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Africana Studies Minor

Explore the Many Facets of the African American Experience
  • 103

    Among Public National Universities, U.S. News & World Report

  • 1 of 4

    UNC System Schools Featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges

  • 5th

    Among Peer Institutions in Number of Students Studying Abroad

Africana Studies Minors have careers in:

Africana Studies is an excellent minor for those interested in working in government, politics, or public and international affairs.

The minor explores Africana influences in art and music, and prepares students for performance careers.

Alumni work as physicians, dentists, and scientists. 

The minor will provide you with a solid understanding of the African American literary tradition and its impact.

Students are prepared for careers in business and industry, both domestic and international.
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Learn To:

Understand Africana peoples, places, thought, and cultures and their current and historical role in shaping the world in which we live.

Students will gain knowledge about world and national economies, political development, artistic expression, technological development and environmental changes and challenges.

Students will explore African American, African, South American, African-Caribbean contributions to Art, Religion, History, Literature, Architecture, Engineering, and participate in community development and improvement.

Students will explore through an interdisciplinary lens the intersectionality of race, gender, and class and their place in social, psychological, political, literary and historical actions.

Africana Studies Minor Program Overview

Gain a Deeper Understanding

Our Africana Studies program will help you understand the many facets of the African Americana and Diaspora experience.

Students will take classes in African and African American History, and study African contributions to music in the United States, and around the world, where strong lineages of African music culture and art are deeply embedded in the present.

You will explore race and political structures and involvement, and will have have an opportunity to do research in Southeastern North Carolina, a site of significant historical landmarks. Students will explore and gain facility with intercultural communication, African religions and religious traditions. Students can also study the African influence in Art, Music, Film, Literature, History, Politics, Philosophy, and Religion.

The minor encompasses courses in history, English, political science, sociology, criminal justice, communication studies, philosophy and religion.

Be Part of the Solution

There are countless problems in our world that require critical thinking to develop effective and lasting solutions, appreciation of the global relationship between people all over, and the ability to engage with people from different parts of the world. Africana Studies encourages students to explore the “why” and by understanding the why to then pursue the “how”.  

Engage

Whether studying engineering, medicine, law, the performing arts, or anything else, students will come to appreciate that they can have a role in shaping their future by exploring, understanding and familiarizing themselves with the peoples, places, and cultures of the Africana Diaspora and the intersectionality of race among social, psychological, political, literary, and historical lines.

With a strong emphasis on community engagement, our students will be well prepared to meet the challenges.

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Sample Courses in Africana Studies

Table shows sample courses for this program
AFN 130 African American Studies
AFN 290 Readings in Literatures of the African Diaspora
HST 260 African-American History
HST 371 History of Premodern Africa
THR 366 Black American Theatre and Performance History
AFN 222 Intro to Gullah Geechee Culture
MUS 116 History of Jazz
See The Full Curriculum

How Do I Minor in Africana Studies?

To earn a minor in Africana studies requires 21 hours, including six hours in core courses and at least six hours at the 300-level or higher.

You must take a minimum of one course from each of the three groups A (Arts & Aesthetics), B (Health & Historical Contexts), and C (Social Justice & Religion) for a total of nine hours. The remaining hours may be taken from any of the categories including a wide selection of electives. 

For more information, contact Babette Boyd, program coordinator. 

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