Africana Studies 2007-2008
Overview
Africana Studies offers an interdepartmental major and a minor involving the study of the history, culture, intellectual heritage, and social development of people of African descent. With a core curriculum centered in North America, studies consider connections to locations on the continent of Africa, and places in the diaspora such as the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. The program features a variety of approaches to intellectual, creative, and practical interests, and draws upon the arts, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences.
THE PROGRAM
At Union, the Africana Studies program includes more than 30 courses in Anthropology, Art History, English, History, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Sociology, and Women’s Studies. Courses in additional fields are offered on a year by year basis.
Courses of the core curriculum include:
- English 216 (236a) African-American Literature in Historical Context: Beginnings to 1900: Vision and Re-Vision
- English 219 (236b) African-American Literature in Historical Context: 1900-Present
- English 274 (236d) Introduction to Black Poetry
- English 240 (236e) Black Women Writers
- English 242 (236c) As a dance is it obscure: Black Music in American Literary Culture
- English 304 Junior Seminar: Caribbean Diasporas
- English 412 (488) Senior Seminar: Toni Morrison
- History 131 (28) African-American History I
- History 132 (29) African-American History II
- History 231 (25) The Civil Rights Movement
- History 322 (184) Slavery and Freedom
- French 304 (134) Studies in the French Caribbean;
- French 430 (149a) Special Topic in Francophone Culture and Literature: West African Oral Literature
- French 431 (149b) Special Topic in Francophone Culture and Literature: Voices of Francophone Literature from French-Speaking Countries and Territories other than France
- Music 131 (31) Music of Black America
- Music 132 (32) The History of Jazz
- Music 133 (35) Music of Latin America
- Music 134 Music and Culture of Africa
- Sociology 230 (080) African-Americans in Contemporary Society
- Sociology 346 (176) African American Women: Unheard Voices and Contemporary Lifestyles
- Sociology 233 (083) Race, Class, and Gender in American Society
- Sociology 323T (155A) A Survey of Brazilian Society (Part of Brazil Term Abroad)
Recent international programs with an Africana focus have included terms abroad in Barbados and Brazil and mini-terms abroad in Jamaica, Brazil, and South Africa.
THE PURPOSE
Interdisciplinary research and teaching programs in Africana Studies prepare students for professional careers in human services, education, law, business, community development, journalism, and more generally for roles in the public sector or roles that involve intercultural or intergroup relations as well as international affairs. Students of Africana Studies also find themselves well prepared for graduate study in the humanities and social and behavioral sciences. In examining the role that cultural heritage, gender, race, and class have played historically and continue to play in structuring human life, Africana Studies courses help students understand and deal with the diversity that has always characterized our society and workplaces.
THE FACULTY
Director: Professor Olsen (Music)
Advisors: Professor Fay (Anthropology), Hill-Butler (Sociology), Peterson (History), Romero (English), Morales-Cox (Art History), Wainaina (English)