School of Modern Languages & Cultural Studies

Director: Elizabeth Anne Franklin, Ph.D.

Africana Studies

The Africana Studies program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that promotes the critical study of and the dissemination of knowledge about the history, culture, philosophy, economy and political experience of people of African descent around the world. The curriculum is based on the assumption that there exists a substantive, intrinsically valuable body of knowledge that expresses the Black/African experience which has shaped and continues to influence human growth and development.

As an academic discipline, the Africana Studies curriculum is divided into two foci: social and behavioral studies and cultural studies. Coursework in the social and behavioral studies focus includes such topics as history of African-descended people, nationalism, gender, cultural heritage, effects of racism and the social scientific study of Black/African-related communities. The cultural studies focus emphasizes literature by authors of African descent, music, religion, gender, identity and the family.

Africana Studies B.A.

Graduates will have a liberal arts education and skills necessary for working in multicultural environments; qualify for graduate work in Africana Studies or Pan African Studies; and will understand the struggles and accomplishments of people of African descent. As a job-related field, Africana Studies fosters the intellectual and professional expertise valuable for positions in teaching (elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels), business, criminal justice, counseling, psychology, and health-related fields. Additional applications include community resource development, urban planning, public and social policy analysis, law, social services, political leadership (local, state and federal) and international relations.

For degree or program requirements, see:

Africana Studies B.A.

Africana Studies Minor