African and African American Studies, BA

Program Description

African and African American Studies (AFS) is an interdisciplinary program that provides students the opportunity to explore the heritage and contributions of Africans and African Americans to world civilizations and cultures. Students within this major will:

Develop effective critical thinking and communication skills
Explore teaching and research interests in African and African American experiences in Africa, the United States, and throughout the African Diaspora (the spread of people of African descent throughout the world)
Acquire knowledge and understanding of diversity in the United States, Africa, and the African Diaspora.

Students who wish to engage in more concentrated study within the major are able to design an appropriate course of study through directed readings and independent study with the permission of the program director and a professor in the program.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the major must possess an overall GPA of at least a 2.0. To graduate with a degree in African and African American studies, students must maintain a grade of C or higher in all AFS classes. At least 30 credit hours in the major must be at the 3000 level or above.

For More Information

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

Element 1 - Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2 - Mathematics: 3 Hours

Element 3 - Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4 - Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5 - Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6 - Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

Required:

AFS 2000 - What is the African and African American Experience ? Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Program Requirements: 33 Hours

Required Courses: 27 Hours

AFS 3000 - History of Africa Credit Hour(s): 3
AFS 4040 - The African Diaspora Credit Hour(s): 3
AFS 4030 - History of the Ideas of Race Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 3010 - Peoples and Cultures of Africa Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4320 - Race, Class and Gender in Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 3450 - Economics of Diversity Credit Hour(s): 3
ENG 2050 - African-American Literature Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 3700 - African-American History, 1619 to the Present Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4510 - Contemporary African Politics Credit Hour(s): 3

2 courses from the following: 6 Hours

AFS 4990 - Special Topics in African and African American Studies Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 1040 - Introduction to Human Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4570 - Intercultural Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
ENG 3400 - Studies in African Literature Credit Hour(s): 3
ENG 4440 - Studies in Ethnic and Regional Literature Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 4650 - Studies in 19th-century US History Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3250 - African American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3600 - Social Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3620 - Race and Ethnicity Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4490 - Issues in City and Community Development Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. College Requirements: 18-22 Hours

Foreign Language: 12-16 Hours

Through the 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language: Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, American Sign Language or other.

Students taking American Sign Language should be advised that ASL 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 meet for (4) rather than (3) credit hours each.

Methods of Inquiry

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods - One course from approved list Credit Hour(s): 3

V. Electives: 27-31 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.