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Africana Studies
In the College of Arts and Letters
Office: Adams Humanities 3129
Telephone: (619) 594-6531
Chair: Cornwell
Professors: Chambers, Kornweibel
Associate Professors: Cornwell, Toombs, Weber
Major in Afro-American studies with the B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences.
Minor in Afro-American studies.
Africana studies offers a broad, interdisciplinary program. The curriculum is designed to study a variety of subjects pertaining to the Africana experience. It is concerned with strengthening links between the needs of black students and the black community, and developing frameworks for social change and the struggle for black dignity. It seeks, in short, to provide a total educational experience of the Africana culture. The courses offered in Africana studies are available to anyone who is interested.
The major provides excellent preparation for the fields of law, government, foreign service, business administration, research, consulting, librarianship, counseling, program development, program design, program analysis, urbanology, and writing, to name a few, as well as the more traditional Africana studies profession of teaching.
All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.
All candidates for the degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on "Graduation Requirements." No more than 48 units in Africana studies courses can apply to the degree.
A minor is not required with this major.
Preparation for the Major. Africana Studies 101A, 101B, 102, 170A; 170B or 250. (15 units)
Foreign Language Requirement. Competency (equivalent to that which is normally attained through three consecutive courses of college study) is required in one foreign language as part of the preparation for the major. Refer to section of catalog on "Graduation Requirements."
Upper Division Writing Requirement. Passing the University Writing Examination or completing one of the approved writing courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
Major. A minimum of 24 upper division units to include twelve units selected from one of the following areas and six units from each of the two remaining areas. Up to six units, with appropriate content, of 496 and 499 in any combination may be applied to an area of specialization with the approval of the department chair.
Sociology and Psychology: Africana Studies 330, 331, 341, 360*, 445, 448, 451, 452, 453.
Humanities: Africana Studies 363, 365, 385, 460, 461, 462, 463, 480, 485.
History and Political Science: Africana Studies 320, 321, 322, 325, 380, 420, 470, 471A, 471B, 472.
The minor in Afro-American studies consists of a minimum of 18 units to include six units selected from the courses for preparation for the major, six units selected from one of the three areas of the major, and three units from each of the remaining areas.
Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.
101A. Introduction to Africana Studies: Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
Interdisciplinary introduction of African American thought and behavior. Subject areas include social systems, economic empowerment, self development, family dynamics, use of power, cognitive styles, interethnic communication and international relations. Review of relevant literature in social and behavioral sciences.
101B. Introduction to Africana Studies: Humanities (3)
Interdisciplinary introduction to African American history, literature, other arts and religion. Subject areas include methodology and theoretical perspectives of Africana studies.
102. Afro-American Lifestyles (3) I, II
Afro-American lifestyles in the past, present, and future. Examination of contemporary problems, their roots and their effects on twentieth century America.
120. Composition (3) I, II
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the English Placement Test and Writing Competency requirements. (See the Graduation Requirements
section of catalog.) Proof of completion of prerequisites required:
Copy of EPT or competency scores or verification of exemption; proof
of Cr in Rhetoric and Writing Studies 92A or 92B or 97A or 97B, or notification from the Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies.
Designed to develop and enhance composition and reading skills. Focus on writing skills that contribute to academic growth and development. Not open to students with credit in English 100 or higher-numbered composition or creative writing course or Linguistics 100 or Mexican American Studies 111B.
140. Oral Communication (3) I, II
Practice in speaking, critical listening, reasoning and organizing. Theory and techniques of communications used to evaluate the effect they have on the lives of Blacks and others. Not open to students with credit in Communication 103 or Mexican American Studies 111A.
170A-170B. Afro-American History (3-3) I, II
American history from a Black perspective. These courses satisfy the graduation requirement in American Institutions.
200. Intermediate Expository Writing and Research Fundamentals (3)
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the English Placement Test and Writing Competency requirements; and Africana Studies 120 or Linguistics
100 or Mexican American Studies 111B or Rhetoric and Writing
Studies100. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test
scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.
Development of intermediate expository writing skills and application of practical research principles.
250. Psychology of Blackness (3)
Facts, principles, and concepts which are basic to understanding human behavior. An analysis of the psychological motivations and behavioral responses of and toward Afro-Americans.
296. Experimental Topics (1-4)
Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
320. Politics and Economics of Black Urban Development (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101A or completion of the General
Education requirement in Foundations II.B., Social and Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Political economy of urban growth, development, and redevelopment examined in historical and contemporary contexts. Focus on race and class inequality and conflict; effectiveness of public and private sector decisions and programs; evolution of African American urban poor and their communities.
321. Black Political Participation in America (3)
Prerequisites: Africana Studies 101A or 102 or 170A or 170B.
Completion of the General Education requirement in Foundations II.B.,
Social and Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Afro-American political life and development in the United States. Interaction between Afro-Americans and various actors, institution processes, and policies of the American system of politics and governance.
322. African American Political Thought (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101A or completion of the General
Education requirement in Foundations II.B., Social and Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Political and social thought underlying principles, goals, strategies developed by African Americans in struggle for social development and human rights. Focus on twentieth century thought.
325. Public Policy and Afro-American Community (3) II
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.B., Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Impact of public policy on Afro-American community: theory and practice of policy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and modification for specific problems in Afro-American community; roles of governmental officials, administrative arrangements, organizational processes, and community groups in policy making.
330. Black Child Development (3) II
Attitudes, needs and problems of the Afro-American child with emphasis on new approaches and insights into the development of positive changes for the child's growth and development.
331. The Black Family (3) I
Structure and functions of the Black family in contemporary American society.
332. Black Women: Myth and Reality (3)
Prerequisites: Africana Studies 101A or 101B and 102.
Images of Black women in America and how those images have been distorted.
341. Cultural Patterns and African American Identity (3)
Prerequisites: Africana Studies 101A or completion of the General
Education requirement in Foundations II.B., Social and Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Impact of social institutions on African American identity and cultural patterns.
360. Communications and Community Action (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 140 (field assignments are a major
part of this course).
Application of the basic theories of communication through field projects. Study of the communication problems that exist between sociopolitical groups and the media.
362. Rhetoric of Black America (3)
Prerequisite:Three units in Afro-American history or communications.
Rhetoric of Black Americans from David Walker to the present, the role rhetoric has played in the history of Black people and an analysis of the Black audience in terms of the Black experience.
363. Sociocultural Analysis of Black Languages (3)
Prerequisite: Three units in Africana Studies.
Social and cultural functions of Black languages, verbal and nonverbal, in Afro-American life, and their profound impact on larger society. Also, a probe into issues concerning validity of Black English.
365. African American Literature (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101B or completion of the General
Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities required for
nonmajors.
Early and contemporary writing by African American authors. Issues of literary form, canon formation and sociopolitical impact of the literature upon African American culture.
380. Blacks in the American Justice System (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.B., Social and Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Into interpretation and application of constitutional principles and judicial decisions to political and social problems faced by Afro-Americans.
385. African American Music (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101B or completion of the General
Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities required for
nonmajors.
African American music from its African roots to present. Consideration of musical styles, events, significant contributors as well as role of sociocultural values in development of music.
420. Afro-Americans and the Politics of Urban Education (3)
Prerequisites: Africana Studies 101A or 102. Completion of the
General Education requirement in Foundations II.B., Social and
Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Struggle against Afro-American subordination and complexities, contradictions, and dilemmas of formulating and implementing quality education and equal opportunity policies. Interaction between politics and education during eras of machine, reform, and postreform politics.
445. Ethnicity and Social Psychology (3)
Prerequisites: Africana Studies 101A or 250. Completion of the
General Education requirement in Foundations II.B., Social and
Behavioral Sciences required for nonmajors.
Analysis of major social psychological theories specifically focusing on how these theories relate to minority attitude/value formation and group behavior. Strategies for resolving social issues.
448. Black and Non-Black Interpersonal Relations (3)
Cognitive and experiential examination of contemporary issues around Black and non-Black interpersonal relations. Authenticity in relationships, interracial trust, personal development, conflict resolution, and proactive belief systems. Central aim to assist Blacks and non-Blacks to facilitate communication.
451. Black Consumer Psychology (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 250.
Attitude values and decision making of Black people as consumers. Laws and techniques of manipulating consumers.
452. Race Relations Strategies (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101A or 102 or 250.
Systematic inquiry into contemporary strategies and systems employed to ease racial tensions. Trends and approaches in military, religious, economic, educational, and other social institutions examined, focusing on those that offer most promise in terms of facilitating racial harmony.
453. Issues in Mental Health: A Multicultural Perspective (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 250.
Examination of multicultural mental health issues. Institutionalization, treatment, social policy funding, prevention, insurance, and community programs will be covered. Relevant research literature will be examined.
460. Black Images in Western Literature (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities required for nonmajors.
Study of how the image of the Black has been portrayed in Western (white) literature and the attitudes and images of non-Black writers towards Blacks.
461. Studies in African American Literature (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101B.
Focused studies in African American literature. Analysis of themes, techniques, etc., in fiction, poetry and/or drama.
462. The Harlem Renaissance (3)
Black literature of the 1920s from literary, historical, sociological and cultural perspectives.
463. Black Literatures of the World (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Afro-American literature in context of world literatures by Blacks. Cross-cultural influences between Africa and the Americas.
464. Caribbean Literature (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Political, religious, and musical paradigms in writing from 1900 to present. Politico-religious movements and related art forms (i.e. Rastafarian Reggae, Dub Poetry).
470. Comparative History: Afro-American and African
Heritage (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities required for nonmajors.
Conceptual framework of African history and a comparative study of Afro-American institutions.
471A. Black History, 1492-1877 (3) I
Afro-Americanization and African survivals in the U.S.; origins and development of slavery; growth of free Black communities; anti-slavery movements and Black nationalism; slavery's end and dawn of freedom.
471B. Twentieth Century Black History (3) II
History of social movements and institutions from 1890 to the present. Focus on both leadership and life of the masses.
472. Slavery (3)
Prerequisites: Africana Studies 101A or 170A or History 100 or 105
or 110A or 115A. Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities required for nonmajors.
History of enslavement of Blacks in the new world; contrasted to patterns of slavery in African societies and in the ancient Mediterranean world. Further contrasts to forms of modern group oppression, such as Nazi concentration camps.
480. History of Afro-American Jazz (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101B.
Historical development of jazz from its beginnings to the present, based on the ability to identify people, discuss musical styles and events, and to relate these factors to the life of the times.
485. Blacks in the Arts (3)
Prerequisite: Africana Studies 101B or 102.
Academic and artistic perspectives on Black participation in and contributions to the creative and performing arts. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
496. Experimental Topics (1-4)
Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
499. Special Study (1-3) I, II
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Individual study. Maximum credit six units.
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