At which campus can I study this program?
PROGRAM CURRENTLY ON HOLD; NOT ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS
Begin Date of Enrollment Hold: February 17, 2012
Program Description
This interdisciplinary major is designed to give students an integrated and critical understanding of the experiences and contributions of peoples of African descent. Students are encouraged to do research and evaluate the relationship between the political, social, and economic developments in Africa and the African Diaspora. An African American Studies Option, African Studies Option, and a Law and Social Justice Option are available within the major. The methodology requirements of the proposed program would enable our students to engage in social science research. It would also prepare them better for graduate programs in the social sciences.
African American Studies Option
This emphasis provides students with the opportunity to explore the experiences of African Americans using theories and methods originating in the field along with those adopted from the various disciplines. Students are also made aware of the potential to apply this knowledge to the solution of social, political, and economic problems. The curriculum also promotes greater understanding of the relationship between African American and other ethnic groups in the shaping of American society and culture.
African Studies Option
This option provides students with the opportunity to examine the geographical, cultural, historical, political, and economic aspects of Africa.
Law and Social Justice Option
This multi-disciplinary program would provide students with the opportunity to study the politics, culture, economics, and history of African Americans in our society and link this understanding with an in depth study of criminal justice and the legal system. Issues that students will focus on will be areas such as, Are African Americans discriminated against in criminal justice decision-making? What is the historic connection between race and punishment in the US legal system? How do issues of class, race, and gender impact policy decisions about crime and punishment? What is the socioeconomic impact of high incarceration rates on the African American community? The program is designed to encourage students to think systematically about the relationship among public policy, the criminal justice system, and shifting notions of social justice that have characterized debates over the workings and goals of the prison system in American life and thought. The proposed program would enable us to foster a cadre of students who will be particularly suited to pursue graduate work in the area.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have at least third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in African and African American Studies, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 20 |
| Requirements for the Major | 64-65 |
4-10 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 4 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses.
Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Requirements for the Major
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| AFAM 100N | Black Freedom Struggles  | 3 |
| AFR 110 | 3 | |
| SOC 207 | Research Methods in Sociology | 3 |
| STAT 200 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| SOC 470 | Intermediate Social Statistics | 3-4 |
| or PLSC 309 | Quantitative Political Analysis | |
| Requirements for the Option | ||
| Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select an option | 48 | |
Requirements for the Option
African American Studies Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| AFAM 101 | 3 | |
| AFAM/HIST 211 | Slavery and Freedom in the Black Atlantic | 3 |
| AFAM 401 | Afro-American Studies Seminar | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 21 credits with at least 3 credits in AAAS courses of the following: | 21 | |
| First-Year Seminar in African American Studies | ||
| Women of the African Diaspora | ||
| Racism and Sexism | ||
| The Life and Thought of Martin Luther King, Jr. | ||
| The Life and Thought of Malcolm X | ||
| Freedom's First Generation: African American Life and Work, from the Civil War to World War II | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis | ||
SOC 119 | ||
| Select 18 credits at the 400-level with at least 9 credits in AAAS courses of the following: | 18 | |
AAAS 494 | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality in America | ||
| Black Liberation and American Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of Affirmative Action | ||
| The Post-World War II Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Globalization and Its Implications | ||
| Internship | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| Race, Crime, and Justice | ||
ECON 436W | ||
| Ethnic Minorities and Schools in the United States | ||
| Policy Making and Evaluation | ||
African Studies Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| AAAS 400 | 3 | |
| AFR 191 | Early African History | 3 |
| AFR 192 | Modern African History | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 21 credits with at least 3 credits of AAAS courses of the following: | 21 | |
AAAS 397 | ||
| First-Year Seminar in African American Studies | ||
| Slavery and Freedom in the Black Atlantic | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| Women, Gender, and Feminisms in Africa | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| Internship | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis | ||
| Elementary Swahili I | ||
| Elementary Swahili II | ||
| Select 18 credits at the 400-level with at least 9 credits in AAAS courses of the following: 1 | 18 | |
AAAS 494 | ||
| Black Liberation and American Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of Affirmative Action | ||
| The Post-World War II Civil Rights Movement | ||
| South Africa Today | ||
| Globalization and Its Implications | ||
| Ethnic Conflict in Africa | ||
| Government and Politics of Africa | ||
| Internship | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| Growth and Development | ||
| Resource Governance in Africa | ||
| Political Processes in Underdeveloped Systems | ||
- 1
Only 3 credits of Internship (AFR 495) (internship) and 6 credits of Special Topics (AFR 497), Internship (AFR 495), AAAS 494, or Foreign Studies (AFR 499) in any combination may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Law and Social Justice Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| AFAM 210 | Freedom's First Generation: African American Life and Work, from the Civil War to World War II | 3 |
| AFAM 401 | Afro-American Studies Seminar | 3 |
| CRIMJ/CRIM/SOC 12 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRIMJ/CRIM 100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIMJ/CRIM 113 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| CRIMJ/CRIM 451 | Race, Crime, and Justice | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 30 credits of the following: | 30 | |
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality in America | ||
| Black Liberation and American Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of Affirmative Action | ||
| The Post-World War II Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Globalization and Its Implications | ||
| American Correctional System | ||
| Sentencing | ||
| Policing in America | ||
| The Juvenile Justice System | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| Crime Policy | ||
| Women and the Criminal Justice System | ||
ECON 436W | ||
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program