African American Studies

African American Studies (Minor)

Overview

MLK Bust

Arlette Miller Smith (English), Program Director

David Baronov (Sociology), Mark Rice (American Studies), Jennifer Rossi (American Studies),* Carolyn Vacca (History), James Wood (Education)*

*On leave, Spring 2013

The minor in African American Studies offers a multidisciplinary perspective on African American life and culture. The program invites students to explore the contributions of African Americans and to understand the holistic circumstances of their lives. The minor, therefore, includes courses that address social, political, literary, and economic issues confronting people of African descent, particularly those who live in the United States. The African American Studies minor not only gives students a scholarly perspective on the lives and accomplishments of African Americans, it educates students to be positive and productive citizens of a transnational world.

Declaring a Minor in AFAM

A student should first contact one of the program co-directors to discuss course selection. The minor must be formally declared on an Academic Change form through the Office of Academic Affairs. A periodic check is recommended to ensure that the AFAM requirements are being fulfilled.

Program Requirements

ONE introductory course		(3)
AFAM 150D	P5 Introduction to African American Studies
ONE course in African American Historical Foundations		(3)
AFAM 219D	Retracing the Black Past I
AFAM 220D	Retracing the Black Past II
HIST 103D	P3 The United States to 1865
HIST 104D	P3 The United States Since 1865
TWO courses in African American Cultural Expressions		(6)
AFAM 205P	From Bebop to Hip Hop
AFAM 240	LC The Struggle for Civil Rights*
AFAM/REST 280D	The Black Church in America
AFAM/REST 282P	Contemporary Issues and Challenges in the 21st Century Black Church
AFAM 305P	Black Thought in the 20th/21st Century
AMST 237P	P3 Hope, Survival and Human Spirit: Theories of Resistance
ENGL 220D	P1 Modern African American Literature
ENGL 261C	Topics in Sexuality and Literature**
ENGL 262P	CC Topics in Ethnicity and Literature**
ENGL 263C	P1 Topics in Literature and the Arts**
ENGL 264D	P5 Topics in Literature and Politics**
ENGL 335	Studies in African American Literature
ENGL 337	Ethnicities in/and Literature
REST/HIST 272P	CC Martin and Malcolm
ONE elective course chosen from the following (if not used in a prior category)		(3)
AFAM/REST 280D	The Black Church in America
AFAM/REST 282P	Contemporary Issues and Challenges in the 21st Century Black Church
AFAM 290D	Stride Toward Freedom: Afro-Rochester Leaders
AFAM 304P	African American Images in Film
AMST 273P	P5 Social Justice in America: Service Learning
ENGL 220D	P1 Modern African American Literature
ENGL 261C	Topics in Sexuality and Literature**
ENGL 262P	CC Topics in Ethnicity and Literature**
ENGL 263C	P1 Topics in Literature and the Arts**
ENGL 264D	P5 Topics in Literature and Politics**
ENGL 379	The Rhetoric of Social Movements
ENGL 381	The Rhetoric of Hate and Social Justice
HIST 103D	P3 The United States to 1865
HIST 104D	P3 The United States Since 1865
ITDY 150P	P5 “Word Up!” Communicating in the 21st Century
ITED 422P	Diversity in American Society
REST/HIST 272P	CC Martin and Malcolm
SOCI/WGST 211C	Ethnicity and Race
ONE Senior Seminar		(3)
AFAM 450	Risking Contact: Seminar on African American Culture
Total		(18)

*AFAM 240 is currently offered only as a freshman Learning Community course.

**May be applicable depending on topic; consult with AFAM program co-directors for approval.

Note: Courses may not be used for credit in the student’s major and the AFAM minor without permission of the minor program co-directors.

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

African American Studies

Related Programs

For More Information

Arlette Miller Smith
Program Director
asmith@sjfc.edu
(585) 385-8212

Admissions
585.385.8064
admissions@sjfc.edu