Program Details : University Catalogs : University of Minnesota

AAAS 1103 - Introduction to Africa (GLOBAL PER)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	AAAS 1103/EDUC 1103
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer

Examination of the histories, cultures, and peoples of Africa. Pre-colonization Africa societies. Colonial and postcolonial contacts with Europe. Brief survey of major social, cultural, economic, and political institutions of Africa and their roles in socioeconomic and political development. Issues facing contemporary African societies. Programs and policies to address Africa's problems. Africa and the world. Positioning Africa and its peoples in world affairs. Course Equivalency: EDUC 1103

AAAS 1104 - Introduction to Black America (CDIVERSITY)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Examination of black America in historical and contemporary periods to the post Obama era. African roots in the formation of black American society; genesis of slavery; impact of slavery on black America; contestation of slavery; black oppression; powerlessness and marginality. Black agitation for civil and economics rights; African American social, cultural, economic, and political thoughts; the persistency of structural racial inequities on blacks; closing the gap of inequality; future of black America. prereq: credit will not be granted if already received for AAAS 1100

AAAS 1101 - Introduction to Black Caribbean Studies (LE CAT)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Spring Even Year

Study of the peoples and cultures of the Black Caribbean; impact of colonization; the evolution, form and content of Black Caribbean cultures, societies and institutions. A survey of the socioeconomic and political development and transformation of the nation-states of the Black Caribbean. Cultural reproductions of Caribbean racial and ethnic identities. Survey of the Caribbean diaspora; Caribbean social and political thought. Relationship with the United States, Britain, and Canada. Inter-Caribbean geopolitical relationship.

AAAS 1102 - Introduction to Atlantic Slave Trade (LE CAT, LECD C, CDIVERSITY)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

Genesis of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, survey of the Middle Passage along with historical formations of the slave trade. Examination of roles of the European powers and African nations with the creation of slave communities, identities, and cultures in the new world the political economy of the slave trade. Analysis of cultural and historical legacies of slavery, the abolitionist movement, and resistance to the abolitionist movement including modern day forms of slavery.

AAAS 3005 - Roots and Rebellion: Study Abroad in Jamaica (GLOBAL PER)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	AAAS 3005/FORS 3505
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Periodic Spring & Summer

This three week study abroad course draws on history, literature, cultural studies, and music to explore Jamaican resistance to colonialism and slavery. Students will explore Jamaican culture first hand by visiting cultural heritage sites that attest to the Jamaican experiences of oppression, resistance, and rebellion. Presentations by local community leaders and heritage professionals will bring the history and culture of Jamaica alive for students. pre-req: consent of the International Programs and Services office

AAAS 3091 - Independent Study

Credits:	1.0 -3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

Independent research with a faculty member. prereq: instructor consent

AAAS 3095 - Special Topics: (Various Titles to be Assigned)

Credits:	3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

Various topics in African and African American Studies

AAAS 3202 - African Story-Telling and Folklore

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	AAAS 3202/EDUC 3202
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

This course is about the importance of story-telling and folklore in diverse African societies. It will examine the social context of the types, forms, and genres of story-telling in African societies and the folklores associated with story-telling. It traces the history of story-telling in African societies before and after colonization, the cultural expressions and meanings of folklore, uses and applications of story-telling and folklore, and the role of community in defining the boundaries of story-telling and folkloric culture.

AAAS 3304 - Social Inequalities in Education

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

This course will examine past and current factors that contribute to the persistence of educational inequalities in the United States. Using a sociological frame of reference, the course will provide students with an understanding of 1) national trends in the achievement gap; 2) policies and programs that have been implemented to close the social inequalities in educational and 3) assessment of the effectiveness of policies to close the achievement gap. pre-req: Preferred AAAS 1104 or WS 2101

AAAS 3305 - African American Cinema

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

This course will investigate how the imagery, poetics and politics of race have played out in the history of American film. Our focus will be African American cinema - which can be loosely defined as films written and/or directed by African Americans - but we will also consider the unique contours of its texts against the larger backdrop of Hollywood's representation of African Americans. In addition, we will explore the role of this medium in shaping social realities.

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.

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 3550 - Africa and Her Early American Diaspora

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

This course will examine the civilizations and people of Africa and her Diaspora in the Americas generally, and people of African descent in the United States in particular. This course begins with continental Africa from prehistoric times. We will look at state formation processes of ancient and pre-modern Africa states such as Ancient Egypt and Ethiopia, Ancient Ghana, Mali, Songhai. The course will continue to examine the tragedy of the Atlantic Slave Trade and the emergence of Africa's Diaspora throughout the Americas, and consider the tremendous contributions of people of African Descent in early American History, while considering the dynamics leading up to the American Civil War.

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 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.

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?

University Catalogs

African and African American Studies Minor