African American Studies

major

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 US to those in the wider African Diaspora. Students also learn through participation in community-service activities.

About this Program

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

AFA 2000Introduction to African American Studies3
AFA 3110Key Issues in African American and Black-Atlantic Thought3
AFA 4936African American Studies Senior Integrative Seminar3
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 higher6
AFA-prefixed (any level) or AFA-approved courses9
Total Credits30

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
State Core Gen Ed Composition 3
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics 3
Foreign language 4-5
 Credits13-14
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
 Credits15-17
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
 Credits15
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
 Credits15
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
 Credits16
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
 Credits15
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
 Credits16
Semester Eight
AFA 4936 African American Studies Senior Integrative Seminar (Critical Tracking) 3
Electives (3000 level and above; not in major) 9
Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits120
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.

AMH 3931Special Topics in American History (African American Diaspora)3
AMH 3931Special Topics in American History (African Americans in the Jim Crow South)3
AMH 4571American Civil War and Reconstruction3
AMH 4575Civil Rights Movements3
AML 3605African American Literature 13
AML 3607African American Literature 23
AML 3673Asian American Studies (Asian-American/African American Interactions)3
AML 4453Studies in American Literature and Culture (Women Writing About Race)3
AML 4685Race and Ethnicity (Race and Ethnicity in American Literature and Culture)3
AML 4685Race and Ethnicity (African American Women and Culture Critique)3
ANT 3930Junior Topics Class in Anthropology (The Slave Narrative)3
GEA 3600Geography of Africa3
LIT 4188World English Language Literatures (Pre-1950 Anglo Caribbean Literature)3
LIT 4930Variable Topics in Literature and Language (Black Englishes)3
MUH 4016History of Jazz3
POS 4077African American Politics and Policy3
POS 4624Race, Law and the Constitution3
REL 3139African American Religion3
SYD 3700Sociology of Race and Racism in the US3
SYG 2010Social Problems3
SYO 4102American Families3

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

  1. Identify, describe, and explain the theories in African American Studies and the African Diaspora.

Critical Thinking

  1. Examine social issues of concern to African Americans.

Communication

  1. 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