100-Level Courses
AFAM 101 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3)
Prerequisite: completion of General Education (G.E.) Category D.1. Perspective through which people of color have come to see themselves in terms of their own heroes, culture and contributions to societies in which they live, and world society in general. (Same as ASAM/CHIC/WGST 101)
Meets G.E. Requirement Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
AFAM 103 Critical Race Theory (3)
In this course, students will examine the ways race, sexuality, ethnicity, gender, disability, and class influence the law using a critical race theory lens. Critical Race Studies is an extension of Critical Legal Theory, which was formed in the 1980s to explore the ways that racism and structural inequality are institutionized within the legal system.
AFAM 107 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
Introduction to key texts and topics in African American Studies. Interdisciplinary exploration of social conditions, political engagement, intellectual production and cultural contributions of African Americans.
Meets G.E. Requirements Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
AFAM 160 Introduction to Black Creative Expression
Introduction to Black originators and innovators of art forms, such as performing, literary and visual. Critical responses to art forms in both historical and contemporary contexts. Understand trends in creativity and imaginations that cross expressive forms in Black communities.
Meets G.E. Requirements Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
AFAM 190 Survey of American History with Emphasis on Ethnic Minorities (3)
A survey of American history from prehistoric times (before 1492) to the present with special emphasis on the role of race and ethnicity. (Same as ASAM/CHIC/HIST 190)
Meets G.E. Requirement 4B (American History, Institutions, and Values)
200-Level Courses
AFAM 260 Black Lives Matter Creative and Critical Ideas (3)
Black Lives Matter movement origins, controversies and legacies. Creative and critical responses to social activism in communities of color. Engaging critical debates around over-policing, anti-black racism and bias.
Meets G.E. Requirement Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
AFAM 280 Introduction to African American History (3)
This course introduces students to key events, individuals, institutions and experiences that shaped the history and culture of Africans and their descendants from their arrival in North America in 1619 to the present.
Meets G.E. Requirement Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
300-Level Courses
AFAM 301 African American Food Culture (3)
Examines the dynamic relationship between African Americans, food culture, and food in the US from their earliest beginnings, focusing on the socio-historical, creative, economic, and geographic manifestations of the relationship between food culture, identity, and wellness.
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 304 Black Families in America (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 101 or completion of G.E. Area 4A
This course examines issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and identity within African American families. Topics will include: black single mothers and welfare, prisons, black middle class families and residential housing, black youth and activism, and LGBT family formations. (Same as SOCI 304).
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 307 Research and Writing in Ethnic Studies (3)
Prerequisite: completion of ENGL 101 or equivalent.
Introduction to research and writing in ethnic studies (e.g. quantitative v. qualitative analysis, reliability/validity) and specific methods of research (e.g. archives, interviews, oral history). Typically offered once per academic year in Fall semsester.
Meets Upper- Division Writing Requirement: Extensive writing. A "C" or better is required to satisfy the upper-division writing requirement. (Same as ASAM/CHIC 307)
AFAM 308 Black Men in America (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Area 4A
Investigates the diverse and conflicting representations and theories of black masculinity in the US and abroad. Explores tensions between representations and social, economic, and political realities of black men. Analyzes contemporary issues of black masculinities and the post-racial imaginary.
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 310 Black Women in America (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Area 4A
Issues in the study of black women in America, including social, political, economic and intellectual development. Historical and contemporary issues as they affect black American women. (Same as WMST 310).
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 311 Race and Relationships (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Area 4A
Examines the ways race, ethnicity, gender and class matter in everyday society with an emphasis on intrapersonal relationships, racial socialization, and the effects of this racial socialization in peoples' lives.
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 314 Pan-African Dance and Movement (3)
Prerequisite: completion of GE Area 3A or 3B
Theory and practice of movement of African and Haitian peoples. Movement (dance) as quasi-language in perpetuating the lifestyle of African cultures and cultures of African descent.
Meets G.E. Requirements 3U (Explorations in the Arts or Humanities)
AFAM 320 Black Political Thought (3)
Prerequisite: completion of the GE Area 3B.
Black American intellectual from slavery to contemporary times, with special emphasis on black contributions to American political and social thought, as well as their contributions in America's social development.
Meets G.E. Requirements 3U (Explorations in the Arts or Humanities)
AFAM 321 Activism, Engagement, and Community Development (3)
Planning and community development trends in minority communities in urban, suburban and rural areas. Theoretical perspectives and practices embraced by grassroots planners. Public and private sector approaches. Topics include neighborhood planning, community development, economic development and grassroots organizing.
AFAM 322 Black Psychology (3)
Prerequisite: completion of GE Area 4A
Uses psychological principles and practices to guide students' comprehension of life as an African American. Introduction to a holistic perspective that expands ways of conceptualizing psychology from an African American world view.(Same as PSYC 322). Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 324 Introduction to African-American Literature (3)
Prerequisite: completion of GE Area 3B.
Literary contributions by major black American authors. Contemporary black writers and the recurring themes of protest and quest for identity. Not available for graduate degree credit. (Same ENGL 324).
Meets G.E. Requirements 3U (Explorations in the Arts or Humanities)
AFAM 325 African-American Religions and Spirituality (3)
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1.
African American belief systems and denominations. Folk beliefs among Blacks, African-American religious groups, and the role of the Black Church in politics and social change in the Black community. (Same as CPRL 325).
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 335 History of Racism (3)
Prerequisite: completion of GE Area 4A
Historical roots and current expressions of racism. How racism manifests itself through individual, social, political, economic and religious institutions and proposes methods of combating it.
Meets G.E. Requirements 4U (Explorations in the Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AFAM 356 African-American Music Appreciation (3)
Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing.
Black music in America; the sociological conditions that help produce various forms of black music. (Same as MUS 356).
Meets G.E. Requirements 3U (Explorations in the Arts or Humanities)
AFAM 357 Blacks in the Performing Arts (3)
Prerequisite: completion of GE Area 3A
African American culture through the performing arts. Examines Blacks in the entertainment industry as a means of understanding and revealing important aspects of African-American culture. (Same as MUS/THTR 357).
Meets G.E. Requirements 3U (Explorations in the Arts or Humanities)
AFAM 360 Black Recreation and Leisure (3)
African American recreation and leisure in the U.S., connections between play and work in the context of racial segregation and discrimination. The settings for commercial leisure, activities, social relations and ideas behind fairly well-known environments.
AFAM 361 Black Environmentalism (3)
Environmental racism, crises and justice issues for communities of color. Origins of Black environmentalism, slavery, Jim Crow segregation and impact on the relationship between African Americans with nature and the environment. Creative expressions of Black environmentalism.
Meets G.E. Requirement Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
AFAM 370 Development of African American Children and Youth (3)
Prerequisite: GE Area 4A
Understanding cognitive and socio-emotional development of African American children and youth is facilitated through comprehensive examinations of significant African and African American cultural and historical experiences. (CAS 370 and AFAM 370 are the same course.)
AFAM 381 African Literature (3)
Prerequisite: GE Area 3A or 3B.
African literature written in the English language; the fiction, poetry and drama of the new nations. (ENGL 381 and CPLT 381 are the same course.)
AFAM 388 Hip Hop Culture (3)
Origins and influences of hip hop on culture, fashion, movies, television, advertising, attitude, music, dancing and slang among African Americans. The impact of the hip hop culture phenomenon on American and global societies.
Meets G.E. Requirements 3U (Explorations in the Arts or Humanities)
AFAM 389 Black Latinx Identity (3)
In this course, students examine the relationship between Blackness and Latin American identity formation and social movements of Black identified Latino/a/x people. The course will pay particular attention to the Black Latinx experience within the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America. Some issues covered are: Slavery, racial classification laws, gender, culture, and social movements.
Meets G.E. Requirement Area 6 (Ethnic Studies)
400-Level Courses
AFAM 405 Black Representations in Film (3)
Critical study of black images in motion pictures, past and present. Explores the tension between historical Black consciousness, authenticity, imitation and alternative adaptation.
AFAM 408 The Black Athlete (3)
Prerequisite: AFAM 107; or graduate standing.
The Purpose of this course is to explore the collective experiences of the Black Athlete in America. More specifically, this class examines the interrelationship among race, class, gender, politics, and sport. Topics addressed in the course include: (1) the historical construction of the Black athlete, (2) African American athletes and education, (3) the media and Black Athletes, (4) sports and social mobility, and (5) politics and sport.
AFAM 410 - Language and Power in African American Culture (3)
Prerequisite: Upper Division Writing Requirement.
Language use within the African American community. Topics include language history, dialect vs. language, communicative practices, language in education policy, language and ideology, and language attitudes. (ENGL 410 and AFAM 410 are the same course.) 400-level Undergraduate Course available for Graduate Credit
AFAM 458A West Africa and the African Diaspora (3)
Prerequisite: HIST 110B
West African relationships with the African diaspora in the Americas. Issues of the origins of political conflict, economic exploitation, racism, gender, revolts and emancipation, Pan-Africanism and rights of African descendants since the 15th century. (Same as HIST 458A)
AFAM 458B Southern Africa in the 20th Century (3)
Prerequisite: HIST 110B
Twentieth-century developments in the Union (Republic) of South Africa, Central Africa (the Rhodesias and Nyasaland) and Portuguese colonies; the political, economic and social ramifications of race relations. (Same as HIST 458B)
AFAM 458C African History Since 1935 (3)
Prerequisite: HIST 110B
Issues of European imperialism, settler cultures, racism and African consciousness, ethnic conflict, gender, nationalist and guerrilla liberation movements, Pan-Africanism, international relations and society development policies in Africa since 1935. (Same as HIST 458C)
AFAM 463 Black LGBT Experience (3)
Prerequisite: ENGL 101 and GE Area 4A.
Focuses on the experiences of Black (LGBT) lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to explore the multiple and intersecting social forces that have shaped their place, or lack thereof, in U.S. society.
AFAM 490 Ethnic Studies Senior Seminar (3)
Senior capstone learning experience and seminar. Required course for Ethnic Studies majors (AFAM, ASAM, CHIC). Requires completion of core requirements for AFAM, ASAM or CHIC major. Typically offered once every academic year in spring semester.
AFAM 499 Independent Study (1-3)
Prerequisites: junior/senior standing and acceptance of the subject by department chair and instructor directing the study.
May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units. Requires acceptance of the subject by department chair and instructor directing the study.
