Overview
This interdisciplinary major provides students with vital analytical, writing, research, and communication skills. The curriculum emphasizes engagement with anthropology, mass communications, education, English, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, and women’s studies. The program also includes courses that emphasize US-Canadian, US-Caribbean, and US-African relations and assists students in finding internships for college credit, research opportunities for graduate school, applying for study abroad programs, and positioning in a wide-variety of careers.
After obtaining a degree in African American Studies, students can seek careers in management and industry, communications and media, education, non-profit management and advocacy, government, politics and law, and health careers. Graduates will also be prepared to enter graduate programs in liberal arts and social science disciplines, and professional degree programs (with the addition of some prerequisites).
Requirements 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 Major Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFA 2000 | Introduction to African American Studies | 3 |
| AFA 3110 | Key Issues in African American and Black-Atlantic Thought | 3 |
| AFA 4936 | African American Studies Senior Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| Select one African American Studies required course: | 3 | |
AFA 3240 | The African Diaspora | |
AFA 3303 | The Wire | |
AFA 3332 | Black Feminist and Womanist Theory | |
AFA 3350 | Black Masculinity | |
AFA 3354 | Race, Religion, and Rebellion | |
AFA 3356 | African American Religion | |
AFA 3357 | Civil Rights and Religion | |
AFA 3371 | History of Hip-Hop | |
POS 4077 | African American Politics and Policy | |
POS 4624 | Race, Law and the Constitution | |
| Select one applied, experiential, or research methods course (inside or outside of AFA): | 3 | |
AFA 3850 | Research Methods in African American History | |
AFA 3915C | Mentoring At-Risk Youth | |
AFH 4930 | History Research Seminar: Africa | |
AMH 4930 | History Research Seminar: US | |
ENC 2256 | Writing in the Disciplines | |
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 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | |
| Core Courses | ||
STA 3024 | Introduction to Statistics 2 | |
STA 4322 | Introduction to Statistics Theory | |
WST 4935 | Capstone Seminar | |
| African American Studies Major Electives | ||
| AFA-prefixed courses at the 3000 level or higher | 6 | |
| AFA-prefixed (any level) or AFA-approved courses | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
The same course may not be used to meet two different requirements.
Overseas Study
The African American Studies Program currently sponsors one study abroad course. This is a two-credit African Americans in Paris course that 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.
Current Semester Schedule of Courses
AFA2000 - Introduction to African American Studies
AFA2390 - Race and Sports in America
AFA3110 - Key Issues in African American and Black-Atlantic Thought
AFA3223 - African American History: 1865 to Today
AFA3930 - Special Topics in African American Studies: US Constitutional Law
AFA3930 - Special Topics in African American Studies: American Civil Liberties
AFA3930 - Special Topics in African American Studies: Slavery & Black Girlhood
AFA3930 - Special Topics in African American Studies: The Harlem Renaissance
AFA3930 - Special Topics in African American Studies: Passing: Black White Jewish
AFA3930 - Special Topics in African American Studies: Black Love,Kinship & Community
AFA4135 - Theories of Black America
AFA4931 - Special Topics: Health, Equity & Community
AFA4931 - Special Topics: Afro Caribbean American Politi
AFA4936 - African American Studies Senior Integrative Seminar
AFA4970 - Honors Thesis: Senior Honor Thesis
Courses That Meet Writing Requirements
View the table below to see what courses satisfy which requirements.
| Course Name | Humanities | Writing | Social & Behavioral | International | Applied/Experiential/Research Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African American Religion (AFA 3356) | Yes | ||||
| The African Diaspora (AFA 3240) | 6,000 words | ||||
| The Archaeology of African American Life (AFA 3360) | 2,000 words | Yes | |||
| Black Feminist/Womanist Theory (AFA 3332) | 6,000 words | ||||
| Black Masculinity (AFA 3350) | Yes | 6,000 | |||
| Civil Rights and Religion (AFA 3357) | Yes | 4,000 words | |||
| Introduction to African American Studies (AFA 2000) | Yes | 4,000 words | |||
| Key Issues in African American and Black Atlantic Thought (AFA 3110) | Yes | 6,000 words |