About This Program
Explore the rich history and culture of Africa and the African diaspora with Kent State University's Africana Studies program. Develop a deep understanding of the social, cultural and political issues that have shaped the African world. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- 4.9% about as fast as the average
- 13,400 number of jobs
- $78,840 potential earnings
Social services
- Parenting
- Social work
- Government
- Probation officer
- Counseling
- Community education
- Community activism
- Case management
- Rehabilitation
- Volunteer services
- Programming
- Advocacy
- Crisis services (pregnancy, housing, etc.)
- Nonprofit and social services organizations
- Immigrant and refugee service providers
- Migrant service providers
- Hospitals and hospices
- Residential treatment facilities
- Youth organizations and campus including YMCA, YWCA, Young Life, etc.
- Churches, synagogues and mosques
- Lobby agencies
International areas
- Nongovernmental organization staffing
- International diplomacy
- Humanitarian services
- Economic and community development
- Policy development
- Foreign affairs
- International security
- International aid and relief organizations
- Think tanks
Business
- Public relations
- Public administration
- Personnel management/diversity/inclusion
- Nonprofit management
- Human resources: training and development, recruitment or equity and diversity functions
- Sales
- Management
- Staffing agencies
Education
- Teaching
- Research
- Student affairs administration
- Multicultural programming
- Programs/study abroad administration
Arts and communication
- Journalism
- Creative writing
- Theater
- Music management
- Visual arts
- Arts education
- Dance
- Film making
- Museum curating
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.
Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| AFS 20300 | BLACK IMAGES | 3 |
| AFS 23001 | BLACK EXPERIENCE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 (DIVG) (KHUM) | 3 |
| AFS 23002 | BLACK EXPERIENCE II: 1865 TO PRESENT (DIVD) (KHUM) | 3 |
| AFS 37000 | ORAL AND WRITTEN DISCOURSES IN AFRICANA STUDIES (WIC) 1 | 3 |
| AFS 37001 | THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO AFRICANA STUDIES | 3 |
| AFS 37010 | RESEARCH METHODS IN AFRICANA STUDIES (ELR) | 3 |
| AFS 47144 | BLACK SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 |
| 12 |
| INTRODUCTION TO THE AFRICAN ARTS | |
| INTRODUCTION TO CARIBBEAN STUDIES (DIVG) | |
| BLACK LIVES MATTER: THE CONTINUED STRUGGLE FOR BLACK LIBERATION | |
| CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS I | |
| BLACK HOLLYWOOD | |
| HIP HOP: THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCES | |
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 | |
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 |
| BLACK WOMEN, CULTURE AND SOCIETY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) | |
| THE BLACK MAN: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES | |
| GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA | |
| AFRO-LATINX COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. (DIVD) | |
| INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN WORLD VIEW (DIVG) | |
| AFRICANA WOMEN’S LITERATURE (DIVG) | |
| AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG) |
| SECRET AND MAROON SOCIETIES IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY | |
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN PAN-AFRICAN LITERATURE, ARTS AND CULTURES | |
| RACE, GENDER AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | |
| SEMINAR IN ACTIVISM AND SOCIAL CHANGE | |
| MAY 4 1970 AND ITS AFTERMATH | |
| MAY 4 1970 AND ITS AFTERMATH |
| ARENAS FOR FEMINIST THOUGHT: TOUCHY SUBJECTS, UNSETTLED MATTERS AND FEMINIST RESPONSE-ABILITY | |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| 10-16 |
| 6 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| 6-7 |
| 6 |
| 46 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary | Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
| 2.000 | 2.000 |
Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the following:
- Elementary I and II of any language (or equivalent) and
- One of the following options:
- Intermediate I and II of the same language
- Elementary I and II of a second language
- Any combination of two courses from the following list:
- Intermediate I of the same language
- One to two college-level course(s) completed outside the United States
- Courses: ARAB 21401, ASL 19401, CHIN 25421, MCLS 10001, MCLS 20001, MCLS 20091, MCLS 21417, MCLS 21420, MCLS 22217, MCLS 28403, MCLS 28404
All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer courses. This may be accomplished in one of three ways:
- Passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level
- Receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University
- Demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language
Certain programs may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need a particular language proficiency.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid | Semester One |
|---|
| AFS 20300 | BLACK IMAGES | 3 |
| AFS 23001 | BLACK EXPERIENCE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 (DIVG) (KHUM) | 3 |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Foreign Language | 4 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 14 |
| Semester Two |
|---|
| AFS 23002 | BLACK EXPERIENCE II: 1865 TO PRESENT (DIVD) (KHUM) | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Semester Three |
|---|
| Major Elective | 3 |
| Foreign Language and/or General Elective | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Four |
|---|
| Major Elective | 3 |
| Foreign Language and/or General Elective | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Five |
|---|
| AFS 37001 | THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO AFRICANA STUDIES | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| General Electives | 9 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Six |
|---|
| AFS 37000 | ORAL AND WRITTEN DISCOURSES IN AFRICANA STUDIES (WIC) | 3 |
| Major Electives | 6 |
| General Electives | 6 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Seven |
|---|
| AFS 37010 | RESEARCH METHODS IN AFRICANA STUDIES (ELR) | 3 |
| General Electives | 12 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Eight |
|---|
| AFS 47144 | BLACK SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 |
| General Electives | 12 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Understand the historical experiences of people of African descent at the advanced level of the core.
- Interact with diverse communities and be informed and engaged global citizens.
- Relate current political and social issues facing the Africana world to global historical events.
- Read, analyze and critically articulate the contemporary socioeconomic, political and cultural issues facing people of African descent.
Program Policies
Foreign Language Requirements
In general, students may elect any foreign language taught through the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies. However, certain majors, concentrations and minors require specific languages or limit the languages from which students may choose. In addition, students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular languages for that study. In such cases, students should seek the advice of the appropriate department before selecting a language.
Progress Toward Fulfillment
College of Arts and Sciences students are encouraged to begin meeting the foreign language requirement as early as possible in their program to ensure timely degree completion.
Mandatory Outcomes Assessment
In addition to the other General Requirements of the college, candidates for an undergraduate degree in the College of Arts and Sciences are required, as a condition of graduation, to participate in an outcomes assessment. These outcomes assessments are conducted by each undergraduate degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Full Description
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies offers an in-depth exploration of the histories, cultures and experiences of people of African descent across the globe. The program provides students with interdisciplinary knowledge in areas such as African history, politics, literature and social movements, fostering a critical understanding of African and African diasporic contributions to global society. Through a blend of theoretical and practical study, the program prepares graduates for careers in education, public service, international relations and cultural advocacy, while also laying the groundwork for advanced academic pursuits.
