Courses
African American Studies
8001. (0400) Proseminar in Graduate
Work in African American Studies (3
s.h.)
An introduction to the intellectual and professional foundations
of the field. It examines the historical origins of African
American Studies in the United States and Africa, as well as
the context of classic creative, analytical, and autobiographical
works.
8002. (0401) African Civilizations (3
s.h.)
An intensive investigation into the origins of several major
African civilizations. Civilizations and periods chosen may
vary at the discretion of the instructor but will normally
include the classic cultures of Nubia, Kemet, Axum, Songhay,
Mali, Ghana, Monomotapa, Yoruba, and Asante.
8003. (0402) Research Methods
in African American Studies (3 s.h.)
An introduction to the basic research methods used in African
American Studies. It examines historical, anthropological,
behavioral, and critical methods, as well as the methodological
foundations of the Afrocentric method.
8004. (0447) Afrocentric Theory and Methods (3 s.h.)
An intensive critique of African studies within the context of evolving theoretical and methodological issues. Topics include boundaries of particularism, frames of reference, etymology, historical cleavages, and the idea of the African voice. Students will write major research papers analyzing the various perspectives advanced by scholars within the field of African studies.
8005. (0460) African Literature (3 s.h.)
Examines African literature from 4000 B.C. to the 20th century. Special attention will be paid to the early sacred works, and didactic oral traditions, poetry, drama, the advent and literary aesthetics of Western-writers.
8006. (0462) African American Literature (3 s.h.)
Deals with the social context of African American literary development from enslavement to the present. Students are introduced to the cultural patterns and historical experiences that produced the early autobiographies, narratives, poetry, and essays as well as the 20th century novels, plays, and poetry.
8007. (0466) African Aesthetics (3 s.h.)
Examines the interrelationship of the creative process with cultural and philosophical motifs in African history by studying mythology, the generative and productive force of the spoken word and the power and significance of a wide variety of aesthetic concepts.
8008. (0505) Ethnographic Methods (3 s.h.)
Examines the various classic and contemporary methods for collecting field data on African cultural and social behaviors. Emphasis on the use of audio and video data gathering methods, and participant observation.
8432. (0432) African American
Family (3 s.h.)
Contemporary theories and research on the African American
family. Includes assessment of family behavior, the role of
children, sex roles, perceptual changes within the context
of society, demographic factors, impact of unemployment and
underemployment, and income distribution.
8441. (0440) African Philosophical
Thought (3 s.h.)
An analytical and historical overview of the ideas that have
made the African culture, with particular emphasis on the resurrection
idea, the concept of rule, harmony and balance, divination
systems, dual-gender responsibility, and relationship between
human beings.
8442. (0442) African Religions (3 s.h.)
8455. (0455) Caribbean Culture
and Politics (3 s.h.)
An investigation of the roles of culture and politics in the
development of the Caribbean basin. Particular emphasis will
be placed on the ways that African cultural survivals, creolism,
syncretism, and political struggle have acted to create the
unique Caribbean outlook.
8464. (0464) Literature of the Harlem Renaissance (3 s.h.)
A study of the African-American realization of literary revivals between the two great 20th Century European wars. Special emphasis on Harlem as a venue and symbol of the emergence of modern African American literature.
8465. (0465) Literature of the
Black Power Revolution (3 s.h.)
An overview of the major African American literary developments
of the 1960's and 1970's in the United States. Looks at the
works of Amiri Baraka, James Baldwin, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki
Giovanni, Haki Madhubuti, and others.
8521. (0521) Readings in African History (3 s.h.)
Survey of the major developments in Africa through written and oral records with discrete emphasis on the analysis of perspectives both external and internal to Africa. Collected traditions, colonial and neocolonial scholarship, liberal and feminist writings, Marxist and neo-Marxist treatises as well as Africanist and afrocentrist literature will be examined.
8542. (0540) Readings in African
American Social Thought (3 s.h.)
An intensive reading of the works of Frederick Douglass, Martin
Delany, Frances Harper, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Edward
Blyden, Booker T. Washington, E. Franklin Frazier, Ida B. Wells,
Anna Julia Cooper, and others. Looks at the intellectual roots
of the ideas of significant contemporary thinkers.
8547. (0547) Readings in 1960s Protests (3 s.h.)
Close reading of documentary evidences in African American political, historical, and social thought during the turbulent sixties. Students prepare papers from primary documents.
8566. (0566) African American Music (3 s.h.)
9001. (0667) Seminar in African Aesthetics (3 s.h.)
Examines the philosophical foundations of African aesthetics by concentrating on the cosmology, ritual religions, oral traditions, and proverbs of African people. Examines the question of what constitutes African standards of beauty, or art, or good, or culture.
9002. (0750) Teaching African American Studies (3 s.h.)
Required of all graduate teaching assistants prior to the assumption of teaching duties. Designed to teach communication and organizational skills. Supervision of teaching is required.
9615. (0615) Seminar in African American Psychology (3 s.h.)
An examination of theory and research pertaining to African American psychology. A selected discussion of various theoretical perspectives on African American personality and socialization.
9642. (0642) Seminar in African American Social Philosophy (3 s.h.)
An intensive seminar in the writings and activities of major social philosophers such as Edward Blyden, Ida B. Wells, Paul Cuffee, Martin Delany, David Walker, Malcolm X, Harold Cruse, and Angela Davis.
9643. (0640) Research and Writings of W.E.B. Du Bois (3 s.h.)
An intensive examination of selected topics in the autobiographical works of Du Bois, historical, sociological, and creative works.
9645. (0645) Seminar in the
African American Woman (3 s.h.)
An exhaustive treatment of theories relating to the role of
the African American woman. Topics will include gender bias
within the African American community, feminism and the black
woman, sexism, classism, and racism, and the future of the
black woman in America.
9662. (0662) Seminar in the African American Novel (3 s.h.)
A seminar in the African American novel which may focus on one or several principal figures or examine a single theme during a particular historical period, i.e., the novel after 1945.
9982. (0790) Individual Research In
African American Studies (1-6 s.h.)
9994. (0799) Preliminary Exam
Preparation (1-6 s.h.)
9998. (0899) Pre-Dissertation
Research (1-6 s.h.)
9999. (0999) Dissertation Research (1-6 s.h.)
This course is intended only for those students who have achieved Ph.D. Candidacy status. A minimum of 6 semester hours is required for graduation.