colonialism in Africa (3)
or AFRS 382 Traditional Religions of Africa (3) - AFRS 498 Proseminar in Pan African Studies (3)
Complete 6 units from either the Humanities or Cultural Studies Track
Humanities Track Electives (6 units)
Select two courses from the following:
- AFRS 244 African American Literature to 1930 (3)
- AFRS 246 Introduction to African American Drama (3)
- AFRS 280 Workshop in Creative Writing for Minority Students (3)
- AFRS 331/L African American Religious Music: History, Literature and Gospel/Lab (2/1)
- AFRS 333 Coltrane (3)
- AFRS 337 Black Images on the Silver Screen (3)
- AFRS 345 African American Autobiography (3)
- AFRS 447 African American Theatre (3)
Cultural Track Electives (6 units)
Select two courses from the following:
- AFRS 171 Classical African Civilization (3)
- AFRS 274 History of Caribbean Societies Since the 1830s (3)
- AFRS 282 African Religion in the New World (3)
- AFRS 355 Black World News Practicum (3)
- AFRS 368 Politics of Hip Hop (3)
- AFRS 376 African Enslavement in the New World (3)
(45 Units)
Core Requirements for all Options: (21 Units)
- AFRS 100 Introduction to Black Studies and Culture (3)
- AFRS 168 Introduction to the African Diaspora (3)
- AFRS 201 Economics of the African American Community I (3)
- AFRS 220 Psychological Environment of the African American (3)
or AFRS 221 Social Environment of the African American (3) - AFRS 245 African American Literature Since 1930 (3)
or AFRS 252 Popular Culture and the Black World (3) - AFRS 271 African American History to 1865 (3)
- AFRS 272 African American History Since 1865 (3)
Required Courses in Option 3 (18 Units)
- AFRS 350 Advanced Writing (3)
- AFRS 391 Psychological Foundations of Education (Elementary) (3)
or AFRS 392 Sociological Foundations of Education (Elementary) (3) - AFRS 397 Urban Education and Policy in Africa & the African Diaspora (3)
- AFRS 417 Equity and Diversity in Schools (3)
- AFRS 420 The Black Child (3)
or AFRS 421 Strategies for Black Child Development (3) - AFRS 498 Proseminar in Pan African Studies (3)
Electives (6 Units)
Select two courses from the following:
- AFRS 300 Contemporary Issues in the African American Community (3)
- AFRS 324 The Black Woman in Contemporary Times (3)
- AFRS 325 The Black Man in Contemporary Times (3)
- AFRS 395 Bilingualism in the African American Community (3)
- AFRS 488 Sustainability and Environmental Justice in the African and African Diaspora Communities (3)