The Africana Studies major is designed to provide students with an integrated understanding and appreciation for the African, African American, Caribbean, and other African Diaspora experiences in their diverse dimensions. Courses in the major provide students with a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of the field, as well as well as the opportunity for regional and/or disciplinary concentrations. Students are encouraged to pursue Study Abroad to enhance their understanding of African diasporic experiences. Students who excel in the major are encouraged to pursue Honors in their senior year.
Students who wish to major or minor in Africana Studies should meet with the Faculty Associate Director to design a program of study. In addition to contacting the Africana Studies Program, students interested in learning about the majors, may consult a peer advisors through the College’s Major Advising Program (MAP). Students may also choose to pursue a minor in Africana Studies.
Many Africana Studies courses fulfill the General Education Requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. Following is a list of these courses and the requirements they fulfill. Please see the current course roster for a list of courses that satisfy the Cross Cultural Analysis and the Cultural Diversity in the U.S. requirements.
Sector Requirements
Sector I - Society
AFRC 001 – Introduction to Africana Studies
AFRC 006 – Race and Ethnic Relations/SOC 006
Sector II – History & Tradition
AFRC 075 – Africa to 1800/HIST 075
AFRC 076 – Africa Since 1800/HIST 076
AFRC 176 – Introduction to Afro-American History/HIST 176
AFRC 177 – Afro-American History 1876 to Present/HIST 177
AFRC 203 – Afro-American Folklore/FOLK 203
Sector III – Arts & Letters
AFRC 050 – World Musics and Cultures/MUSC 050
AFRC 104 – Literary Genres/ENGL 103
Sector IV – Formal Reasoning & Analysis
AFRC 120 – Social Statistics
Sector Requirements
Sector I – Society
AFRC 112 – Discrimination Racial and Sexual Conflict/SOCI112
AFRC002 – Introduction to Sociology/SOCI001
AFRC190 – Introduction to Africa/AFST190
Sector II – History & Tradition
AFRC 075 – Africa to 1800/HIST 075
AFRC 076 – Africa Since 1800/HIST 076
AFRC 172 – The American South/HIST170
AFRC 176 – Introduction to Afro-American History/HIST 176
AFRC 177 – American History 1976 to Present/HIST 177
Sector III – Arts & Letters
AFRC 050 – World Musics and Cultures/MUSC 050
Sector IV – Humanities & Social Science
AFRC 001 – Introduction to Africana Studies
Foundational Approaches
Students should consult the current course roster for a list of courses that fulfill the Cross Cultural Analysis and the Cultural Diversity in the U.S. requirements.
Advising
Students interested in the major or minor should contact the Center for Africana Studies at 898-4965 or by email at africana@sas.upenn.edu to schedule an appointment with the Faculty Associate Director.
