Africana Studies
Angela Schwendiman, Program Director
program web page
204 Monroe Hall
Degrees
Minor–Africana Studies
Certificate–Diversity and Inclusion
Also see
BA–Interdisciplinary Studies: Africana Studies
Required courses in these programs of study may have prerequisites. Reference the course description section for clarification.
Undergraduate Program
The primary mission of Africana Studies is to help broaden student perspectives through a multidisciplinary curriculum that explores the experiences, contributions and accomplishments of African Americans and other peoples of African descent; and, to assist in the development of culturally competent students for a broad range of academic and professional careers.
Africana Studies courses are designed to provide understanding and appreciation of the African Diaspora both as it has unfolded over time and as it is currently manifested. As part of its founding mission, Africana Studies also provides culturally-centered programming, academic support, and community outreach initiatives. These include community non-paid internships, textbook support, academic advising, peer mentoring, tutoring services, scholarships, and scholarship information. In addition, the program offers a diversity and inclusion certificate to enhance cross-cultural communication and interpersonal interaction within all dimensions of society.
The Africana Studies Program cross-lists with some courses offered through other EWU colleges.
Africana Studies Courses
AAST 101. INTRODUCTION TO AFRICANA STUDIES. 5 Credits.
This course is a critical survey of the major themes, issues, concepts, methods, philosophies, theories and scholars in the discipline of Africana studies and its historic origin and evolution.
AAST 196. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.
AAST 200. AN INTRODUCTION TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. 3 Credits.
By combining research and analysis from the fields of American history and intercultural communication, students will examine insightful dimensions and consequences of how and why we communicate and interact with others the way in which we do, taking into account critical aspects of history, culture, worldview, and the myriad ways in which we share information as a society.
AAST 214. AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND EXPRESSIONS. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: HUMN 214.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
An interdisciplinary survey of African American culture beginning with ancient African history and traditions through contemporary issues in the African American experience. Attention given to basic principles of history, sociology, political science, economics and the arts in the study of the dynamics of the African American culture.
AAST 215. EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY: ANCIENT AFRICA TO THE END OF THE RECONSTRUCTION 1877. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: HIST 215.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
An examination of the history of African Americans from African civilizations in the 10th century A.D. through American slavery to the end of the Reconstruction era in the U.S. Major attention will be given to the social, political, and economic evolution of African Americans as a whole as well as the individual lives and work of famous black leaders.
AAST 220. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY: POST CIVIL WAR TO PRESENT. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: HIST 220.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
An examination of the history of African Americans from the end of the Reconstruction era to contemporary issues of today. Major attention will be given to the social political, and economic evolution of African Americans as a whole as well as the individual lives and work of famous black leaders and grassroots movements.
AAST 222. AFRICAN AMERICAN ECONOMICS. 5 Credits.
Focuses on the economic conditions of African Americans, presenting an analysis of economic problems confronting them, and institutional aspects of those problems.
AAST 296. EXPERIMENTAL. 1-5 Credits.
Experimental.
AAST 299. SPECIAL STUDIES. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Studies vary according to faculty and student interest.
AAST 301. HARLEM RENAISSANCE: RECONSTRUCTION TO 1930. 5 Credits.
A selective and objective study of the cultural, ideological, and political contributions of African Americans during the period 1918-1929.
AAST 310. AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT FROM BOOKER T. WASHINGTON TO CORNEL WEST. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: AAST 214.
This course articulates, defines and analyses the significant social thoughts, strategies and philosophies of black intellectuals through the 20th century to the present as they sought to address and propose viable solutions to the color-line.
AAST 315. AFRICAN HISTORY: ANCIENT AFRICA TO MANDELA. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: HIST 315.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course will examine the historical unfolding of Africa both domestically and internationally. The major topics will include such themes as traditional institutions, political development, European colonialism, African nationalism along with the struggle for independence and the entry into the global free market and world affairs.
AAST 318. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BLACK STUDIES. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: AAST 214, AAST 215 or AAST 220.
This course is the introductory survey of the theoretical foundations of Africana Studies. The focus is on the major issues involved in the study of the African Diaspora, both the objective issues being analyzed in the research literature and the subjective issues of how African descendants think about their experience. The goal then is to provide an opportunity to understand the issues and enter a discourse based on Black thought.
AAST 319. BLACK PSYCHOLOGY. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: PSYC 319.
Pre-requisites: junior standing or permission of the instructor.
This is an emerging discipline that recognizes the observance of African centered approaches, practices, and methodologies to understand the experiences and treat the needs of Black people. Students will explore how Afrocentric approaches provide a basis for knowing and understanding the Black self and a resultant state of Black consciousness and positive identity. Students will cultivate an awareness of the progress and formation of positive Black identity.
AAST 320. AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: SOWK 320.
The African American Family as a social system influenced by institutions of the larger American society.
AAST 321. AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL AWARENESS. 5 Credits.
Issues of African American political power and awareness as they relate to several studies of macro and micro institutional racism with alternatives for racial change.
AAST 322. THE RISE OF MASS INCARCERATION. 5 Credits.
Notes: requirement for the Africana/Interdisciplinary Studies Major, Minor and/or Diversity and Inclusion Certificate.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 equivalent.
This course provides a critical anaysis of the racial disparities within the American institution of criminal incarceration through the disciplines of criminal justice, sociology, psychology, history, economics and political science. Through the examination of government policies and Jim Crow segregation within the intersection of classism and racism, the content of this course explore the dynamics of social control afforded through a racially biased judicial system's use of incarceration.
AAST 323. MEDICAL APARTHEID: EXPLORING MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION, IMPLICIT BIAS, HEALTH DISPARITY. 5 Credits.
Notes: requirement for Africana Studies' Major, Minor or Diversity and Inclusion Certificate.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
An overview of major historical events in American medical history that have led to the current state of health disparities in communities of African descent accompanied with a collective mistrust of medical professionals. Topics include history, health care, medical experimentation, medical professional biases and possible solution moving toward the future.
AAST 324. ECONOMICS OF POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: ECON 324, GWSS 324.
Notes: ECON 100, or ECON 200, or ECON 201 can be substituted for the junior standing prerequisite with instructor approval.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
Causes of poverty and evaluation of anti-poverty programs. Examines economic theories of discrimination from different perspectives with a particular focus on issues of gender and race.
AAST 331. HISTORY AND DYNAMICS OF U.S. SLAVERY. 2 Credits.
This class involves a brief examination of North American slavery, its background, its dynamics, and its legacy. Special attention will be given to issues regarding U.S. race relations today.
AAST 347. PEOPLES OF AFRICA. 5 Credits.
A comparative view of tradition and change in sub-Saharan Africa.
AAST 375. AFRICAN AMERICAN CINEMA: THE CREATION, POWER, & MEANING OF BLACK INDEPENDENT FILM. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: AAST 214 or AAST 215 or AAST 220.
This course explores the history of African Americans in relation to mainstream films. The course not only examines the depictions of African Americans in Hollywood films from the silent period to the modern era, but discusses the importance of the emergence of independent black filmmaking and the role of filmmakers in providing a unique voice and alternative images to combat the negative stereotypes and depictions of Blacks in films and to express Black cultural themes.
AAST 381. CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: ENGL 381.
Major African American literature of the 20th century: fiction, poetry, essay, autobiography and drama.
AAST 390. INTERNSHIP: LEAD TO SUCCEED MENTORING PROGRAM. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
Students will be provided with mentorship training from professors in Communication and Leadership Studies in addition to weekly supervised oversight and assistance by the Africana Studies staff. Off-campus activities will center on weekly contact hours with mentees from local high schools either in person via email or texts as well as EWU sporting events and other social gatherings and school visits.
AAST 391. THE 1000 MILE DEEP SOUTH CIVIL RIGHTS TOUR. 5 Credits.
Notes: final week of course culminates with a seven day field trip of experiential learning to the deep South for visitation to 22 civil rights locations/landmarks within five states.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
This course provides an exploration into the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement in relation to its ideology, leadership, political and social impact, legislative victories and psychological dimensions ofimpact upon both Americans & African Americans. Critical Race Theory and Jim Crow are central themes reviewed and developed.
AAST 392. AN EXPLORATION INTO AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE: WASHINGTON DC TOUR. 5 Credits.
Notes: culminates with the last seven days consisting of a tour to the national museum at the nation's capitol on black history/culture.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
The content of this course traverses the four core historical eras of black America (ancient Africa, slavery, segregation and the modern civil rights movement) with an emphasis on significant leaders, black liberation ideology, key cultural dimensions, black consciousness, Afrocentricity and monumental achievements that have shaped American political/social landscapes.
AAST 395. INTERNSHIP. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Internships vary according to program and student interest.
AAST 396. EXPERIMENTAL. 1-5 Credits.
Experimental.
AAST 398. SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Seminar.
AAST 399. SPECIAL STUDIES. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: sophomore standing: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Studies vary according to faculty and student interest.
AAST 430. AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S HISTORY. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: GWSS 430.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
This course examines historical writings by and about Black women, discussing slavery, lynching, combating prejudices and encouraging racial pride to provide a framework that will deepen understanding of the topic.
AAST 481. DR. KING AND MALCOLM X: A COMPARISON. 2 Credits.
This class involves a brief examination into the backgrounds, lives and careers of Dr. King and Malcolm X. Comparison and contrast will be employed to gain a deeper insight into the ideology and effectiveness of each leader with regard to the civil rights movement.
AAST 495. AFRICANA STUDIES INTERNSHIP. 1-5 Credits.
Notes: graded Pass/Fail.
Pre-requisites: junior standing: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
This course requires a supervised student practicum in the internal or external African or African American endeavor. May be but not limited to designing or working on a particular project or event for the betterment of an aspect of the African or African American lived experience on campus or in the surrounding area.
AAST 496. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-15 Credits.
See section term information for title.
AAST 497. AFRICANA STUDIES WORKSHOP. 1-5 Credits.
Workshops are held to examine issues in this area.
AAST 498. SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
AAST 499. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Directed study and research projects vary according to faculty and student interest.