Undergraduate Minor

Dr. Sandra Y. Lewis, Director
Dr. Saundra-Collins, Associate Director
Dr. Leslie Wilson, Assistant Director

College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dickson Hall, Room 217
973-655-7378

Mission Statement

The African American Studies Program aims to foster the development of a cultural and historical perspective of past accomplishments of Africans as well as examine current developments that impact upon the life and progress of African Americans in society. The program is directly consistent with Montclair's mission to "provide students with a greater sense of global awareness and cultural diversity." Through increasing students’ knowledge and awareness of cultural diversity, the program impact moves beyond the University preparing students for interaction in an increasingly multicultural society.

Program Description

The African American Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary academic program designed to be complementary to any of the undergraduate majors of Montclair State. The African American and African syntheses within the context of African, American, and European culture are presented with their transcultural, and intellectual traditions. The program provides an appreciation of the heritage, arts, sciences and values of people of African descent. The African American Studies program will also provide for African American students a greater knowledge of self and community. African American Studies for other students will build knowledge and awareness of African-American history, culture and people.

African American Studies is an interdisciplinary academic program. The minor includes twenty-three courses. The courses are offered in the following departments: Anthropology; Broadcasting, Speech Communication, Dance and Theatre; Classics; Economics; English; Environmental, Urban and Geographic Studies; Fine Arts; History; Home Economics; Management; Music; Philosophy and Religion; Political Science; Psychology; and Sociology. The minor requirements consist of a minimum of 18 credits. Students must major in an academic department.

Total Requirements: 18 Semester Hours

REQUIRED COURSES (9 Semester Hours)
AFAM 100	Introduction to Black Studies	3.0
One course from each category to complete a total of nine required semester hours.
CATEGORY A
HIST 108	Introduction to African Civilization	3.0
HIST 217	History of Black Americans	3.0
CATEGORY B
PSYC 246	Psychology of the Black Experience	3.0
SOCI 202	Racial and Ethnic Relations	3.0
ELECTIVES (9 Semester Hours)
Three courses from the following interdepartmental lists to complete the eighteen required semester hours.
Anthropology
ANTH 170	Peoples of Africa	3.0
Dance and Theatre
DANC 345	Dance Techniques: Ethnic	3.0
Classics and General Humanities
GNHU 381	Africa in Antiquity	3.0
Economics and Finance
ECON 250	Marketing Processes and Minorities (When topic is: Marketing Processes and Minorities)	3.0
ECON 450	Economic Development of Sub-Saharan Africa	3.0
English
ENGL 238	Afro-American Writers	3.0
ENLT 366	African Myth and Literature	3.0
ENGL 493	Seminar in American Literature (When the topic is Richard Wright and Contemporaries)	3.0
Earth and Environmental Studies
EUGS 412	Geography of Sub-Sahara Africa	3.0
Fine Arts
ARHS 275	Afro-American Art	3.0
ARHS 458	Traditional Arts of Sub-Saharan Africa	3.0
History
HIST 108	Introduction to African Civilization	3.0
HIST 217	History of Black Americans	3.0
Human Ecology
HEFM 445	The Inner City Family	3.0
Management
MGMT 332	Minorities in Business	3.0
Music
MUGN 150	Influence of Afro-American Culture on Music	3.0
MUGN 209	Introduction to Jazz	3.0
MUGN 250	Rap and Rock as Cultural Phenomena	3.0
Philosophy and Religion
RELG 108	African American Religious Experience	3.0
RELG 106	African Religious Traditions	3.0
RELG 350	Selected Study in World Religions (When topic is: Religions in Africa)	3.0
RELG 352	Selected Study in Religious Texts (When topic is: African American Religious Leaders)	3.0
Political Science
POLS 204	Government and Politics of Africa	3.0
POLS 312	Black Politics in America	3.0
Psychology
PSYC 246	Psychology of the Black Experience	3.0
Sociology
SOCI 202	Racial and Ethnic Relations	3.0
SOCI 205	Black Family	3.0
SOCI 311	Urban Sociology	3.0