African American Studies Courses

Please Note: While 300-level courses are often broader in scope than 400-level courses they are not necessarily "easier" than 400-level classes.

Lower Division

AFAM 101 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3)
Prerequisite: completion of General Education (G.E.) Category D.1. Perspective through which people of color have come to see themselves in terms of their own heroes, culture and contributions to societies in which they live, and world society in general. (Same as ASAM/CHIC/WGST 101)
Meets G.E. Requirement D1

AFAM 103 Critical Race Theory (3)
In this course, students will examine the ways race, sexuality, ethnicity, gender, disability, and class influence the law using a critical race theory lens. Critical Race Studies is an extension of Critical Legal Theory, which was formed in the 1980s to explore the ways that racism and structural inequality are institutionized within the legal system.

AFAM 107 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1. Aims and objectives of African American studies. Basic terms and references that give substance to African American studies.
Meets G.E. Requirements D1*; Z

AFAM 160 Introduction to Black Creative Expression
Introduction to Black originators and innovators of art forms, such as performing, literary and visual. Critical responses to art forms in both historical and contemporary contexts. Understand trends in creativity and imaginations that cross expressive forms in Black communities. 
Meets G.E. Requirements F

AFAM 190 Survey of American History with Emphasis on Ethnic Minorities (3)
A survey of American history from prehistoric times (before 1492) to the present with special emphasis on the role of race and ethnicity. (Same as ASAM/CHIC/HIST 190)
Meets G.E. Requirement D2

AFAM 260 Black Lives Matter Creative and Critical Ideas (3)
Black Lives Matter movement origins, controversies and legacies. Creative and critical responses to social activism in communities of color. Engaging critical debates around over-policing, anti-black racism and bias.
Meets G.E. Requirement F

AFAM 280 Introduction to African American History (3)
This course introduces students to key events, individuals, institutions and experiences that shaped the history and culture of Africans and their descendants from their arrival in North America in 1619 to the present.

Upper Division

AFAM 301 African American Food Culture (3)
Examines the dynamic relationship between African Americans, food culture, and food in the US from their earliest beginnings, focusing on the socio-historical, creative, economic, and geographic manifestations of the relationship between food culture, identity, and wellness.
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 304 Black Families in America (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 101 or completion of G.E. Category D.1.
This course examines issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and identity within African American families. Topics will include: black single mothers and welfare, prisons, black middle class families and residential housing, black youth and activism, and LGBT family formations. (Same as SOCI 304)
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 307 Research and Writing in Ethnic Studies (3)
Prerequisite: completion of ENGL 101 or equivalent.
Introduction to research and writing in ethnic studies (e.g. quantitative v. qualitative analysis, reliability/validity) and specific methods of research (e.g. archives, interviews, oral history). Extensive writing. A "C" or better is required to satisfy the upper-division writing requirement. (Same as ASAM/CHIC 307)

AFAM 308 Black Men in America (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
Investigates the diverse and conflicting representations and theories of black masculinity in the US and abroad. Explores tensions between representations and social, economic, and political realities of black men. Analyzes contemporary issues of black masculinities and the post-racial imaginary.
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 310 Black Women in America (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
Issues in the study of black women in America, including social, political, economic and intellectual development. Historical and contemporary issues as they affect black American women. (Same as WMST 310)
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 311 Race and Relationships (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
Examines the ways race, ethnicity, gender and class matter in everyday society with an emphasis on intrapersonal relationships, racial socialization, and the effects of this racial socialization in peoples' lives.
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 314 Pan-African Dance and Movement (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category C.1. or C.2.
Theory and practice of movement of African and Haitian peoples. Movement (dance) as quasi-language in perpetuating the lifestyle of African cultures and cultures of African descent.
Meets G.E. Requirements C3*; Z

AFAM 317 Black Politics (3)
Prerequisite: POSC 100.
Blacks' struggle for political equality and relief from political oppression. Public policies concerning blacks' freedoms, liberties and property rights. (Same as POSC 317)
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 320 Black Political Thought (3)
Prerequisite: completion of the G.E. Category C.2.
Black American intellectual from slavery to contemporary times, with special emphasis on black contributions to American political and social thought, as well as their contributions in America's social development.
Meets G.E. Requirements C3*; Z

AFAM 321 Activism, Engagement, and Community Development (3)
Planning and community development trends in minority communities in urban, suburban and rural areas. Theoretical perspectives and practices embraced by grassroots planners. Public and private sector approaches. Topics include neighborhood planning, community development, economic development and grassroots organizing.

AFAM 322 Psychology of African Americans (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
Uses psychological principles and practices to guide students' comprehension of life as an African American. Introduction to a holistic perspective that expands ways of conceptualizing psychology from an African American world view.(Same as PSYC 322)
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 324 Introduction to African-American Literature (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category C.2.
Literary contributions by major black American authors. Contemporary black writers and the recurring themes of protest and quest for identity. Not available for graduate degree credit. (Same ENGL 324)
Meets G.E. Requirement C3

AFAM 325 African-American Religions and Spirituality (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
African American belief systems and denominations. Folk beliefs among Blacks, African-American religious groups, and the role of the Black Church in politics and social change in the Black community. (Same as CPRL 325)
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 335 History of Racism (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
Historical roots and current expressions of racism. How racism manifests itself through individual, social, political, economic and religious institutions and proposes methods of combating it.
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 346 The African Experience (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
The class will give an overall view of African history with special attention to West African countries pre and post the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and South African Politics pre- and post-apartheid. Course will explore contemporary politics, culture, family, and ethnic, and gender relations.
Meets G.E. Requirements D4*; Z

AFAM 356 African-American Music Appreciation (3)
Prerequisite: junior/senior standing.
Black music in America; the sociological conditions that help produce various forms of black music. One or more sections offered online. (Same as MUS 356)
Meets G.E. Requirements C3*, Z

AFAM 357 Blacks in the Performing Arts (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category C.1.
African American culture through the performing arts. Examines Blacks in the entertainment industry as a means of understanding and revealing important aspects of African-American culture. (Same as MUS/THTR 357)
Meets G.E. Requirements C3*, Z

AFAM 360 Black Recreation and Leisure

 

AFAM 370 Development of African American Children and Youth (3)
(Same as CAS 370)
Meets G.E. Requirements E*; Z

AFAM 371 African American Concert Dance History (3)

Production of African derived dance from within American culture. Consideration of the history of dance artists¿ biographic and critical theory literature from diverse media. Includes a lab involving choreography and performance of major African American concert dance forms. (AFAM 371 and DANC 371 are the same course)
Meets G.E. Requirements C3*; Z

AFAM 381 African Literature (3)
Prerequisite: completion of any literature course from G.E. Category C.2. African literature written in the English language; the fiction, poetry and drama of the new nations. (AFAM 381, CPLT 381 and ENGL 381 are the same course.)

AFAM 388 Hip Hop Culture (3)
Origins and influences of hip hop on culture, fashion, movies, television, advertising, attitude, music, dancing and slang among African Americans. The impact of the hip hop culture phenomenon on American and global societies.

Meets G.E. Requirements C3

AFAM 389 Black Latinx Identity (3)
In this course, students examine the relationship between Blackness and Latin American identity formation and social movements of Black identified Latino/a/x people. The course will pay particular attention to the Black Latinx experience within the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America. Some issues covered are: Slavery, racial classification laws, gender, culture, and social movements.

AFAM 405 Black Representations in Film (3)
Prerequisite: AFAM 107.
Critical study of black images in motion pictures, past and present. Explores the tension between historical Black consciousness, authenticity, imitation and alternative adaptation.

AFAM 408 The Black Athlete (3)
The Purpose of this course is to explore the collective experiences of the Black Athlete in America. More specifically, this class examines the interrelationship among race, class, gender, politics, and sport. Topics addressed in the course include: (1) the historical construction of the Black athlete, (2) African American athletes and education, (3) the media and Black Athletes, (4) sports and social mobility, and (5) politics and sport.

AFAM 410 - Language and Power in African American Culture (3)
Prerequisite: Fulfill Upper Division Writing Requirement.
Language use within the African American community. Topics include language history, dialect vs. language, communicative practices, language in education policy, language and ideology, and language attitudes. (ENGL 410 and AFAM 410 are the same course.) 400-level Undergraduate Course available for Graduate Credit

AFAM 458A West Africa and the African Diaspora (3)
(Same as HIST 458A)

AFAM 458B Southern Africa in the 20th Century (3)
(Same as HIST 458B)

AFAM 458C African History Since 1935 (3)
(Same as HIST 458C)

AFAM 463 Black LGBT Experience (3)

Prerequisite: ENGL 101 and completion of G.E. Category D.1

Focuses on the experiences of Black (LGBT) lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to explore the multiple and intersecting social forces that have shaped their place, or lack thereof, in U.S. society.

AFAM 485 Schools, Education and Ethnic Minority Groups (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.5.
Ways in which the constraints of formal schooling affect the behaviors and attitudes of ethnic minority group members. Role of the community and family in school readiness and the psychological consequences of schooling. One or more sections offered online.

AFAM 490 Ethnic Studies Senior Seminar (3)
Prerequisites: completion of G.E. Categories C.2, D.1, D.5, E; completion of African American Studies core requirements. Required senior seminar for Ethnic Studies majors with an option in African American, Asian American or Chicana/o Studies.

AFAM 499 Independent Study (1-3)
Prerequisites: junior/senior standing and acceptance of the subject by department chair and instructor directing the study.