Africana Studies Minor

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 advisers to construct an individualized program of study that values the following:

• An anti-essentialist or diverse perspective: Students learn about many 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 the following four key interdisciplinary themes:

1. History
2. Politics (including political theory and peace studies)
3. Cultural and Social Evidence (including anthropology, sociology, philosophy, religion, education, interdisciplinary studies, and intercultural studies)
4. 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:

• One core course titled Introduction to Africana Studies (AFR 200 )
• Four 100- or 200-level courses from at least three of the four key interdisciplinary themes (of these four courses only one may be a 100-level course)
• One 300-level course (from the course listing that follows)

Many professors from different programs teach within the Africana Studies program. The minor is managed by a rotating team of principal advisors. Some aspects of the program of study may change.

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Affiliated Faculty

Professors

Kelly Brown Douglas (Philosophy and Religion), Florence Martin (Modern Languages), Janet H. Shope (Sociology), Eric Singer (Political Science and International Relations)

Associate Professors

Nsenga Burton (Communications), Seble Dawit (Peace Studies), Irline François (Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies), Angelo Robinson (English)

Assistant Professors

James F. Dator (History), Nyasha Grayman-Simpson (Psychology), Mel Michelle Lewis (Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies),  Rory Turner (Sociology & Anthropology)