Africana Studies at New York University

Program of Study (CAS Bulletin)

Major

The Africana studies major comprises introductory, elective, and research components, which together make up a total of 11 courses, as laid out below.

Two introductory courses—can be taken in any order:

  • Concepts in Social and Cultural Analysis (V18.0001), an introduction to key terms and analytical categories for interdisciplinary work in Africana studies and related fields
  • One of the following: Approaches to Africana Studies (V18.0101), Introduction to Pan-Africanism (V18.0104, formerly V11.0010), or Introduction to Black Urban Studies (V18.0105, formerly V11.0020)

Seven elective courses—one course from each of four areas listed below, plus a fifth from any of the four areas, in addition to two upper-division electives as indicated below:

  • Social science: anthropology, economics, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology
  • Humanities: history, literature, music, philosophy, religion, and African languages
  • Arts: studio art or art history (theatre, performance studies, film, cinema studies, dance, music, photography, dramatic writing, fine arts, and art history)
  • Science: medicine, dentistry, psychology, and public health

The last two electives should be two upper-division courses offered by the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis that address issues pertinent to Africana studies in relation to other allied fields.

Two research core courses:

  • Internship Fieldwork and Internship Seminar (V18.0040 and V18.0042), related to Africana studies
  • Senior Research Seminar (V18.0090)

A note about language/linguistic competency: The type of rigorous intercultural study promoted within the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis (SCA) requires students to recognize the complex modes of communication at work both within and across different social groups. The department therefore strongly encourages its students to develop advanced skills in language and linguistics by any of the following means: taking elective courses in sociolinguistics; studying a language other than English beyond the minimum level required by the College of Arts and Science; studying languages especially germane to the department’s fields of study; pursuing community-based internship fieldwork necessitating the development and use of specific language skills; or undertaking study or research abroad in contexts entailing the exercise of key language or linguistic capabilities.

Minor

Five courses are required for the minor in Africana studies. Students minoring in Africana studies must take one of the following introductory courses or an equivalent course approved by the Africana studies adviser:

  • Approaches to Africana Studies (V18.0101)
  • Introduction to Pan-Africanism (V18.0104, formerly V11.0010)
  • Introduction to Black Urban Studies (V18.0105, formerly V11.0020)
Honors

Departmental honors in Africana studies—as in all the majors administered within SCA—requires two courses with honors designations. In the senior year, students take a two-semester honors sequence, consisting of a fall honors section of the Senior Research Seminar (V18.0900) and a spring Independent Honors Research (8 points total), in which they complete a substantive research project with a significant component based on original primary research.