Programs

Welcome to the Department of African American Studies

General Information

If you would like to declare African American Studies as your major/minor, need to apply for graduation, or need academic advising, please contact the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Michael R. Fisher Jr. at michael.fisher@sjsu.edu or (408) 924-5853.

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Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies

 

This department offers instruction in a unified curriculum leading to the baccalaureate degree in African American Studies.  Subject matter includes education, sociology, economics, social anthropology, public health, literature, art, psychology, and history all of which focus on African American community development.

 African American Studies MAJOR Form [pdf]

 

Course Requirements

Units

University Graduation Requirements

 

 

 

53

Core Lower Division General Education
Of the 39 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3 or B4 must be passed with a "C" or better to meet the requirement. Consult with major advisor for details.

 

 

39

 

Upper Division General Education
Of the 9 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

 

 

9

 

American Institutions
Coursework shown below for the 6 units required by the university are double counted within GE. Consult with major advisor for details. Consult Major Advisor for department recommended coursework to meet GE requirement.

 

 

0

 

Physical Education

 

 

2

 

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
At SJSU, students must pass both the SJSU Writing Skills Test (WST) and a 100W course. For additional information on the WST, please see testing.sjsu.edu/wst. Exceptions to the GWAR may be found at info.sjsu.edu/gwar.

 

 

3

 

Requirements of the Major

 

 

 

 36 

Area Requirements 

 

 

18

 

 Historical

 

9

 

 

Must complete entire sequence to meet the American Institutions requirement:

AFAM 2A: African Americans & the Development of America's History & Government

3

 

 

 

AFAM 2B: African Americans & the Development of America's History & Government

3

      

Complete one course from:

AFAM 040: African Origins

3

 

 

 

AFAM 111: African Nations: History, Politics & Culture

3

 

 

 

Social-Behavioral

 

6

 

 

AFAM 120: Sociology of African American Communities

 3

 

 

 

AFAM 159: Economic Issues in the Black Community

 3

 

 

 

Cultural

 

3

 

 

AFAM 022: The Humanities in African American Culture

3

 

 

 

Senior Seminar

 

 

3

 

AFAM 198: Senior Seminar in African American Studies

3

 

 

 

Electives in the Major

 

15

 

 

Complete five courses from:

AFAM 102: African American Music

3

      

AFAM 105: Health, Justice & the Black Experience

3

      

AFAM 106: Race & Culture in the African Diaspora

3

      

AFAM 110: Education of the Black Child

3

      

AFAM 112: African Immigrant Communities in the U.S.

3

      

AFAM 115: The Black Community Past and Present

3

      

AFAM 119: Africana Philosophy & Culture

3

      

AFAM 125: The Black Family: Historical/ Contemporary Realities

3

      

AFAM 130: Psychology of the Black Community

3

      

AFAM 133: Introduction to Social Issues in Planning

3

      

AFAM 134: The Black Civil Rights Movement

3

      

AFAM 137: Religion in the Black Community

3

      

AFAM 142: Race, Ethnicity, and the Law

3

      

AFAM 150: West African Drumming & Culture

3

      

AFAM 151: Race, Class & the Environment

3

 

 

 

AFAM 152: Black Women in the United States

3

 

 

 

AFAM 155: The Triumph & Tragedy of Black Athletes in U.S. History

3

      

AFAM 156: Black Women Writers: Race, Culture & Resistance

3

 

 

 

AFAM 157: Globalization & Technology in Youth Culture

3

      

AFAM 160: Blacks in U.S. Politics & Society

 3      

AFAM 161: Black Representations in Media & New Technology

 3      

AFAM 164: Survey of Black Business Organizations

3

 

 

 

AFAM 165: Topics in Ethnic American Literature

3

 

 

 

AFAM 166: African-American Women in History

3

 

 

 

AFAM 190: Internship in Community Development

1-4

 

 

 

University Electives
A minor or double major is recommended (selected with advisor approval).

 

 

 

31

TOTAL UNITS

120

 

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Minor in African American Studies

 

The African American Studies minor consists of 18 semester units with courses emphasizing the humanities and social sciences.  The interdepartmental structure of this minor will enable students, while pursuing degrees in specific disciplines, to interface more efficiently with African Americans and other persons of African racial and ethnic heritage.

African American Studies MINOR Form [pdf]

 

Course Requirements

Units

Requirements of the Minor

 

 

18

Required Courses

 

6

 

AFAM 2A: African Americans and the Development of America's History and Government

3

 

 

AFAM 2B: African-Americans and the Development of America's History and Government

3

    

Upper Division Electives
Chosen to complement the major (see department Chair or minor advisor for specific information).

  

12

  

TOTAL UNITS

18
   

 

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Minor in African Studies*

 *Please note: As of 2022, the African Studies Minor has been temporarily suspended.

Course Requirements

Units

Requirements of the Minor

 

 

15

Core Courses: AFAM 40 & AFAM 111

 

6

 

Complete three courses from:

POLS 142: African Politics

3

 

 

ENGL 123B: Literature for Global Understanding - Africa

3

    

AFAM 112: African Immigrant Communities in the U.S.

3

    

AFAM 119: Africana Philosophy & Culture

3

    

AFAM 150: West African Drumming & Culture

3

    

Additional Courses
Consult the Program Coordinator for selection of remaining courses/units.

  

9

  

TOTAL UNITS

15

Please note: A minor requires 12 unique units. If you are majoring in African American Studies and would like to minor in African Studies, you will need to work closely with an advisor.

  

 

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Minor in Black Women's Studies

 Black Womens' Studies MINOR Form [pdf]

Course Requirements

Units

Requirements of the Minor

 

 

15

        Required Courses

 

9

 

            AFAM 2A: African Americans & the Development of                    America's History & Government

3

 

 

            AFAM 2B: African Americans & the Development of                    America's History & Government

3

 

 

            AFAM 152: Black Women in the U.S.

3

 

 

Select 6 units from the following:

 

 

 

            AFAM 156: Black Women Writers: Race, Culture &                          Resistance

3

 

 

            AFAM 166: African American Women in History

3

 

 

            COMM 176P: Communication & Gender

3

 

 

            WOMS 020: Women of Color in the United States

3

 

 

            WOMS 160: Queering Gender, Race & Class

3

 

 

Additional Courses

Consult the AFAM advisor for selection of other courses

 

6

 

TOTAL UNITS

15

Please note: A minor requires 12 unique units. If you are majoring in African American Studies and would like to minor in Black Women's Studies, you will need to work closely with an advisor.

  


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Kusoma (Swahili for "Read")

The African American Studies Book Discussion Group

The Department of African American Studies launched Kusoma in Spring 2019 as a means of addressing the mission of the department through two of its goals:

  1. To foster a desire for knowledge connected to Black experiences in all university programs

  2. To empower students in African American Studies to expand their knowledge base connected to the intellectual traditions within the African Diaspora

Kusoma is open to ALL SJSU students, with book discussions occurring three times each academic semester and once during the summer. 

Once every Fall and Spring semester, Kusoma invites a community group to join in the book discussion. This is designed to emphasize the multiple sources of knowledge within the Black community. Additionally, a theme is selected for each Fall and Spring semester. Book selections are connected to the theme. 

 

Book List:

Spring 2019: Resilience

A Hope in the Unseen, Ron Suskind
Becoming, Michelle Obama

Fall 2019: Education & Teaching

We Want to Do More than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom, Bettina L. Love
The Mis-Education of the Negro, Carter G. Woodson
Black Teachers on Teaching, Michele Foster

Spring 2020: African Writers

We Should All Be Feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe


If you'd like to join the Book Discussion Group, email the department office at afam-studies@sjsu.edu or contact Dr. Wendy Thompson at wendy.thompsontaiwo@sjsu.edu or at (408) 924-5878.

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