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Africana Studies Program
COURSES
Africana Studies (AFRS)
AFRS 1. Ethnic Experience (3 units)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Examines the experiences of various ethnic
minorities in the U.S., addresses the issue of race as it affects ethnic
formation, analyzes public policy and ethnic experience, discusses the comparable
idealogies of race and gender, and evaluates culture and ethnic experience.
G.E. Breadth D3. (Formerly AAIS 1)
AFRS 10. Introduction to Africana Studies (3 units)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. A survey course designed to introduce
students to the vast array of scholarship examining African American experience
as it relates to the experience of Africans on the continent and other peoples
of African descent in the Diaspora. G.E. Breadth D3. (Formerly AAIS 10)
F
AFRS 15. Slavery and the American Experience (3 units)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Survey course examining the role of slavery
in the economic, political, and social development of the United States
from the founding of the colonies through the revolutionary period to the
Civil War and beyond. G.E. Breadth D3. (Formerly AAIS 15)
AFRS 20. Critical Thinking about Race (3 units)
Uses critical thinking skills to discuss, analyze, and critique centuries-old
ideas on race/ethnicity and the social policies that were enacted to promote
prejudice and discrimination against minorities. Special focus on peoples
of African descent and American Indians. G.E. Foundation A3. (Formerly AAIS
20) FS
AFRS 21 and 121. Gospel Choir (1; max total 8 units)
(Same as MUSIC 102GC.) Performance
of a variety of inspirational songs reflecting the African American cultural
experience. Participation through rehearsals, activities, programs, and
field trips. (Formerly AAIS 21 and 121) FS
AFRS 24. African American Music (3 units)
The origin and evolution of African American music from the perspective
of social and cultural history. Emphasis on slave songs, gospel, jazz, rhythm
and blues, and soul music. (Formerly AAIS 24)
AFRS 27. Africana Cultures and Images (3 units)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Introduction to the historical and
contemporary experiences of African Americans and other peoples of African
descent. Examines historical and social arrangements implicated in the experiences
and the images these arrangements construct both in the United States and
around the world. G.E. Breadth D3. (Formerly AAIS 27) FS
AFRS 35. Art and Music of Africa (3 units)
Comprehensive study of African artistry and music. (Formerly AAIS 35)
AFRS 36. Contemporary African Societies (3 units)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Analysis of the cultural and political
structure of African societies; understanding the impact of colonialism
in Africa; realizing the relationship of African Americans to Africa. G.E.
Breadth D3. (Formerly AAIS 36) F
AFRS 38. African American Sociology (3 units)
Basic principles of sociology and their application to the black experience.
Uses the sociological approach to seek an understanding of the various experiences
of black people in society. Involves participant observation, interviewing,
and field trips. (Formerly AAIS 38)
AFRS 55T. Topics in African American Studies (1-3; max total 9 units)
Selected topics at the introductory level in African American Studies. (Formerly
AAIS 55T)
AFRS 56. The African American Family (3 units)
Deals with the origin, development, and adaptations the African American
family has created to sustain itself as a viable institution. Emphasis is
on problems encountered and created by the American society and how the
African American family handles these adversities. (Formerly AAIS 56) F
AFRS 60. Introduction to African American Theatre (3 units)
Study and practice in performance of African American drama and oral interpretation
projects. Class will include poetry reading; dance performances; dramatic
interpretations; comedic sketches. Previous experience not required. (Formerly
AAIS 60)
AFRS 102A. African Dance (3 units)
Focuses on the history of African dance in the United States, uses of dance
among Africans/African Americans. Activities include dance techniques; imagery/visualization,
dance exercises; simple constructive rest techniques; African dance step
techniques preparatory for advance class. (2 lecture, 2 activity hours)
(Formerly AAIS 102A)
AFRS 104W. Writing about American Inequality (3 units)
Prerequisite: satisfactory completion (C or better) of the ENGL 5B and
10 graduation requirement. Analysis of poverty, social class, and inequality
in America. Students receive feedback in preparing papers on poverty and
inequality. Emphasis on research techniques, evaluation and documentation
of evidence, and style and mechanics of writing. Meets the upper-division
writing skills requirement for graduation. (Formerly AAIS 104W) FS
AFRS 129. African American Literary Classics (3 units)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area C. Discussion and written
analyses of significant poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction by African
American writers representing a variety of views and perspectives. Historical
and social contexts of literary works. G.E. Integration IC. (Formerly AAIS
129) FS
AFRS 130T. Topics in Ethnic Studies (1-3; max total 6 units)
In-depth research and writing on the past and contemporary situation of
America's major ethnic minorities. (Formerly AAIS 130T)
AFRS 135. The African American Community (3 units)
Analysis of the various lifestyles and cultural patterns of African American
communities. Emphasis on unique cultural features of the family, religion,
foods, music, art, and folkways. (Formerly AAIS 135) F
AFRS 137. African American Women (3 units)
(Same as WS 137.) An overview of the accomplishments of African American
women in the United States; their contributions to American culture; African
influence; African American women as defined by a dominant society vs. legitimate
definition designed to encourage a positive self-concept. (Formerly AAIS
137) S
AFRS 140. The African American Church (3 units)
History of the formation and development of African American religious institutions
(Christianity, Islam, Judaism) in the African American community; their
effect on the African American personality. (Formerly AAIS 140)
AFRS 144. Race Relations (3 units)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Analysis of the moral
and intellectual issues surrounding the attitudes of whites toward blacks
and other racial groups in the United States and elsewhere. Explores the
functions of race relations and the social life that developed among non-white
groups. G.E. Integration ID. (Formerly AAIS 144) S
AFRS 145. Life and Times of Martin Luther King Jr. (3 units)
Explores Dr. King's leadership in the nonviolent movement for racial equality
and human dignity, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to King's assassination
(1955-68). Emphasis on philosophy, ideology. Format: lectures, films, slides,
recorded speeches, and discussion. (Formerly AAIS 145)
AFRS 146. Law and the Minority Community (3 units)
Critical analysis of the foundation and changing structure of law and legal
insti tutions as perceived by minority communities, with emphasis on equal
employment and education, criminal justice, and political power. (Formerly
AAIS 146) S
AFRS 148. Issues in the African American Community (3 units)
Prerequisite: AFRS 10 or permission of instructor. In-depth, comprehensive,
critical analysis of the current social and economic structure of the African
American community. Examination of the effects of institutional racism on
current social policy. (Formerly AAIS 148)
AFRS 150. South Africa (3 units)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. An introductory analysis
of the social, racial, political, and economic problems of people of South
Africa, both past and present. G.E. Multicultural/International MI. (Formerly
AAIS 150) S
AFRS 164. African Cultural Perspectives (3 units)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Explores the realities
of the African cultural experiences through readings and films by Africans.
The goal is to study the historical, political, economic, religious, and
sociocultural conditions of the continent in the precolonial, colonial,
and postcolonial periods. G.E. Multicultural/International MI. (Formerly
AAIS 164) F
AFRS 165. African American Theatre Styles
(3; max total 6 units)
(See DRAMA 187.) (Formerly AAIS
165)
AFRS 178. History of African Americans (3 units)
(Same as HIST 178.) Evolution of African American society from 1619 to the
present; emphasis on the social, political, and economic aspects as they
relate to cultural values, theories in the development and environment that
contribute to the African American way of life. (Formerly AAIS 178) S
AFRS 189. Fieldwork in Community Relations
(3; max total 6 units)
Supervised field observation, participation, and documentation in the operation
of minority communities. (Formerly AAIS 189) S
AFRS 190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6 units)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading. (Formerly AAIS 190) FS
AFRS 191. History of Allensworth (1 unit)
An examination of the historical development of the African American town
of Allensworth from its status as a town to its existence as a state historic
park. Students will be exposed to various academic disciplines through lectures
and a field trip to the park. (Formerly AAIS 191) S
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