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  Academic Programs / Liberal Arts

African American Studies


Dr. Nathaniel Norment, Chairperson
810 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-8491
nnorme01@temple.edu

Dr. Sonja Peterson-Lewis, Director of Undergraduate Studies
829 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-1996
sonja.peterson-lewi@temple.edu

808 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-8491
afam@temple.edu
www.temple.edu/aas/

The mission of the Department of African American Studies (AF-AM S) is to provide an intellectual arena in which students learn critically to examine, analyze, and interpret the experiences, traditions, and dynamics of peoples of African descent so as to be prepared to take roles of effective agency, participation, and leadership in the intellectual, research, and social activist domains of professional and community life. The department’s guiding philosophy is African-centered in that we believe that mindful awareness of the social, cultural, and historical experiences of African peoples must inform and guide all viable research, analysis, interpretation, and action directed toward people of African descent.

The curriculum stresses the skills necessary to think critically, write clearly, argue persuasively, and solve problems effectively. Students are exposed to theory and research in a variety of subject areas and are encouraged to engage in active research and service beyond the classroom. Past AF-AM S alumni have entered careers in primary and secondary education and administration, social work and administration, research design, law enforcement, city government, and have also worked with museums and other cultural and artistic institutions. Others have entered graduate studies in a variety of areas, including law, the health-related professions, public administration, and the social sciences.

The department offers three internal awards for graduating seniors—two privately-sponsored awards for outstanding academic performance and one departmental award for outstanding service. The Department of African American Studies supervises the Temple in Ghana program, which allows students to study for six weeks during the summer at the University of Ghana in Accra.

Requirements for the Major

Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 1296 Introduction to African American Studies 3 WI
African American Studies 3215 Languages & Cultures of West Africa 3  
African American Studies 2201 African Civilizations 3  
African American Studies 3268 Critical Readings in African American History 3  
African American Studies 22551 Introduction to Research Methods
(offered during fall semester only1)
3  
African American Studies 40961 Senior Seminar
(offered during spring semester only)
3 WI*
         
African American Studies Electives Select four (4) additional courses as outlined below2. 12  
African American Studies Elective One additional elective numbered 2000-4999 3  
         
Total     33  
         
* Indicates Writing Capstone.    

Note 1: Students must take AF-AM S 2255: Introduction to Research Methods and AF-AM S 4096: Senior Seminar in sequence because students must complete in AF-AM S 4096 the research that they will design in AF-AM S 2255.  Thus, complete AF-AM S 2255 in the fall, the only term in which it is offered, and then immediately enroll in AF-AM S 4096 for the spring term, the only semester in which it is offered.  The department does not accept other research courses as substitutes for AF-AM S 2255.

Note 2: Of the four electives, students must choose at least TWO Cultural Aesthetic courses (AF-AM S 1124, 1125, 1152, 1158, 1165, 1252, 2131, 2134, 2208, 2934, 3176, 3271, 4115, and 4146--at least one of these must be literature-based), plus at least TWO Socio-Behavioral courses (AF-AM S 1253, 1271, 2151, 2211, 2218, 2248, 2251, 3257, 3296, 4221, 4248, and 4389).

Note 3: All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed above and are identified by "WI" in the RCI column.

 

Distinction in Major

African American Studies majors may graduate with a distinction in major if they have earned a GPA of 3.3.

Requirements for the Minor and Suggested Order of Completion

Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 1296 Introduction to African American Studies 3 WI
African American Studies 3215 Languages & Cultures of West Africa 3  
African American Studies 2201 African Civilizations 3  
African American Studies 3268 Critical Readings in African American History 3  
African American Studies 2255 Introduction to Research Methods
(offered during fall semester only)
3  
  Electives Select two (2) additional courses, one of which must be at or above the 2000 level.** 6  
Total     21  
         
**Make these selections based on the content areas in which you desire greater familiarity (e.g., AF-AM S literature, AF-AM S social issues, AF-AM S psychology, etc.). One of these two upper-level courses may be an AF-AM S-related course outside the department; however, students must seek written approval from the AF-AM S undergraduate director prior to enrolling in outside courses that they want to apply toward the AF-AM S minor. Students must earn a grade of B or higher in external courses that they wish to apply toward the AF-AM S minor.
The department does not accept other research courses as substitutes for AF-AM S 2255.

 


 

Suggested Semester-by-Semester plans

 

Requirements for new Freshman Students starting in the 2009-2010 Academic year

Freshman Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
English 0802, 0812 or 0902 Analytical Reading & Writing 4 GW
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Quantitative Literacy 4 GQ
Foreign Language 1001 Foreign Language (first level) 4  
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Human Behavior 3 GB
Subtotal      15  
   
Freshman Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
IH 0851 or 0951 Mosaic: Humanities Seminar I 3 GY
Foreign Language 1002 Foreign Language (second level) 4  
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Science & Technology I 3 GS
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Race & Diversity 3 GD
African American Studies 1296 Introduction to African American Studies 3 WI
Subtotal      16  
 
Sophomore Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
Foreign Language/
GenEd
0800+ Foreign Language (third level) or
GenEd World Society course or
Internationally-Focused Course From Approved List
3
GG
IH 0852 or 0952 Mosaic: Humanities Seminar II 3 GZ
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Science & Technology II 3 GS
African American Studies 2201 African Civilizations 3  
African American Studies 2000-4999 One African American Studies Elective 3  
Any 0800-4999 One Elective in Any School or College 2  
Subtotal      17  
 
Sophomore Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Arts 3-4 GA
GenEd 08xx or 09xx Global/World Society 3 GG
GenEd 08xx or 09xx U.S. Society 3 GU
African American Studies 1000+ One Cultural Aesthetic African American Studies
Course From Approved List
3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3  
Subtotal      15-16  
 
Junior Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3  
African American Studies 3268 Critical Readings in African American History 3  
African American Studies 1000+ One Socio-Behavioral African American Studies
Course From Approved List
3  
CLA/CST 0800+ Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
Subtotal     15  
 
Junior Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 3215 Languages & Cultures of West Africa 3  
African American Studies 1000+ One Socio-Behavioral African American Studies
Course From Approved List
3  
African American Studies 1000+ One Literature-Focused Cultural Aesthetic African
American Studies Course From Approved List
3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
Subtotal      15  
 
Senior Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 2255 Introduction to Research Methods
(offered during fall semester only)
3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
Subtotal      15  
 
Senior Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 4096 Senior Seminar
(offered during spring semester only)
3 WI
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
Any 0800-4999 One Elective in Any School or College 3  
Subtotal      15  
         
Degree Total   123  

 

Requirements For New Transfer Students starting in the 2009-2010 Academic Year

Freshman Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
English 0802, 0812 or 0902 Analytical Reading & Writing 4 CO/GW
Foreign Language 1001 Foreign Language (first level) 4  
Core 0800+ One Quantitative Reasoning A Course 3-4 QA/GQ
Core 0800+ One Arts Course 3-4 AR/GA
Subtotal      14-16  
   
Freshman Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
IH 0851 or 0951 Mosaic: Humanities Seminar I 3 IA/GY
Foreign Language 1002 Foreign Language (second level) 4  
Core 0800+ One Quantitative Reasoning B Course 3-4 QB/GQ
Core 1000+ One Science & Technology A Course 3-4 SA
African American Studies 1296 Introduction to African American Studies 3 WI
Subtotal      16-18  
 
Sophomore Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
Foreign Language/
Core
0800+ Foreign Language (third level) or
Core International Studies course
3
IS/GG
IH 0852 or 0952 Mosaic: Humanities Seminar II 3 IB/GZ
Core 0800+ One Science & Technology B Course 3-4 SB/GS
Core 0800+ One American Culture Course 3 AC/GU
African American Studies 2201 African Civilizations 3  
Subtotal      15-16  
 
Sophomore Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
Core 0800+ One Individual and Society Course 3 IN/GB
Core 0800+ One Studies in Race Course 3 RS/GD
Core 0800+ One International Studies Course 3 IS/GG
African American Studies 3215 Languages & Cultures of West Africa 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
Any 0800-4999 One Elective in Any School or College 2-3  
Subtotal      17-18  
 
Junior Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3  
African American Studies 3268 Critical Readings in African American History 3  
African American Studies 1000+ One Socio-Behavioral African American
Studies Course From Approved List
3  
CLA/CST 1000+ One CLA/CST Writing Intensive Course 3 WI
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
Any 0800-4999 One Elective in Any School or College 2  
Subtotal     17  
 
Junior Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3  
African American Studies 1000+ One Socio-Behavioral African American Studies
Course From Approved List
3  
African American Studies 1000+ One Literature-Focused Cultural Aesthetic African
American Studies Course From Approved List
3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
Subtotal      15  
 
Senior Year – 1st Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 1000+ One Cultural Aesthetic African American
Studies Course From Approved List
3  
African American Studies 2255 Introduction to Research Methods
(offered during fall semester only)
3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
Subtotal      15  
 
Senior Year – 2nd Semester  
Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
African American Studies 2000-4999 One African American Studies Elective 3  
African American Studies 4096 Senior Seminar
(offered during spring semester only)
3 WI
CLA/CST 2000+ One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3  
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Any CLA/CST Elective 3  
Subtotal      15  
         
Degree Total   123  

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