African-American Studies

The primary emphasis of the African-American studies program is to educate students about the theories and methodologies pertaining to the study of African-Americans. Students will be able to compare and contrast the experiences of people of African descent in the U.S. to those in the wider African Diaspora. They will also learn through participation in community-service activities.

Overview

This interdisciplinary major provides students with vital writing, research and communication skills. The curriculum emphasizes anthropology, mass communications, education, English, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, religion and sociology. The program also includes courses that emphasize US-Canadian, US-Caribbean and US-African relations and assists students in finding internships for college credit and in applying for study abroad programs.

After obtaining a degree in African-American studies, students can seek careers as archivists, attorneys, civil rights professionals, community organizers, government employees, librarians, public policy professionals, professors, teachers and researchers. Graduates will also be prepared to enter graduate programs in African-American studies and other liberal arts fields, professional degree programs and teacher-training programs.

Coursework for the Major

The major requires 30 credits of coursework in African-American studies core and elective courses. All coursework must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 15 credits of coursework in the major must be completed at UF. Core and elective courses are often cross-listed with other departments, enabling students to examine the African-American experience from a variety of disciplines.

Required Coursework

• AFA 2000 Introduction to African-American Studies, 3 credits
• AFA 3110 Key Issues in African-American and Black Atlantic Thought, 3 credits
• AFA 4936 Integrative Senior Seminar, 3 credits
• AFA 4937 Integrative Senior Seminar, 3 credits
• An applied, experiential or research methods course (inside or outside of AFA),
  3 credits, chosen from:
  • AFA 3850 Research Methods in African-American History
  • AFA 3915C Mentoring At-Risk Youth
  • AFA 4135 Theories of Black America
  • AFH 4930 History Research Seminar: Africa
  • AMH 4930 History Research Seminar: U.S.
  • ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline
  • ENC 2305 Analytical Writing and Thinking
  • POS 4734 Research Methods in Political Science
  • REL 3931 Junior Seminar
  • REL 4932 Thesis Seminar in Religion
  • STA 2023 Intro to Statistics 1
  • STA 2122 Statistics for Social Science
  • STA 3024 Introduction to Statistics 2
  • STA 4322 Introduction to Statistics Theory
  • WST 4935 Capstone Seminar
• AFA-prefixed courses at the 3000-level or higher, 6 credits
• Remaining courses from AFA-prefixed courses (any level) or AFA-approved courses listed in the table at the bottom of the page, 9 credits

Overseas Study

The African-American Studies Program sponsors two study abroad courses. The two-credit African Americans in Paris course is offered during the spring semester and includes the study of the African-American cultural, historical and political experience in Paris, France. Students travel to Paris during spring break. In addition, the three-credit Role of Ghana in the African-American Experience course is offered for two weeks in June of each year.

Critical Tracking

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.0 GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete AFA 2000
• 2.0 GPA required

Semester 3

• 2.0 GPA required

Semester 4

• 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete AFA 3110 and two additional AFA-prefixed or AFA-approved courses with a 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 GPA required

Recommended Semester Plan

Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).

AFA-Approved Courses

Many of the non-AFA courses listed below will have cross-listed AFA sections available. Please review the African-American studies course offerings each semester.

If AFA 3850 Research Methods in African-American History, AFA 3915C Mentoring At-Risk Youth or AFA 4135 Theories of Black America is used to meet the Applied, Experiential or Research Methods course requirement, the course will apply to that requirement only.