Academic Advising Resource Center

Africana Studies

Why take courses in Africana Studies?

The Africana Studies Department continues to be at the forefront of academic engagement with the history, cultures, politics, and experiences of African-descended peoples. Students explore key aspects of Black life in Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, and the Americas.

What kinds of questions does Africana Studies explore?

  • What are the key aspects of Black history, culture, and life in Africa and the Americas? 

  • How does African Cosmology (the conception of the origin and nature of the universe) help frame the understanding of Traditional African religions (TAR) and their practices as they have emerged in the history of the African continent? 
  • What are the impacts of the emergence of Afrofuturism in 1992 and how does it apply to Black Speculative Fiction in the 20th and 21st centuries?

 

What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Africana Studies?

The field is multidisciplinary, allowing students to explore their personal interests through many related courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Taking Courses

Courses for non-majors or general interest

  • AAST 101 or any other 100-level AAST course.

Getting started in the major

Students interested in taking courses can start with 100-level AAST courses. Students who have completed AAST 101 and are interested in pursuing the major should begin exploring AAST content courses.

    Advanced Placement Credit 

    Africana Studies does not accept Advanced Placement (AP) credit toward the major requirements. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores. 

    Majoring in Africana Studies

    Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.

    Sample Four-Year Plans
      Fall Spring
    Y1 AAST 1XX AAST 101
    AAST 1XX
    Y2 AAST 2XX AAST 3XX
    Y3 Study Away AAST 350
    Y4 AAST 450
    AAST 2XX    		 AAST 2XX
      Fall Spring
    Y1    
    Y2 AAST 101 AAST 1XX
    AAST 2XX
    Y3 AAST 1XX
    AAST 2XX    		 AAST 3XX
    AAST 2XX
    Y4 AAST 450 AAST 3XX
    AAST 2XX

     

    Related Areas of Study

    Anthropology; Archaeology; Art History; Dance; English; History; Law and Society; Geosciences; Politics, Sociology; Theater. 

    Learn More

    Africana Studies Major Requirements
    Africana Studies Department