AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES (AAAS)

AAAS 1100. Introduction to African‑American and African Studies. (3) (X) A multicultural focus on contemporary societies that include black people and the methodology, key issues and themes in African-American and African Studies. Readings on the experiences of black people in their interaction with other cultures in Africa, America, and Europe. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 1103. The African Experience I. (3) Introductory survey of the history and culture of African peoples within the context of pre‑colonial, colonial, and independent Africa. Focus on unique social, political, economic processes, and problems in Africa. In‑depth study of outstanding African leaders as representatives of their societies. (Fall)

AAAS 1104. The African Experience II. (3) Exploration of contemporary issues in Africa and their impact on African‑Americans and other Africans in the diaspora. Impact of European colonization on Africa, including topics such as revolutionary and reform-oriented political movements, racism, imperialism, nationalism, urbanization, and Pan‑Africanism. (Spring)

AAAS 1111. The African-American Experience Through Reconstruction. (3) African-American experience in America through Reconstruction. Topics include: system of slavery; free blacks in north and south; compromises with the peculiar institution; and impact of the civil war and reconstruction on the freedom, citizenship, and suffrage of African-Americans. (Fall)

AAAS 1112. The African-American Experience: Reconstruction Through the Present. (3) Prerequisites: AAAS 1100 and 1111 for majors and AAAS 1100 or 1111 for non-majors. An interdisciplinary survey of key issues, debates, and personalities in the African-American experience from 1865 to the present. (Spring)

AAAS 2105. Black Images in the Media. (3) Examination of African-American images projected through electronic and print media, historically and currently. Cross-listed with COMM 2120. (Yearly)

AAAS 2106. Literary Analysis of Black Protest of the 1960s (3) Selected African-American literary works examined as outgrowths of the 1960s protest movement. Poetry, drama, and nonfiction of period studied. (Spring)

AAAS 2201. Introduction to Human Relations. (3) (C) Prerequisite: AAAS 1100. Understanding of self and others in a pluralistic society; analysis of theories of personal growth and interaction within the context of differing multi‑ethnic values, mores and contributions. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 2203. African-American Culture I. (3) Focus on the aesthetic dimensions of African-American culture through examination of aspects of literature, music, drama, art, and dance. (Fall)

AAAS 2204. African-American Culture II. (3) Study of Black culture as manifested in social, political, economic, and religious institutions through directed field work, lectures and research. (Spring)

AAAS 2205. African Culture I. (3) Survey of lifestyles in Africa with emphasis on the patterns of social behavior and communal organization that link and relate to the African‑American experience and heritage. Research required. (Fall)

AAAS 2206. African Literature, Music, and Art. (3) (W,A) Survey of African cultures through literature, music, drama, oral history, and art with emphasis on the cultural undertones that link and relate the African‑American experience and heritage. Creative research or community projects required. (Spring)

AAAS 2207. Introduction to Pan‑Africanism. (3) Interdisciplinary study of Pan‑Africanism. Examination of historical and contemporary efforts of peoples of African descent to unite their struggles for human advancement and equality in the United States, Latin America, Western Europe, and Africa, including critical review of popular movements, leading proponents, and the significant organizational manifestations of Pan‑Africanism. (Alternate years)

AAAS 2208. Education and African‑Americans. (3) Examination of the problems and challenges of educating African‑Americans. Topics include: conceptual approaches to education; historical and contemporary overview of education for African‑Americans; the impact of race and discrimination; analysis of existing curricula; and suggested models for a multi‑racial and multi‑cultural education. (Fall)

AAAS 2215. Black Families in the United States. (3) (W) Critical and comprehensive examination of the life of African‑American families in the United States including the historical evolution of black families and their relationship with the political‑economic structures of American society. (Yearly)

AAAS 2221. Introduction to Contemporary Africa. (3) Study of Africa from 1960 to the present. Focus on political, economic, and social changes and Africa's integration into the community of nations. (Fall)

AAAS 2301. Introduction to African-American Literature. (3) (L) Prerequisite: ENGL 1101 and 1102 or 1103, or departmental permission. Survey of the major periods, texts, and issues in African-American Literature. Prerequisite to 4000 level African-American literature courses in English Department. Cross-listed as ENGL 2301. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 3050. Topics in African-American and African Studies. (3) Treatment of a special topic. May be repeated for credit as topics vary, with approval of the Chairperson. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 3101. Values in Racial Perspectives. (3) (V,X) Study of values and make‑up of American pluralistic society in historical and contemporary context. Focus on understanding of African‑American values vis‑a‑vis those of majority society. (Spring)

AAAS 3150. Black Church/Civil Rights Movement. (3) (V,X) Role of the black church in the struggle for human equality. Topics include radical, moderate, and accommodationist leadership styles; historical development of the black church in the South; and its emergence as a foundation for the modern civil rights movement. (Same as RELS 3150) (Fall)

AAAS 3179. African-American Political Philosophy. (3) Prerequisite: 3000 level course on Africa from AAAS, POLS, or HIST. Analysis of competing ideologies in African-American political philosophy. (Same as POLS 3172) (On demand)

AAAS 3190. The Political Economy of the Caribbean. (3) An examination of the manifestations of Caribbean economic problems and policies and Caribbean political development from the post‑war period to the present. (Fall)

AAAS 3218. Racial Violence, Colonial Times to Present. (3) This course examines the ways in which African-Americans and Whites used violence both as part of struggles for liberation and freedom as well as repression from the colonial period to the present in the United States. The focus will be on broader processes of social, political, and cultural change and at efforts to build cooperation. Same as HIST 3218. (On demand)

AAAS 3230. Poverty and Discrimination. (3) Economic roots of poverty and discrimination and the impact of anti‑poverty and anti‑discrimination laws on Black America. (Spring)

AAAS 3250. Political Economy of Black America. (3) Examines the problems and the issues influencing the development of the black economic base in the United States and its role in the American economy. (Fall)

AAAS 3265. African Economic Development. (3) Focus on economic theories, planning, production, and resource allocation strategies, capital formation, foreign aid, and multinational corporations in Africa. (Yearly)

AAAS 3280. Blacks in Urban America. (3) African-Americans have been part of the urban scene since the colonizing of the Americas. The course will examine the ways in which their presence in cities has both exemplified and contradicted the understanding of both urban development and race relations in America from colonial times to the present. Same as HIST 3280. (On demand)

AAAS 3290. Research Methods. (3) (O) Prerequisite: completion of sophomore‑year courses or instructor's permission. Design of a research project with emphasis on developing sound research skills and methods. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 3601. Senior Seminar. (3) Prerequisite: completion of junior‑year courses. Corequisite: AAAS 3990. Reading, discussion, reports. Peer critique of conceptualization, methodology and research of Senior Project. May be repeated for credit with consent of Advisory Committee. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 3692. Colloquium. (3) (W) Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. A weekly colloquium; research and writing; opportunity for intellectual stimulation, critique and problem solving. Open to majors and non‑majors. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 3895. Independent Study. (1‑3) Prerequisite: consent of the Department. Supervised investigation of a problem or subject in the area of African-American and African Studies. Majors only. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 3990. Senior Project. (2‑15) Prerequisite: completion of junior‑year courses. Corequisite: AAAS 3601. The writing of a senior research paper or work on a community‑related project. Emphasis on mastery of skills and content of the discipline. (May be repeated twice for credit with instructor's consent.) (Fall, Spring)

AAAS 4101. Modern African Literature in English. (3) Prerequisite: junior standing; AAAS 1100 or 2206 for AAAS majors. Topics included: traditional African and Western literary influences, the culture debate, post-independence satire, decolonization of African literature, apartheid, and women writers. (On demand)

AAAS 4102. Caribbean Literature in English. (3) Prerequisite: junior standing; at least one course in AAAS for AAAS majors. Topics include: loneliness, quest for identity, nationalism, protest, and the use of patois. (On demand)

AAAS 4103. Warfare, the Military, and Civil Wars in Africa. (3) Prerequisite: 3000 or above course on Africa. Nature and conduct of warfare in ancient and modern times in Africa, including technology and strategy; analysis of events and institutions using military means such as civil wars, liberation and secession movements, the army, and their impact on African societies. (On demand)

AAAS 4105. Foreign Policy of African States. (3) Prerequisite: upper-evel course on Africa. A theoretical approach to the study of the external and internal factors influencing the development, implementation, and conduct of foreign policy of African States. (Same As POLS 3169) (Spring)

AAAS 4106. Gender and African-American Literature. (3) (3G) Prerequisites: ENGL 2100 and 2301, or permission of instructor or graduate status. Exploration of the intersection of gender and African-American Literature, focusing on either Black women writers or Black male writers, or a combination in dialogue. Cross-listed as ENGL 4156. (Alternate years)

AAAS 4107. African-American Poetry. (3) (3G) Prerequisites: ENGL 2100 and 2301, or permission of instructor or graduate status. Intensive study of African- American poetry, focusing on one period or traversing several. Cross-listed as ENGL 4157. (Alternate years)

AAAS 4108. African-American Literary Theory and Criticism. (3) (3G) Prerequisites: ENGL 2100 and 2301, or permission of instructor or graduate status. History of an African-American approach to literary analysis, including a practicum in modern criticism. Cross-listed as AAAS 4158. (Alternate years)