About this Program
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Credits for Degree: 120
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Department Information
The African American Studies program is one of the fastest growing majors at UF. The degree program provides students with a variety of innovative courses by applying creative cultural methods of teaching while examining the African American experience.
More Info | Email | 352.392.5724 (tel) | 352.294.0007 (fax)
1012 Turlington Hall
PO Box 118120
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-8400
Map
Curriculum
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
| 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: | 3 | |
| The African Diaspora | ||
| The Wire | ||
| Black Feminist and Womanist Theory | ||
| Black Masculinity | ||
| Race, Religion, and Rebellion | ||
| African American Religion | ||
| Civil Rights and Religion | ||
| History of Hip-Hop | ||
| African American Politics and Policy | ||
| Race, Law and the Constitution | ||
| Select one: | 3 | |
| Research Methods in African American History | ||
| Mentoring At-Risk Youth | ||
| History Research Seminar: Africa | ||
| History Research Seminar: US | ||
| Professional Writing in the Discipline | ||
| Analytical Writing and Thinking | ||
| Research Methods in Political Science | ||
| Junior Seminar | ||
| Thesis Seminar in Religion | ||
| Introduction to Statistics 1 | ||
| Introduction to Statistics 2 | ||
| Introduction to Statistics Theory | ||
| Capstone Seminar | ||
| 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.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
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 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete AFA 2000
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete AFA 3110
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete AFA-prefix course at 3000 level or above
- Complete AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course.
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete AFA-prefix or AFA-approved course
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- Complete AFA-prefix course at 3000 level or above
- Complete AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course
- Complete applied, experiential, or research methods course
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 7
- Complete AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 8
- Complete AFA 4936
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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).
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Mathematics | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 4-5 | |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| AFA 2000 | Introduction to African American Studies (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 |
| State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| AFA 3110 | Key Issues in African American and Black-Atlantic Thought (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Diversity and Humanities) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| AFA-prefix course (Critical Tracking; 3000 level and above) | 3 | |
| AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course (Critical Tracking) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area NOT taken in semester 2) 1 | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Mathematics | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course (Critical Tracking) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Elective (3000 level and above; not in major) | 3 | |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| AFA-prefix course (Critical Tracking; 3000 level and above) | 3 | |
| AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course (Critical Tracking) | 3 | |
| Applied, experiential, or research methods course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| AFA-prefix course or AFA-approved course (Critical Tracking) | 3 | |
| Electives (3000 level and above; not in major) | 6 | |
| Gen Ed Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| Science laboratory (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences) | 1 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| AFA 4936 | African American Studies Senior Integrative Seminar (Critical Tracking) | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level and above; not in major) | 9 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
One General Education option taken this term must be a Quest 2 course.
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AMH 3931 | Special Topics in American History (African American Diaspora) | 3 |
| AMH 3931 | Special Topics in American History (African Americans in the Jim Crow South) | 3 |
| AMH 4571 | American Civil War and Reconstruction | 3 |
| AMH 4575 | Civil Rights Movements | 3 |
| AML 3605 | African American Literature 1 | 3 |
| AML 3607 | African American Literature 2 | 3 |
| AML 3673 | Asian American Studies (Asian-American/African American Interactions) | 3 |
| AML 4453 | Studies in American Literature and Culture (Women Writing About Race) | 3 |
| AML 4685 | Race and Ethnicity (Race and Ethnicity in American Literature and Culture) | 3 |
| AML 4685 | Race and Ethnicity (African American Women and Culture Critique) | 3 |
| ANT 3930 | Junior Topics Class in Anthropology (The Slave Narrative) | 3 |
| GEA 3600 | Geography of Africa | 3 |
| LIT 4188 | World English Language Literatures (Pre-1950 Anglo Caribbean Literature) | 3 |
| LIT 4930 | Variable Topics in Literature and Language (Black Englishes) | 3 |
| MUH 4016 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| POS 4077 | African American Politics and Policy | 3 |
| POS 4624 | Race, Law and the Constitution | 3 |
| REL 3139 | African American Religion | 3 |
| SYD 3700 | Sociology of Race and Racism in the US | 3 |
| SYG 2010 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SYO 4102 | American Families | 3 |
The African American Studies program’s mission closely resembles that of the university, emphasizing exceptional teaching, outstanding scholarly research and service to the campus and the larger Gainesville community. The primary emphasis 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 US to those in the wider African Diaspora. They also will learn through participation in community-service activities. Program graduates will develop the academic, scholarly and experiential skills needed to succeed at the next level of study in the field, for they will be well-trained in critical thinking, analysis and effective communication.
Before Graduating Students Must
- Satisfactory evaluation of paper written for the African American Studies approved topic, graded according to department rubric.
- Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.
Students in the Major Will Learn to
Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs
Content
- Identify, describe, and explain the theories in African American Studies and the African Diaspora.
Critical Thinking
- Examine social issues of concern to African Americans.
Communication
- Effectively articulate ideas in speech and in writing.
Curriculum Map
I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed
| Courses | SLO 1 | SLO 2 | SLO 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFA 2000 | I, R, A | ||
| AFA 3110 | I, R, A | R, A | |
| AFA 3240 | R, A | R, A | R, A |
| AFA 3332 | R, A | R, A | R, A |
| AFA 3350 | R, A | R, A | R, A |
| AFA 4936 | R, A | R, A | R, A |
Assessment Types
- Assignments
- Exams
- Papers
- Oral presentations