Africana Studies offers a broad course of interdisciplinary study relating to Africa, people of African descent, and the many different contexts of the African Diaspora around the world. Drawing on diverse methodologies and academic disciplines, Africana Studies teaches students to think analytically and critically about global Black experiences across space and time. Africana Studies also trains students to make intellectual connections among global, national, and local contexts. Building on the university's strengths in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, and humanities, Africana Studies provides an intellectual center for teaching, research, and community engagement that prepares students to function effectively in a multicultural society and diverse international environments.
Students graduating with a degree in Africana Studies are well prepared with the cultural resources and tools needed to pursue most professional careers. Recent graduates have enrolled in graduate school, launched for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, and conducted relief work in various African countries. Others have pursued professional careers in medicine, social work, and law.
Students should note that more than half of the courses which count toward the Africana Studies Major are based in other Departments, Programs and Schools across the University. Students may take a wide range of electives in departments such as Art History, Communication, French, Music, Political Science or Psychology for example in order to complete the Africana Studies Major.
Ten courses (minimum of 30 credits) are required for the major. The major consists of the following:
Select at least two courses in African Diaspora Studies
6
Africana Studies Program Electives:
Select at least one elective course which is based in the Africana Studies Program with the AFRS course designation. Usually this course will be taken at the 3000 level. However, an upper level AFRS 4000 level class may also fill this requirement.
3
Upper Level Courses:
Select at least four Upper Level courses at the 4000 level or higher. These courses may be 4000-level courses based in the Africana Studies Program OR 4000 and 6000 level courses based in other Departments and Programs, so long as those upper level courses have been approved for credit in the Africana Studies Major.4
12
Total Credit Hours
30
1
This course is offered every semester.
Note: Students are strongly encouraged to take this course during the Freshmen or Sophomore year however it may be taken by any student including Juniors and Seniors.
2
Limits: A maximum of six credits in Dance courses may count toward the major.
3
Language Courses: Language classes at any level in Arabic, Haitian Creole, Swahili, Twi, Xhosa, Yoruba and Zulu may all be counted for elective credit in the Africana Studies Major.
4
A maximum of three electives (nine credits) at the 1000 or 2000 levels may be counted toward major.
Students must ensure that at least four of the electives (twelve credits) are at the 4000-level or higher and no more than three electives (nine credits) are at the 1000- or 2000-levels. Students must fulfill the distribution component of at least two courses (six credits) in African studies and two courses (six credits) in African Diaspora studies. Students should try to choose elective courses from both the humanities as well as the social or behavioral sciences. A maximum of six dance credits may count toward the major.
The following courses do not meet the GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION requirements for African or African Diaspora credits. But all of these courses may be taken as general electives to fulfill the requirements of the major. (Most of these courses include coverage of both the African continent and the African diaspora around the world. This is the reason they do not fulfill Geographic Distribution Requirements.) Students may also petition to count any course related to African Studies or African Diaspora Studies, whether offered at Tulane or taken at another university, as a part of their major curriculum. Such petitions will be considered by the Program Director in consultation with Africana Studies Program faculty.
