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

Stephanie Tschanz, Administrator

8th Floor Gladfelter Hall

215-204-6357

Stephanie.tschanz@temple.edu

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

The mission of the Department of African American Studies (AAS) 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 AAS 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.

Summary of Degree Requirements

1. University Requirements:

• Math 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or English 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The African American Studies major requires AAS 1296 and AAS 4096.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

2. College of Liberal Arts Requirements:

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including: 90 credits in CLA/CST courses, 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999). Of that, 6 credits must be outside the student's major division (e.g. Social Sciences or Humanities).
• A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in all College of Liberal Arts coursework and in the major
• Students must attain a minimum grade of C- (or better) to complete requirements in the major, minor, certificate, GenEd or Foreign Language/Global Studies areas. 

3.  Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:

1) All students must complete the second level of a foreign language;

2) All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd World Society category; and

3) All students must complete one of the following options:

• Third level of a foreign language;
• Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language;
• A second General Education World Society course;
• Study Abroad at an approved program; or
• Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Graduation Requirements page.

4. Major Requirements: 33 s.h. in African American Studies

1. Specifically Required Courses: 1296, 2201, 2255 (Fall only), 3215, 3268, 4096 (Spring only)
2. One literature course in the Cultural/Aesthetic category (Select from: AAS 2134, 2208, 2934, 3176, and 4146)
3. One additional Cultural/Aesthetic course (Select from: AAS 1124, 1125, 1152, 1158, 1165, 1252, 2131, 2134, 2208, 2934, 3176, 3271, 4115, and 4146)
4. Two courses from the Socio-Behavioral category (Select from: AAS 1253, 1271, 2151, 2211, 2218, 2248, 2251, 3257, 3296, 4221, 4248, and 4389)
5. One additional upper level elective in AAS, numbered 2000-4999

5. General electives vary according to a student's individual program of study. Consult your academic advisor for more information.

Requirements for the Major

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

Note 2: The four electives are distributed as follows:

1. One literature course in the Cultural/Aesthetic category (Select from: AAS 2134, 2208, 2934, 3176, and 4146)
2. One additional Cultural/Aesthetic course (Select from: AAS 1124, 1125, 1152, 1158, 1165, 1252, 2131, 2134, 2208, 2934, 3176, 3271, 4115, and 4146)
3. Two courses from the Socio-Behavioral category (Select from: AAS 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 Attribute 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

Suggested Semester-by-Semester plan