Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025
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African-American Studies (AFAM)

AFAM 190    African American Experience    3 Hours

African American life and experiences in the United States viewed from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Seven core subjects are surveyed: African American history, religion, politics, creative productions (music, dance, theatre), economics, social organizations and psychology. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-SB | SB

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023; summer 2024; fall 2024

AFAM 329    Black Intellectual History    3 Hours

An examination of the contributions of Black intellectuals to an understanding of the modern world. Emphasis is given to the intersection of historic claims to human rights, citizenship, and independence to promote an awareness of this tradition's multiple geographical nodes, collaborations, and solidarities. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102) or AFAM 190

Equivalent(s): HIST 329

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 342    Hip Hop and Democracy    3 Hours

Examines the various and sometimes contradictory views of Hip Hop as a musical form, a forum for political activism, and a voice for articulating and refiguring democratic values.

Equivalent(s): HIST 342

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 343    Communities of Struggle    3 Hours

Examines the relationship between distinct communities of struggle in Africa and the African Diaspora and the impact of African American social movements on a range of liberation struggles within this context. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status

Equivalent(s): HIST 343

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2023

AFAM 350    Peoples and Cultures of Africa    3 Hours

Survey of the cultures of Africa, with emphasis on historical development and contemporary cultural diversity.

Equivalent(s): FLK 350, ANTH 350

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

AFAM 353    Radical Blackness    3 Hours

Interdisciplinary study of contemporary Black radical thought through an examination of African American material culture, i.e. symbols, art, music, literature, performance, and cultural studies.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2024

AFAM 358    Blacks in American History to 1877    3 Hours

A chronological study of African American history and culture from 1619 to 1877 with an emphasis on African American contributions to American life and thought.

Equivalent(s): HIST 358

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 359    Blacks in American History Since 1877    3 Hours

A chronological study of African American history and culture from 1877 to the present with an emphasis on African American contributions to American life and thought.

Equivalent(s): HIST 359

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 360    History of Africa    3 Hours

A survey of the history of sub-Saharan Africa from the earliest times to the present.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 368    African Governments & Politics    3 Hours

Examines sub-Saharan African political and economic development. Focuses on several selected countries and explores the common political and economic problems and opportunities confronting African states. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.

Prerequisite(s): PS 250 and PS 260

Corequisite(s): GOVT 260, GOVT 250

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 377    African American Folklife    3 Hours

Oral, written, and material folk traditions of African Americans, with emphasis on the United States and the Caribbean.

Equivalent(s): FLK 377

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024

AFAM 393    African American Literature    3 Hours

Study of literature by African American writers.

Prerequisite(s): Foundations Literary Studies

Equivalent(s): ENG 393

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

AFAM 410    African American Music    3 Hours

A survey of selected musical styles created and developed by African Americans from the 17th to the 20th century: spirituals, blues, popular music forms (e.g., soul, reggae, rap music). Emphasis will be placed on the historical factors and sociocultural trends that influenced the development of African American music.

Equivalent(s): ANTH 410, FLK 410

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 466    Geography of Africa    3 Hours

A geographic survey assessing the relationships of the physical and cultural patterns to actual and potential economic development. Note: Permission of instructor required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

AFAM 480    Directed Independent Study in African American Topics    1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Designed primarily for advanced students. This course will permit students to pursue selected topics dealing with the life and times of the people of African ancestry in Africa and America. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.

Prerequisite(s): AFAM 190

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; summer 2023

AFAM 490    African American Seminar    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Designed primarily for advanced students. This seminar will include topics dealing with the African American experience, present or past. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.

Prerequisite(s): AFAM 190

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2023