African American Studies

Mission

The African American Studies component examines the historical, cultural, political, economic and social development of people of African descent. Our focus on African America is as part of the African Diaspora. It situates the specific forms of expression and resistance from people of African descent in North America in the context of a wider black world; including societies in the Caribbean, South and Central America. As a part of the Ethnic Studies department African American studies at UCR is particularly strong in comparative analysis. Students learn about African American and black diasporic history and culture in relation to those of Latino, Asian, Native American and other underrepresented populations of North America. Our focus is on social justice: on the histories of slavery, colonialism, segregation, economic exploitation and the continual forms of resistance black people have developed in the struggle for civil and human rights. As an interdisciplinary field, students are trained in the research skills needed in traditional disciplines: history, literature, politics, sociology, psychology, law, and to develop their own independent analytic abilities of investigation.

The major is intended to be in-depth and comparative as well as multidisciplinary.

Faculty

Major Requirements

Lower division (8 units)

Ethnic Studies 1: Introduction to the Study of Race & Ethnicity
Ethnic Studies 3: Introduction to African American Studies

Upper division (48 units)

Core courses

Ethnic Studies 100: Race & Ethnicity in Comparative Perspective
Ethnic Studies 131: Race, Class, & Gender
Ethnic Studies 191R: Research Methodology
Ethnic Studies 104: Introduction to African Civilization
Ethnic Studies 109I: The Black Diaspora

20 additional upper division units in Ethnic Studies focusing on the African American experience

A minimum of 1 Ethnic Studies course chosen from 2 of the following

4 areas of emphasis (8 units):
Asian American Studies
Chicano Studies
Native American Studies
Comparative Issues

Note: No internship courses may be counted towards the upper-division elective in Ethnic Studies.

Minor in African American Studies

Lower division (4 units)

Ethnic Studies 3: Introduction to African American Studies

Upper division (20 units)

Ethnic Studies 191R: Research Methodology

16 additional upper division units in Ethnic Studies focusing on the African American experience

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