Interdisciplinary Studies: Africana Studies Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies: Africana Studies program is designed to provide students with a thorough and interdisciplinary understanding of the aspirations, achievements, struggles, and contributions of individuals and groups in African and African American communities. This program deeply examines concepts like Afrocentricity, black nationalism, liberation ideology, and Critical Race Theory, all within a comprehensive historical framework that spans both domestic and international contexts. Students are encouraged to work closely with an Africana Studies faculty advisor to select an appropriate minor. In addition, ensuring a well-rounded and cohesive educational experience are 12 credits of required Interdisciplinary Core courses that emphasize an integrated approach to understanding complex, real-world problems.
How does this degree compare with other Interdisciplinary Studies degree options? Review the program comparison table for detailed information.
Note: two years of a single high school world language or one year of a single college-level world language is required.
Note: this major requires the completion of a minor.
| Required Courses | ||
| AAST 214 | AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND EXPRESSIONS | 5 |
| AAST 215 | EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY: ANCIENT AFRICA TO THE END OF THE RECONSTRUCTION 1877 | 5 |
| or AAST 220 | AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY: POST CIVIL WAR TO PRESENT | |
| AAST/HIST 315 | AFRICAN HISTORY: ANCIENT AFRICA TO MANDELA | 5 |
| AAST 318 | THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BLACK STUDIES | 5 |
| AAST 319 | BLACK PSYCHOLOGY | 5 |
| or AAST 320 | AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY | |
| or SOWK 320 | AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY | |
| Required Interdisciplinary Courses | ||
| ITDS 230 | EXPLORING INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 4 |
| ITDS 330 | CONNECTING ITDS THEORY, RESEARCH & PRACTICE | 4 |
| Required Electives–choose upper-division AAST from the following: | 15 | |
| HARLEM RENAISSANCE: RECONSTRUCTION TO 1930 | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL AWARENESS | ||
| THE RISE OF MASS INCARCERATION | ||
| MEDICAL APARTHEID: EXPLORING MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION, IMPLICIT BIAS, HEALTH DISPARITY | ||
| ECONOMICS OF POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION | ||
| HISTORY AND DYNAMICS OF U.S. SLAVERY | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN CINEMA: THE CREATION, POWER, & MEANING OF BLACK INDEPENDENT FILM | ||
| CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
| THE 1000 MILE DEEP SOUTH CIVIL RIGHTS TOUR | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S HISTORY | ||
| DR. KING AND MALCOLM X: A COMPARISON | ||
| Required Capstone | 4 | |
| INTERDISCIPLINARY SR CAPSTONE | ||
Note: for students who select AAST as a second major, the capstone requirement will be met by the completion of the primary major capstone. | ||
| Total Credits | 52 | |
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
General Education Requirements (GER)
- Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
- 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
- 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
- Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0
Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
University Graduation Requirements (UGR)
Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:
- The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
- The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.
Students who earn a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Africana Studies from EWU should be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of key events in African-American history;
- demonstrate knowledge of activism’s role in African-American history;
- summarize the psychological impact of racial oppression on African Americans, white Americans, and other racial minorities in the US;
- critique Eurocentric texts from an Afrocentric perspective;
- use critical race theory to analyze their own lived experience;
- describe the value of ITDS theory, research, and practice to complex community and workplace problems;
- critically evaluate perspectives on complex issues leveraging literature from the perspective of multiple disciplines;
- synthesize meaningful personal and professional connections and multiple areas of study;
- design a project involving original research and/or a literature review using an integrated approach;
- demonstrate professional communication with potential community partners and stakeholders while developing a project to address a community- or workplace-situated problem.
- reflect on the value of prior experiential learning experiences in relation to college-level learning outcomes;
- create artifacts representing the rich knowledge gained from learning experiences for a potential experiential learning credit portfolio.