Explore the rich history and culture of Africa and the African diaspora with Kent State University's Africana Studies Bachelor's Degree program. Develop a deep understanding of the social, cultural and political issues that have shaped the African world.
Africana Studies - B.A.
Contact Us
- Program Coordinator: Mwatabu S. Okantah | mokantah@kent.edu | 330-672-2300
or 330-672-0142 - Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor
Program Information
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Program Description
Full Description
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies covers a broad spectrum of the global African experience, which allows students to investigate African connections and influences among and with other ethnic groups in the United States and other parts of the Americas and the world.
The Africana Studies major comprises the following concentrations:
- The Community Activism, Strategy and Development concentration focuses on both historical and contemporary efforts to effect change in communities of color. It examines ways in which diasporic communities and individuals have coordinated political and social strategies for survival and development in spite of racism and socio-economic challenges. The concentration prepares students to work in areas such as education, law, public service, social work, research, business, grant-writing and community organizing and development. It also provides a good foundation for those interested in graduate studies.
- The Global and Government Systems concentration focuses on historical and contemporary culture and politics of people of African descent in Africa and throughout the world. Using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, this concentration prepares students to function in a diverse, global and multicultural environment, working in areas such as education, law, research, public health, international studies, political science, justice studies, foreign service and business.
- The Race, Gender and Sexuality concentration focuses on the intersection of race, sex and/or gender primarily, though not exclusively, from the perspective of people of color. It examines issues of identity for both the individual and community. This concentration prepares students to work in areas such as education, advocacy, social work, counseling, multicultural programming and student support services; it is also a good foundation for graduate study.
- The Arts in Culture and Society concentration focuses on the study of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East through the study of literature, arts and culture, with some emphasis on popular as well as non-literary cultural expressions. This concentration provides insights into the challenges black communities face as well as their creativity. Career opportunities include such areas as the arts, museums, writing, multicultural programming and administration and theatre work. This concentration also provides a good foundation for those interested in continuing to graduate school in ethnic studies, art, education, comparative literature and global and world studies.
Study abroad opportunities exist at the University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast and the West African Research Center in Senegal.
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Admissions
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
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Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Understand at the advanced level of the core, the historical experiences of people of African descent.
- Interact with diverse communities and be informed and engaged global citizens.
- Relate current political and social issues facing the Africana world to global historical events.
- Read, analyze and critically articulate the contemporary socio-economic, political and cultural issues facing people of African descent.
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Coursework
On This Page
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) AFS 20001 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICANA STUDIES 3 AFS 23001 BLACK EXPERIENCE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 (DIVG) (KHUM) 3 AFS 23002 BLACK EXPERIENCE II: 1865 TO PRESENT (DIVD) (KHUM) 3 AFS 37000 ORAL AND WRITTEN DISCOURSES IN AFRICANA STUDIES (WIC) 1 3 AFS 37001 THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO AFRICANA STUDIES 3 AFS 37010 RESEARCH METHODS IN AFRICANA STUDIES (ELR) 3 AFS 47099 SENIOR SEMINAR IN AFRICANA STUDIES (ELR) (WIC) 1 3 Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) 2 14-16 Kent Core Composition 6 Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3 Kent Core Fine Arts 3 Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6 Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7 Kent Core Additional 6 General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 42 Concentrations Choose from the following: 12 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120 - 1
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
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Students are recommended to satisfy their college language requirement with the study of an African language, such as Kiswahili.
Community Activism, Strategy and Development Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 AFS 20200RECOVERING THE PAST: KENT TO MEMPHIS (ELR) or AFS 26000LEGACIES OF SLAVERY AFS 20300BLACK IMAGES AFS 23310NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES or AFS 33310AFRO-LATINX COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. (DIVD) AFS 26010BLACK LIVES MATTER: THE CONTINUED STRUGGLE FOR BLACK LIBERATION AFS 30010AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHILOSOPHIES (DIVD) or PHIL 31070AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHILOSOPHIES (DIVD) AFS 33100THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) AFS 33130GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AFS 33171AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES (DIVD) AFS 37150SECRET AND MAROON SOCIETIES IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AFS 41192PRACTICUM IN AFRICANA COMMUNITIES (ELR) 1 AFS 43100RACE, CLASS AND FEMINIST THOUGHT HDF 44032NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING AND GRANTWRITING HIST 31082HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND BLACK POWER MOVEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES POL 30310PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS or POL 30450URBAN POLITICS AND POLICY SOC 42359SOCIAL MOVEMENTS or SOC 42558WEALTH, POVERTY AND POWER Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 - 1
Maximum 3 credit hours of AFS 41192 may be applied toward the concentration.
Global and Government Systems Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 AFS 23310NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES AFS 33200ANCIENT AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS AFS 34100ISLAMIC WEST AFRICA AFS 35200AFRICAN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS AFS 37020THE MODEL AFRICAN UNION (ELR) AFS 37150SECRET AND MAROON SOCIETIES IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AFS 41192PRACTICUM IN AFRICANA COMMUNITIES (ELR) 1 ECON 42075INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS GEOG 37040GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA (DIVG) HIST 31131HISTORY OF COLONIAL AFRICA, 1880-1994 POL 30500INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY or POL 30810POLITICS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY POL 41990COLUMBUS PROGRAM IN STATE ISSUES (ELR) 2 or POL 42990WASHINGTON PROGRAM IN NATIONAL ISSUES (ELR) Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 - 1
Maximum 3 credit hours of AFS 41192 may be applied toward the concentration.
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Maximum 6 credit hours of POL 41990 or POL 42990 may be applied toward the concentration.
Race, Gender and Sexuality Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 AFS 20300BLACK IMAGES AFS 33110BLACK WOMEN, CULTURE AND SOCIETY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) AFS 33120THE BLACK MAN: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES AFS 33130GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AFS 37100AFRICANA WOMEN’S LITERATURE (DIVG) ENG 35301LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) PSYC 40625DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER ROLE AND IDENTITY (DIVD) SOC 32565SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITIES (DIVD) SOC 32570INEQUALITY IN SOCIETIES (DIVD) or SOC 42568RACE AND ETHNIC STUDIES (DIVD) WMST 30001FEMINIST THEORY Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 The Arts in Culture and Society Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 AFS 20300BLACK IMAGES AFS 22000CREATIVE WRITING IN THE BLACK WORLD AFS 22101AFRICAN AMERICAN VISUAL ARTISTS AFS 31092PRACTICUM IN AFRICAN THEATRE ARTS (ELR) 1 or AFS 41192PRACTICUM IN AFRICANA COMMUNITIES (ELR) AFS 32001AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 AFS 32050AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) AFS 34200BLACK MUSIC REVISITED AFS 37100AFRICANA WOMEN’S LITERATURE (DIVG) AFS 43095SPECIAL TOPICS IN PAN-AFRICAN LITERATURE, ARTS AND CULTURES MUS 42111AFRICAN MUSIC AND CULTURES or MUS 42161HISTORY OF JAZZ (DIVD) THEA 11303THE ART OF ACTING or THEA 41113THEATRE IN A MULTICULTURAL AMERICA (DIVD) Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 - 1
Maximum 3 credit hours of AFS 41192 may be applied toward the concentration.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA 2.000 2.000 - Minimum 9 credit hours taken for any of the concentrations must be upper-division (30000 or 40000 level).
Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:- Intermediate I and II of the same language
- Elementary I and II of a second language
- Any combination of two courses from the following list:
- Intermediate I of the same language
- ARAB 21401
- ASL 19401
- CHIN 25421
- MCLS 10001
- MCLS 20001
- MCLS 20091
- MCLS 21417
- MCLS 21420
- MCLS 22217
- MCLS 28403
- MCLS 28404
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All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.
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Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.
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Roadmap
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid Semester One Credits AFS 20001 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICANA STUDIES 3 AFS 23001 BLACK EXPERIENCE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 (DIVG) (KHUM) 3 UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Foreign Language 4 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 14 Semester Two AFS 23002 BLACK EXPERIENCE II: 1865 TO PRESENT (DIVD) (KHUM) 3 Foreign Language 4 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 General Elective 3 Credit Hours 16 Semester Three Concentration Elective 3 Foreign Language 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Four Concentration Elective 3 Foreign Language 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Five AFS 37001 THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO AFRICANA STUDIES 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 General Electives 9 Credit Hours 15 Semester Six AFS 37000 ORAL AND WRITTEN DISCOURSES IN AFRICANA STUDIES (WIC) 3 Concentration Electives 6 General Electives 6 Credit Hours 15 Semester Seven AFS 37010 RESEARCH METHODS IN AFRICANA STUDIES (ELR) 3 General Electives 12 Credit Hours 15 Semester Eight AFS 47099 SENIOR SEMINAR IN AFRICANA STUDIES (ELR) (WIC) 3 General Electives 12 Credit Hours 15 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120 -
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Delivery:
Careers
Access a listing of tips for enhancing your Africana studies skills and some potential career paths.