African Studies Minor
The African studies minor provides unique opportunities for students to develop expertise in African political and social history, literatures, sociology, economics, women, gender, and sexuality studies, among others. It also offers language learning opportunities and interaction and networking among New York City's diverse African population.
Requirements
- Completion of six courses, including one required course, Understanding Historical Change: Africa (AFAM 1600).
- Five elective courses are required, including at least one course in social sciences, one course in arts and humanities, and three general African studies courses.
- Additionally, students must demonstrate proficiency through the intermediate level in a language spoken on the African continent other than English.
Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students will have achieved the following curricular goals:
- Develop an understanding of major themes and debates in African studies.
- Gain knowledge in interdisciplinary approaches necessary for understanding the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of African peoples.
- Acquire critical skills in multiple research methods relevant to the study of past and contemporary African societies and cultures.
- Develop a foundation in critical thinking and problem solving, research, writing, and analytical skills essential for the field.
- Develop proficiency in some indigenous and foreign languages spoken on the African continent.
The minor consists of six courses, including one required course (AFAM 1600 ) which, in general, is offered by the African & African American studies department every year.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM/HIST 1600 | Understanding Historical Change: Africa | 3 |
| One Social Studies course 1 | 3 to 4 | |
| One Arts and Humanities course 1 | 3 to 4 | |
| Three general African Studies electives 1,2 | 9 to 12 | |
- 1
Students may take no more than two electives from any one discipline.
- 2
Any course with the AFAM subject code or the AFST attribute code may fulfill this requirement.
In addition to the requirements listed above, students must demonstrate proficiency through the intermediate level in a language spoken on the African continent other than English such as Swahili, Twi, Zulu, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish or French; or another language approved by the director of African Studies.
It is not necessary to study abroad to earn the minor, but credit towards the minor can be earned by studying in Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, or Tanzania. Limited scholarship funds will be available to cover the cost of traveling.
Social Science electives
Courses in this group have the AFSS attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 3070 | African Politics | 4 |
| AFAM 3072 | Civil Wars in Africa | 4 |
| AFAM 3075 | Democracy in Africa | 4 |
| AFAM 3140 | Contemporary Africa | 4 |
| AFAM 3141 | Women and Social Change in Africa | 4 |
| AFAM 3146 | African Immigrants in the United States | 3 |
| AFAM 3148 | History of South Africa | 4 |
| AFAM 3188 | Exploring Africa: Encounter, Expedition, and Representation | 4 |
| HIST 3073 | African Intellectual History | 4 |
| HIST 3695 | Major Debates in African Studies | 4 |
| MEST 2000 | Introduction to the Modern Middle East | 4 |
| POSC 3418 | Islamic Political Thought | 4 |
| POSC 3520 | Mideast and the World | 4 |
| POSC 3522 | United Nations | 4 |
Arts and Humanities electives
Courses in this group have the AFAH attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 3148 | History of South Africa | 4 |
| AFAM 3688 | African Literature I | 4 |
| AFAM 3689 | African Literature II | 4 |
| AFAM 3693 | Contemporary African Literatures | 4 |
| AFAM 4192 | Race and Religion in the Transatlantic World | 4 |
| DANC 2430 | West African Dance | 2 |
| POSC 3427 | Islam, Art, and Resistance | 4 |
Availability
The minor in African studies is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Students in Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies may minor in African studies only if they receive the approval of their advising dean and/or department, and their schedules are sufficiently flexible to permit them to take day courses at the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campuses.