Africana Studies

What Is Africana Studies ?

Majors in Africana studies use a variety of approaches to explore and better understand the experiences of African, African American, Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-European populations in a global context. This interdisciplinary major employs analytical tools from fields such as sociology, psychology, literature, anthropology, politics and history to explore important social issues facing people of African descent, from continental Africa and throughout the African diasporas.

In this major, students acquire effective skills in developing an interdisciplinary cultural and social approach to the field; an ability to combine an intersectional theoretical approach with an applied research focus; critical thinking, written and oral communication skills; and knowledge of Africana people of the diasporas.

Success Factors

People who are successful in Africana studies possess strong verbal and writing skills, making them excellent communicators. They work well with adults, children and the elderly. Many enjoy travel, finding first-hand experience necessary to learn more about the cultures of the diaspora. Africana studies majors have versatile personalities and are able to adapt to many different circumstances.

Career Possibilities

Graduates of this major pursue many different careers. A few examples include:

• Banker
• Community organizer
• Foreign service
• Law
• Museum worker
• Philanthropy
• Public official
• Social worker
• Teacher
• University student services
• Writer

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's Web site. 

Major Details

To a great extent, majors in Africana studies at the University of Cincinnati McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) design their own programs, and each student is encouraged to develop an area of concentration within the major. Areas of concentration aim to provide students with a body of information and skills reflecting their personal interests, career plans and/or graduate school aspirations. After meeting with the undergraduate director, all students in Africana studies are assigned a faculty adviser in the department.

Flexible degree requirements within A&S allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Asian studies
• Communication
• French
• History
• International affairs
• Latin American studies
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Women's, gender, and sexuality studies

Minor Details

Is the minor for you?

A minor in Africana studies will provide students the unique opportunity to explore and learn about the cultural, social and historical experiences of people of African origin. Africana studies is inherently interdisciplinary and global in perspective. Students who minor in Africana studies must complete 30 credit hours of course work offered by the Department of Africana Studies and from approved courses offered by other academic units throughout the university. A minor in Africana studies is a perfect complement to any major and is designed to attract students who seek intensive studies on the diverse cultures of Africa and the African diaspora.

Career Opportunities

Not only can the minor in Africana studies benefit students preparing for graduate programs in liberal arts disciplines, the minor can be used in conjunction with a traditional major to prepare for many professions. With the growing emphasis on multi-cultural education in the United States, a minor in Africana studies is an added advantage to students interested in teaching careers. Students preparing for careers in business might apply the minor to marketing careers where skills of working with diverse populations are in increasing demand. Students entering social service positions where knowledge of an African-American clientele is a must might find the minor useful in supplementing their pre-professional or technical training. Africana studies courses take a global perspective. All students might benefit from a minor that stresses global issues.

Requirements for the Minor:

To minor in Africana studies, students are required to:

1. File the Application to Minor in Africana Studies form with the Department. In addition, declare the minor with the College of Arts & Sciences [click here to declare online]
2. Complete 30 credit hours in courses approved for the minor.  These courses include three hours of Introduction to Africana studies: Three hours of Modern Africa and twenty four Africana studies electives based on the interests of the student.  All Africana studies courses offered by the Department are eligible. Students may also petition up to six credit hours from other academic units to count toward the minor. Additionally, three credits hours of individual study taken within the Department can also count toward the minor. Last, students must earn no less than a C- in courses to be counted towards the minor.

The Department of Africana Studies offers a minor in Africana studies for undergraduates enrolled in any college of the University. Students minoring in Africana studies must complete 30 credit hours selected from courses offered by the Department of Africana Studies and from approved courses offered by other academic areas. The minor is intended for students who want to develop a specialty in Africana studies that will complement their existing areas of study.

A Certificate in Africana studies is also offered. Students may want to enroll in the certificate program to enhance their major. Students are required to take 30 credit hours from the Department of Africana Studies and/or from other colleges on campus. More information about the certificate is available on the complete list of A&S programs.

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

College requirements

This is a suggested plan to complete the program in four years. Students will take required courses at different times depending upon their choice of options and the combination of the major with a minor or other program.

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

Africana Studies Major Requirements
Students majoring in Africana studies complete 54 credit hours with the following distribution:

A.  Introduction Core Courses (6 credits)
AFST 101 Introduction to African and African American Studies
AFST 227 Introduction to Modern Africa

B. African and African American Literature (9 credits, including at least 3 from AFST)
AFST 310, 311, 312  African American Literature
AFST 360, 361, 362  Literature of the African Diaspora 

C.  African and African American History (9 credits, including at least 3 from AFST)
AFST 301, 302, 303  African History
AFST 322, 323, 324  African American History
AFST 370 W.E.B. DuBois and the African American Experience in America: 1868-1920
AFST 371 20th Century Black Internationalism: Globalization and American Experience
AFST 395 Race and Politics in America: 1936 to the Present**

 **Weekend course. Prereq: Six hours of AFST credits or permission of instructor required.

D. Sociology Core Courses (9 credits)
AFST 234, 235, 236  Sociology of the Black Community
AFST 566  African Diaspora Cultures

E. Seminar Requirement (3 credits)
AFST 508  Seminar in African World History
AFST 509  Seminar in African American History
AFST 530  Seminar in Black Creative Expression
AFST 535  Seminar in Black Community Development

F. Capstone Requirement (3 credits)
AFST 597 Seminar in African and African American Studies

Electives (15 credits)
Electives should be used to develop an area of expertise or specialization relative to an aspect of African American or African diaspora experience. These 15 credit hours must be at the 400 or 500 level.
AFST 304   Black Men in US Society
AFST 307   Blacks in Science and Technology
AFST 345   African Religion
AFST 363   African Literature
AFST 404   Contemporary Black Film
AFST 431   Black Urban Poverty
AFST 442   Religion in African American Literature
AFST 530   Topics in Black Cultural Studies 
AFST 532   Black Popular Culture
AFST 589   Black Women Writers: Wheatley to Hurston
AFST 590   Black Women Writers: Hurston to the Present 

Special Opportunities

Students in UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-extensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Internship Program - Senior majors can choose to enhance their coursework with work experience. An internship is an unpaid work experience that allows majors to use their curriculum-based knowledge in Africana studies to prepare for employment and/or graduate school after graduation. Designed to provide a learning experience that takes place in a setting outside the University, the unpaid internship gives majors up to 6 hours of academic credit for practical experience. A variety of locations offer opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge learned within Africana studies. For example, some students might investigate internship opportunities in community organizations such as the NAACP, the Urban League, Cincinnati Neighborhood Community Councils, Advocacy Groups, the United Way, and similar fraternal and religious organizations. Other majors may pursue internships in public sector settings such as the Cincinnati Public Schools, and various agencies of city government. Still other majors might investigate internships in private sector settings such as local corporations and Black-owned and operated businesses.

Teaching Practicum - Upon invitation of the faculty, senior majors may earn 3 academic credits by serving as teaching assistants. Students work closely with faculty members who teach lower division core courses. This is a training situation for senior majors interested in pedagogical issues in Africana studies. Students will serve as teaching assistants in African Diaspora Cultures, African and African American History, Literature and Sociology.

Angelene Jamison-Hall Scholarship in Africana Studies - The Department invites its majors to apply for two $500 scholarships to be awarded in the autumn of any given academic year.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA.

Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Additional college-prep subjects (3 units) 

*A&S does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply through the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received an associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

University transfer scholarships are available to those who meet specific requirements and ANY admitted A&S transfer student might qualify for an A&S transfer scholarship. Deadlines and eligibility criteria are online via the previous links.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English composition or its equivalent, and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

A&S students must meet the college residency requirement of 45.0 hours which begins immediately upon matriculation in the college and consists of courses taught within A&S.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, students must:

• Earn at least 180 credits. This can include transfer credit, AP credit, and free electives, but does not include preparatory coursework. Students who have met all other degree requirements must continue earning credit until the total number of their earned hours comes to at least 180.
• Attain a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
• Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic probation or disciplinary probation or suspension.
• Complete the residency requirement by earning at least 45 credits after matriculating into the college. These minimum 45 credits must be taught within McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (15), and also must be completed after gaining admission to the college.
• Complete all of the requirements of at least one major (see major requirements above).
• Complete the College Core Requirements.
• Submit an application for graduation to the registrar's office by their posted deadline.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, fall quarter is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in French West, 2nd Floor). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).