Undergraduate Catalog » Colleges & Schools » Liberal Arts » African and African American Studies

African and African American Studies

Program Director Lynette Jones

African and African American Studies (AFS) is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with the opportunity to explore the heritage and contributions of Africans and African Americans to world civilizations and cultures. Students within this major will (1) develop effective critical thinking and communication skills; (2) 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); and (3) 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.

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 complete—in addition to university and college requirements—a total of 64 credit hours of department requirements and must maintain a grade of C or higher in all AFS classes. At least 30 credit hours in the major must be at the 300 level or above.

Degree Requirements--African and African American Studies

See General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements	56

Required Course:
Area VI: Any approved Liberal Arts College
Component course

Departmental Requirements	59

AFS 200, 300, 400, 401*, 402, 403; ATH 447; COM 104; EC 326, 330; ENG 205; HST 214, 215, 475; PLS 451; REL 435
* The senior research project is completed over two quarters, 2.0 each quarter for a total of 4.0.
Foreign Languages and Research Methods Requirements	24-32

Electives	45-53

Total	192

African and African American Studies Minor

The African and African America Studies minor offers students an opportunity to bring a scholar's mind to the study of Africa and the African Diaspora. An interdisciplinary curriculum enables students to gain a diverse perspective about African and African American cultures.

The minor complements all of Wright State's undergraduate majors. It also facilitates the development of a global view that is essential for living in an increasingly multicultural society. The minor particularly promotes an understanding of African and African American humanity, heritage, and contributions to world civilization.

Requirements for the minor can be fulfilled by selecting from course offerings in anthropology, art, economics, history, English and literature, music, political science, religion, social work, sociology, and theatre. A minimum of 23 hours is required, generally consisting of six courses from three areas: humanities (two or three courses), social sciences (two or three courses), and fine arts (from one to three courses). Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA to enter the program and must receive a grade of C or above in all course work taken toward the minor.

African and African American Studies Certificate

The following certificate programs provide students with an opportunity for exploration of education, health, and diversity-related issues. The African and African American Studies Program, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Education offer a certificate in the African American Experience in Education. The African and African American Studies Program, the College of Liberal Arts, the Boonshoft School of Medicine, and Biology and Health Professions offer a certificate in African American and Gender Experiences in Medicine. Each certificate program requires satisfactory completion of 20 credit hours.

The certificate in the African American and Gender Experience in Education examines how distinctive social, educational, familial, and racial dynamics shaping the worldviews and struggles of African Americans can often impact public education in these communities. The certificate program is available to sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students with good academic standing. Students must earn at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and apply to the certificate program. Students must satisfactorily complete the five following courses (four credit hours each for a total of 20 credit hours): AFS 200, AFS 300, AFS 402, AFS 403, and ED 310.

The certificate in African American and Gender Experiences in Medicine provides students with an understanding of how race and gender influence the lives of health care professionals and their clients. The certificate program will be available to sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students in good academic standing who are planning on careers in the Boonshoft School of Medicine or other health-related programs. A minimum of 2.7 GPA is required for those seeking admission into the program, and students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 for satisfactory completion of the program. Student must satisfactorily complete three foundation courses (AFS 200, NUR 212, and WMS 200 for a total of 12 credit hours) and two elective courses (8 credit hours) from the following list: AFS 300, BIO 370, HED 231, COM 325, and PHL 312.

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