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Duluth Campus

African and African American Studies Minor

Justice Culture Social Change
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Program Type: Undergraduate free-standing minor
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2014
  • Required credits in this minor: 20
The African American and African studies minor is an interdisciplinary program designed to promote a vigorous understanding of the worldwide historical and current experience of African Americans and people of African descent. Through its pedagogical offerings, research activities, advocacy, and community and civic engagements, the program aims to promote awareness and the advancement of the cultures and institutions of African American and African cultural communities at the local, state, national, and international levels. The courses are structured to provide a vast array of interdisciplinary, intellectual, and academic approaches to research, interpretation, and the dissemination of the multifaceted experiences and realities of the total Black global experience. The program leads initiatives to develop a seamless and tightly woven cross-disciplinary pedagogical and scholastic structure focusing on the study of African American, African, and Caribbean community life and development in the United States and the world at-large. The program, through courses, advising, seminars, lectures, and presentations, supports the academic and intellectual growth of students in an ever increasing multicultural and diverse world.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Minor Requirements
Required Courses (9 cr)
Take no more than 3 course(s) from the following:
· AAAS 1xxx
· SOC 3330 - The U.S. Civil Rights Movement [SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
Electives (11 cr)
Courses taken that exceed the 11 credit minimum will be applicable. This area has a maximum of 12 credits. ENGL 5595 - Special Topics may apply. Consult with AAAS coordinator.
Take 11 - 12 credit(s) from the following:
· AAAS 2xxx
· AAAS 3xxx
· AAAS 4xxx
· CRIM 4340 - Racial Inequality and Criminalization [RACE JUST] (3.0 cr)
· ENGL 1583 - Introductory Study of Major Topics in Contemporary African Literature [LE CAT, HUMANITIES, GLOBAL PER] (4.0 cr)
· ENGL 3573 - Survey of African American Literature [HUMANITIES, CDIVERSITY] (4.0 cr)
· ENGL 3574 - Reconstituting the Past in African Diaspora Literature (4.0 cr)
· FORS 3000 - AAAS 3000 Kenyan Experience (6.0 cr)
· HIST 2515 - Ancient to Pre-Modern African History [LE CAT7, LECD CAT07, HUMANITIES] (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3318 - Slavery, Lincoln and the Civil War [CDIVERSITY] (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3615 - Modern Africa (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3616 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
· MU 1005 - Jazz Studies [LE CAT, LECD C, FINE ARTS, CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
· MU 2001 - Ethnic and Folk Music of the World [LE CAT, FINE ARTS] (3.0 cr)
· MU 2005 - African Roots of American Music [LE CAT, LECD C] (3.0 cr)
· PHIL 3025 - Philosophy of Race and Racism [RACE JUST] (4.0 cr)
· POL 3525 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· SOC 4949 - Race and Ethnic Relations [RACE JUST] (3.0 cr)
· SOC 4981 - Social Movements, Protest and Change (4.0 cr)
· WS 2101 - Women, Race, and Class [LE CAT8, LECD CAT08, SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
· WS 3750 - Voices of African Women [GLOBAL PER] (3.0 cr)
 
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· College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2022
· Fall 2020
· Fall 2019
· Fall 2018
· Fall 2016


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· African and African American Studies Minor
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SOC 3330 - The U.S. Civil Rights Movement (SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Examination of theories and research relating to the U.S. civil rights movement, including precursors and influence on subsequent social movements. Role of organization, resources, leadership, recruitment, ideology and consciousness, gender, social control, and counter-movements.
CRIM 4340 - Racial Inequality and Criminalization (RACE JUST)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Examines the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, and class within the U.S. criminal justice system, with some attention given to global trends and international comparisons. Considers the racialized effects of crime control and criminal justice practices, including law enforcement, prosecution, sentencing, police-minority community relations, and the disproportionate representation of racial/ethnic groups in the prison system. Explores attitudes and perceptions of crime from the perspective of racial/ethnic minorities, and differential crime rates among majority/minority groups. prereq: CRIM 1301 or SOC 1101 or ANTH 1604 and 60 credits or instructor consent
ENGL 1583 - Introductory Study of Major Topics in Contemporary African Literature (LE CAT, HUMANITIES, GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Introductory study of the major topics in Contemporary African Literature. Draws on literary texts and films to broaden students' understanding of Africa's cultural, social, economic, and political challenges from colonization to globalization.
ENGL 3573 - Survey of African American Literature (HUMANITIES, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
Survey of African American literatures with an emphasis on cultural and historical contexts. Acritical reading, writing, and discussion of major themes such as slavery, freedom, race, gender, sexuality, class, violence, literacy, home, family, community, double-consciousness, Christianity, and language. Consideration of narrative strategies, literary tradition, and major genres such as songs, sermons, pamphlets, folktales, poetry, novels, drama, life writing, and film.
ENGL 3574 - Reconstituting the Past in African Diaspora Literature
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Predicated on the value of a more heterogeneous world, the course celebrates obliterated legacies, cultures, and traditions with an aim of rewriting history, remaking the present, and re-imagining the future of African Diaspora Literature. The course advances credibility, diversity, and social justice by giving voice to the suppressed past muted narratives, forgotten traditions, marginalized indigenous cultures, trivialized revolutions, distorted epistemologies, and lost lives. Draws on various disciplines such as literature, history, cultural studies, film, and music to show the cultural and political imperative of negotiating the past.
FORS 3000 - AAAS 3000 Kenyan Experience
Credits: 6.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Summer
This course provides a critical study of Kenyan cultures and education. Taught on site in Kenyan, the course will richly enhance students' understanding of the social, economic, and political challenges influencing contemporary Kenya, from colonization to globalization. It will draw on education, folklores, women's lives, literature, ecoactivism, and ecocriticism in its attempt to promote diversity, global perspectives, and sustainability. prereq: Admission to an approved study abroad program requires consent from the International Education Office.
HIST 2515 - Ancient to Pre-Modern African History (LE CAT7, LECD CAT07, HUMANITIES)
Credits: 4.0 [max 8.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
This course considers African peoples and states from Ancient times through the Pre-Modern era. The unique geography, vast history, varied political, and dynamic social life of Africa will be examined. We will discuss the importance of understanding Africa, and the important contributions the study of Africa has made to our knowledge of the world in which we live. We will give particular attention to how and why states form, were sustained and reproduced. In addition to considering the birth of humanity, we will look at state formation processes of ancient and pre-modern African states such as Nubia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Ghana, the Empire of Mali, Songhai, Great Zimbabwe and the Swahili city-states. What makes these states states? What are the social needs of developments that give rise to political activities such as providing security, adjudicating disputes, creating laws and enforcing order? Are there identifiable patterns of relations with other peoples and states?
HIST 3318 - Slavery, Lincoln and the Civil War (CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Examines the Civil War and its causes, slavery, and the career of Abraham Lincoln.
HIST 3615 - Modern Africa
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Africa, 1800 to present. Colonial conquest and domination, African resistance, nationalism, and problems of independence. prereq: credit will not be granted if already received for HIST 3515
MU 1005 - Jazz Studies (LE CAT, LECD C, FINE ARTS, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Evolution of jazz: social problems in America that fostered its origin and continue to shape its development.
MU 2001 - Ethnic and Folk Music of the World (LE CAT, FINE ARTS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Introductory course to the music of the world. This class will introduce you to a diverse musical repertoire and non-traditional approaches to music. We will study the music of a variety of cultures and societies as an expression of meaningful human interaction.
MU 2005 - African Roots of American Music (LE CAT, LECD C)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course defines and examines the musical and cultural significance of West Africa and its indelible impression on Western music and culture (particularly in America). Music and culture is traced from West Africa, through South America and Latin America, and on to North America. Class material ranges from historical West African tradition through today?s American popular music.
PHIL 3025 - Philosophy of Race and Racism (RACE JUST)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This course will examine the origins, current causes, and consequences of racism but only after addressing these more fundamental questions: Is race a biological phenomenon? What is it if it is not biological? Is race nothing at all? Given the real facts about race, how should we approach questions about racism? It will examine various metaphysical positions that have been offered to explain race - realist, constructivist, relativist, and nihilist - and the moral/political ramifications of each of these types of theories. prereq: minimum 30 credits or instructor consent
SOC 4949 - Race and Ethnic Relations (RACE JUST)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Overview of race and ethnic relations in America; conditions of major racial and ethnic minorities; formation of racial/ethnic identities, sources of prejudice, discrimination; intergroup conflict; assimilation, persistence of ethnicity; intergroup diversity; major racial and ethnic groups; the new immigrants. prereq: 1101 or CRIM 1301 or CSt 1101 or Anth 1604, 60 cr, or instructor consent
SOC 4981 - Social Movements, Protest and Change
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
This course provides a study of collective behavior and social movements. The course includes a survey of theories and phenomenon making up the "collective behavior" paradigm from which early studies of social movement were conducted. Here, the focus is on: fads, crazes, panics, riots, rumors, and mass hysterias. The bulk of the course is dedicated to the study of the emergence, structure, and dynamics of contemporary social movements and political protest. The range of their investigation extends from research on the dynamics of recruitment within social movements to the study of protest tactics to the policing of protests and counter-insurgency. prereq: 60 cr or grad student or instructor consent
WS 2101 - Women, Race, and Class (LE CAT8, LECD CAT08, SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Racism, sexism, and classism are major factors which have influenced human relations from past to present. This course examines how the social-historical construction of race, class and gender continues to affect the experience of all people in particular people of color. This course seeks to enable students to understand the processes through which these social oppressions are created, normalized, internalized, maintained and perpetuated. A core element to this course is provoking students to recognize their own contribution in perpetuating oppressive systems, and their responsibility creatively to develop individual and collective acts of resistance to all of the "isms" and to societal transformation towards the just society.
WS 3750 - Voices of African Women (GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This course critically examines African women's daily-lived experiences. It explores the impact of global, historic, economic, and political forces, such as colonialism, neocolonialism, and current globalization impacts on their lives. This course studies the challenges of universalizing Western feminism, as a panacea to Africa women's problems. Using African eyes through African voices in texts, novels films photograph and living history, African women will be studies as knowing subject, social actors, and change agents but not as universal victims. Differences between women on the basis of class, ethnicity, religion, age sexuality, rural/urban residence, levels of education and marital status will be examined. The course will explore the rich diversity of African cultures, peoples, and natural resources. It will answer such important question as Why are African women portrayed as the poorest of the poor, victims of their cultures, traditions and African male sexism?