Africana Studies
Major and Minor
Program Committee
Frederick Hord, Africana Studies, chair
Caesar Akuetey, Modern Languages
Steven Cohn, Economics
Mary Crawford, Chemistry
Jessie Dixon, Modern Languages
Tony Gant, Art
Konrad Hamilton, History
Nicole Malley, Music
Magali Roy-Féquière, Gender and Women’s Studies
Kelly Shaw, Psychology
Karin Wimbley, Africana Studies
The major in Africana Studies is a program of study which focuses critically on the contributions of African and Diasporan cultures and peoples to human civilizations. It provides an understanding of how Black people have negotiated the forces and events shaping their experiences, and critiques that negotiation. The program is interdisciplinary and international, using the knowledge and tools of a wide range of disciplines to study the cultures and societies of African and African-descended peoples worldwide. Principal focus is given to Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. Students learn to think critically about the role of race in: the distribution of power, status and resources; the definition of individual and group identities; and the construction and impact of social structures. Students also examine how race connects to culture, gender and class. The Africana Studies major seeks to produce knowledgeable, well-rounded individuals with strong analytical, writing and interpersonal skills. Graduates in Africana Studies can look forward to careers in law, foreign services, business, social work, academia, public affairs and other opportunities.
Majors in Africana Studies may also take advantage of opportunities for off-campus study through Knox’s Program in Buenos Aires, the ACM Urban Studies Program, the Washington Semester, the Dakar Program, the ACM Botswana Program, the ACM Costa Rica Program, the ACM Tanzania Program and individually-arranged internships.
The departmental curriculum contributes to the College's Key Competency Requirements as follows:
- Writing Key Competency - AFST 383 and 390 serve as writing intensive courses for majors under the conditions outlined in the course description.
- Speaking Key Competency - AFST 254 and AFST 392 serve as speaking intensive courses for majors under the conditions outlined in the course descriptions.
- Information Literacy and Informed Use of Technology - The Africana Studies Program develops basic computer literacy in the discipline through all individual courses, and develops advanced computer literacy in the discipline through both capstone courses for majors.