This is an archived copy of the 2015-2016 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://coursecatalog.bucknell.edu.

Africana Studies (AFST)

Africana Studies is the study of the interrelated histories, politics, and cultural products of Africa and the African Diaspora in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and elsewhere. As a field of inquiry, Africana Studies critically examines the intellectual traditions and experiences of Africans and diasporic communities from intra- and interdisciplinary perspectives. As such, Africana Studies includes African American, Caribbean, and African Studies. 

Africana Studies offers majors a multidisciplinary curriculum that examines the histories, narratives, intellectual traditions, music, art, politics, cultures, literatures, economies, social institutions, and identities of Africans and their descendants from the liberal arts perspective. It provides students with critical engagement with contemporary and historical concerns and self-expressions of African and African descended people. It also examines these experiences within the context of social relations with European, Euro-American, and other non-African communities. Africana Studies is a rich inter- and intra-disciplinary major.

Africana Studies majors will become competent writers through their engagement with the wide array of writing tasks required in our courses. Public speaking instruction will occur as a facet of the oral presentation assignments in many of our courses, but specifically required in our two core classes. Through the research skills acquired through our foundational classes, the classes that constitute the major, students will gain information literacy and will be required to demonstrate that literacy through completion of a thesis in their senior year.   

Resources

The Africana Studies major enjoys a co-curricular and curricular relationship with Bucknell’s Griot Institute for Africana Studies. The activities, programs, and projects of the Institute coalesce and interface with the objectives and goals of the major. Africana Studies majors and minors are encouraged to engage with the opportunities presented by the Institute’s programming. 

Africana Studies majors must complete nine courses from the following categories, including an independent study, the object of which is to complete a thesis, which will fulfill the Culminating Experience. Courses must be selected in consultation with a departmental adviser. 

Africana Studies Major Requirements  (9 courses)

AFST 199Introduction to Africana Studies1
AFST 250Approaches to Africana Studies1
One course in History (Africa, African American, or Caribbean)1
Five courses in area specialties: Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts; of these courses, two must be at the 200-level, and at least one course must be at the 300-level.5
AFST 399Independent Study1

Courses in Area Specialties are distributed both divisionally and geographically. Students must take the following number of courses out of the approved list of Africana divisional courses: two in Social Sciences, two in Humanities, and one in the Arts. These courses must include the following geographic groupings: one course on Africa, one course on African America, and one course on either the Caribbean or Afro-Latin communities. Courses may count simultaneously for the division and region/spatial community requirements. (As such, a single course may fulfill both a Humanities and an Africa requirement.)

Students will fulfill the Culminating Experience by completion of a thesis in an area of Africana Studies. Students will register for an independent study in the fall of their senior year with their faculty adviser. The thesis topic must be confirmed in writing in consultation with the faculty adviser by the end of each student’s junior year. [See Honors Council website for consideration as an honors thesis; however, theses do not have to be submitted to the Honors Council to count as the Culminating Experience major requirement for Africana Studies.] For particular information about the process for pursuing an honors thesis, please see https://my.bucknell.edu/x56270.html  Faculty advisers will determine successful completion of the thesis/Culminating Experience requirement by submission of the grade for the independent study.

Africana Studies majors will become competent writers through their engagement with the wide array of writing tasks required in our courses. Public speaking instruction will occur as a facet of the oral presentation assignments in many of our courses, but specifically required in our two core classes. Through the research skills acquired through our foundational classes, the classes that constitute the major, students will gain information literacy and will be required to demonstrate that literacy through completion of a thesis in their senior year. 

Africana courses

Listing of Current Africana Courses:

Humanities

ENGL 213Special Topics in American Literature 11
ENGL 217Studies in Dramatic Literature 11
ENGL 219Studies in Selected American Authors 11
ENGL 221African-American Literature1
ENGL 227Caribbean Literature1
ENGL 286The Modern Novel 11
ENGL 290Special Topics 11
ENGL 311Seminar in Contemporary American Literature1
ENGL 321Seminar in African-American Literature1
ENGL 327Seminar in Caribbean Literature1
CLAS 219Ancient Egyptian Literature1
FREN 236Topics in Francophone Literature and Culture 11
FREN 330Topics in Literature 11
FREN 336Francophone Africa1
FREN 395Seminar in French Studies 11
HIST 218African-Americans and the American Revolution1
HIST 219Antebellum America1
HIST 223Twentieth-century African-American History: Eyes on the Prize1
HIST 290Europe Imperialism and Colonialism1
HIST 291African History I1
HIST 292African History II1
HIST 299Topics in Non-western History 11
HIST 319African-American History1
HUMN 330Studies in Autobiography 11
LING 210Language and Race1
RELI 234Issues of Religion and Culture1
WMST/RELI 248Religions of the African Diaspora1

Social Sciences

ANTH 229Pilgrimage, Prayer, and Purity: The Anthropology of Religion1
ANTH/IREL 235Modern Africa1
ANTH 329Religions in Africa: Spirits, Saints, and Sufis1
ECON 222Economic Topics 11
ECON/WMST 224African Political Economy1
ECON 236Unemployment and Poverty1
ECON 266Political Economy of Caribbean1
ECON 270South Africa: Social Entrepreneurship1
FOUN 098Foundation Seminar (South Africa: Apartheid & After)1
POLS 211Third World Politics1
POLS 246Race Ethnicity and American Politics1
POLS 263Race and Ethnicity in American Legal Thought1
PSYC 233Black Psychology1
PSYC 373Psychology of Race and Gender1
SOCI 213Race in Historical and Comparative Perspectives1
SOCI 243Sociology of Race and Ethnicity1
SOCI 280Twentieth-century Afro-Caribbean and African-American Thought1
SOCI 290Caribbean Society Music and Ritual1
SOCI 310The Sociology of Developing Societies1
SOCI 433Seminar in Law and Society1
WMST 370Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies 11

Arts: Art and Art History, Creative Writing, Music, Theatre and Dance

ARTH 241Archaeology of Egypt1
ENGL 210Special Topics in Creative Writing 11
MUSC 248Music and Culture: History of Jazz1
MUSC 126Introduction to Popular Music in the U.S.1
MUSC 249Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Music1
MUSC 254Music and Culture: Africa and the Diaspora1
MUSC 256Music and Culture: Popular Music1
MUSC 257Music and Culture: Jazz, Rock, and Race1
MUSC 258Music and Culture: Music in American Life1
MUSC 352Topics in Music: ca. 1800-19001

Major Courses Listed According to Area

African American

ENGL 213Special Topics in American Literature 11
ENGL 219Studies in Selected American Authors 11
ENGL 221African-American Literature1
ENGL 311Seminar in Contemporary American Literature 11
ENGL 321Seminar in African-American Literature1
ECON 319/WMST 318Economic History of Women in the United States1
ECON 236Unemployment and Poverty1
ECON 320Race, Economics and Inequality1
HIST 218African-Americans and the American Revolution1
HIST 219Antebellum America1
HIST 223Twentieth-century African-American History: Eyes on the Prize1
HIST 319African-American History1
MUSC 248Music and Culture: History of Jazz1
MUSC 126Introduction to Popular Music in the U.S.1
POLS 246Race Ethnicity and American Politics1
POLS 371Minority Politics1
POLS 263Race and Ethnicity in American Legal Thought1
PSYC 233Black Psychology1
WMST 333Black Feminism1

Caribbean

ENGL 227Caribbean Literature1
ENGL 327Seminar in Caribbean Literature1
ECON 266Political Economy of Caribbean1
SOCI 280Twentieth-century Afro-Caribbean and African-American Thought1
SOCI 290Caribbean Society Music and Ritual1

Africa

CLAS 219Ancient Egyptian Literature1
FREN 336Francophone Africa1
HIST 291African History I1
HIST 292African History II1
WMST/RELI 248Religions of the African Diaspora1
ANTH 235Modern Africa1
ANTH 329Religions in Africa: Spirits, Saints, and Sufis1
ECON/WMST 224African Political Economy1
ECON 235African Economic Development1
ECON 270South Africa: Social Entrepreneurship1
FOUN 098Foundation Seminar (South Aftica: Apartheid & After)1
ARTH 241Archaeology of Egypt1
MUSC 254Music and Culture: Africa and the Diaspora1

May be any of the three areas depending on semester's content (check with adviser)

ENGL 217Studies in Dramatic Literature 11
ENGL 286The Modern Novel 11
ENGL 290Special Topics 11
FREN 236Topics in Francophone Literature and Culture 11
FREN 330Topics in Literature 11
FREN 395Seminar in French Studies 11
HIST 290Europe Imperialism and Colonialism1
HIST 299Topics in Non-western History 11
HUMN 330Studies in Autobiography 11
LING 210Language and Race1
ECON 222Economic Topics 11
POLS 211Third World Politics1
PSYC 373Psychology of Race and Gender1
SOCI 213Race in Historical and Comparative Perspectives1
SOCI 243Sociology of Race and Ethnicity1
SOCI 310The Sociology of Developing Societies1
SOCI 433Seminar in Law and Society1
WMST 370Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies 11
ENGL 210Special Topics in Creative Writing 11
MUSC 249Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Music1
MUSC 256Music and Culture: Popular Music1
MUSC 352Topics in Music: ca. 1800-19001
1

 When appropriate.

Students majoring in Africana Studies are strongly encouraged to spend a semester or a summer abroad, preferably in Africa or the Caribbean. Bucknell en France (when appropriate), Bucknell in Barbados, Bucknell in Ghana, Bucknell in the Caribbean, Bucknell in South Africa programs are particularly encouraged. In addition, the department strongly recommends that students take four semesters of a language spoken in the African Diaspora, e.g. Arabic, French, Spanish, or an African language.

African-American Studies Minor

The African-American experience is directly and inextricably embedded in the history and culture of the United States. As an interdisciplinary field, African-American Studies is concerned with the systematic investigation of the history, culture, political economy, literature, art, and languages of people of African descent in the United States and their contributions to the United States and to the world. The African-American Studies minor is a way of educating all students about black experiences and developing in them an understanding and appreciation of the life and history of peoples of African ancestry in the United States, and thus move toward a more comprehensive view of life and history in the United States generally.

By offering students opportunities to gain knowledge of this history and experience, an African-American Studies minor affirms black identity and heritage, fosters understanding, respect, and appreciation of diversity, and better prepares students for life in a multicultural society.

The interdisciplinary structure of the African-American Studies minor offers students directed toward the professions and graduate schools an opportunity to satisfy the increasingly rigorous expectations of admissions committees and prospective employers for a broad liberal arts perspective that complements specialized knowledge. African-American Studies provide a background for those considering careers in education, journalism, law, business management, public service, psychology, social work, and literature.

The interdepartmental minor in African-American Studies consists of five courses that must be taken in three different disciplines. A minimum of four courses must be selected from the following list. In consultation with the coordinators of the minor, students may count one course from either the African Studies or Caribbean Studies list.

ENGL 206Early American National Literature1
ENGL 209Modern American Literature 1900-19501
ENGL 210Special Topics in Creative Writing1
ENGL 211Southern Exposure1
ENGL 213Special Topics in American Literature1
ENGL 217Studies in Dramatic Literature1
ENGL 219Studies in Selected American Authors (The Novels of Toni Morrison)1
ENGL 219Studies in Selected American Authors (Art of Darkness)1
ENGL 221African-American Literature1
ENGL 221African-American Literature (Twenty-first-century African-American Novels)1
ENGL 286The Modern Novel1
ENGL 306US: Fever/Fantasy/Desire1
ENGL 321Seminar in African-American Literature1
HIST 121Introduction to African-American History I1
HIST 122Introduction to African-American History II1
HIST 218African-Americans and the American Revolution1
HIST 219Antebellum America1
HIST 223Twentieth-century African-American History: Eyes on the Prize1
HIST 319African-American History1
LING 210Language and Race1
RELI 219Contemporary Religion: Race, Gender, and Sexuality1
SOCI 213Race in Historical and Comparative Perspectives1
SOCI 280Twentieth-century Afro-Caribbean and African-American Thought1

African Studies Minor

The interdepartmental African Studies minor gives an understanding of Africa’s rich heritage, diversity and role in the world today, and contributes an international focus to a liberal arts education. It consists of five courses chosen from the list below. Students must take at least three core courses, and they may choose any two other courses from the list below. If possible, at least one course should be related to the student’s major. In consultation with the coordinators of the minor, students may include an Africa-related course from the African-American or Caribbean Studies list. In general, there are no prerequisites for the courses on the African Studies minor list.

Core Courses:

ANTH/IREL 235/UNIV 200Modern Africa1
ANTH 329Religions in Africa: Spirits, Saints, and Sufis1
ECON 224African Political Economy1
ECON 235African Economic Development1
ECON/MGMT/PSYC 270South Africa: Social Entrepreneurship1
FOUN 098Foundation Seminar (South Africa)1
FREN 336Francophone Africa1
HIST 291African History I1
HIST 292African History II1

Other African Studies Courses:

ANTH 305Womb to Tomb: Culture and the Life Course1
GEOG 236Third World Development1
HIST 290Europe Imperialism and Colonialism1
SOCI 213Race in Historical and Comparative Perspectives1
SOCI 310The Sociology of Developing Societies1

Courses taken in summer or in semester-long or year-long programs in Africa may count toward the minor.

Caribbean Studies Minor

The Caribbean Studies minor is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Caribbean region that moves beyond stereotypes and exoticism. In the various courses offered, students are able to explore the complexities of the region’s economy and various economic organizations, its culture, society, geo-political significance, and literature.

The minor serves as an important supplement for those students who are studying international relations, sociology, anthropology, economics, literature, and politics, among other disciplines. Combining Caribbean Studies with a major in one of the aforementioned areas contributes not only to the broadening of the horizon of the student but provides a strong basis for pursuing graduate opportunities in such areas as development planning, development economics, international relations, sociology, anthropology, postcolonial literature, cultural studies, gender studies, and area studies. Other students may find that a background in Caribbean Studies is useful in seeking employment in the foreign service, AID agencies, in many international organizations, and in non-governmental organizations.

The interdepartmental minor in Caribbean Studies consists of five courses selected from the following list. No more than two courses may be taken in any one department.

ECON 266Political Economy of Caribbean1
ECON 301Independent Study (Barbados Summer Program)1
ENGL 227Caribbean Literature1
FREN 236Topics in Francophone Literature and Culture (when relevant)1
FREN 395Seminar in French Studies1
SOCI 213Race in Historical and Comparative Perspectives1
SOCI 290Caribbean Society Music and Ritual1
SOCI 310The Sociology of Developing Societies1
  1. To encourage students to explore and cross-pollinate the undeveloped and unimagined intersections between Africana Studies and the arts, humanities, social sciences, and other disciplines;
  2. To provide innovative and unique opportunities for Bucknell’s students to engage with and to experience the intellectual and artistic endeavors and cultural products of the Africana world.

Courses

AFST 199. Introduction to Africana Studies. 1 Credit.

Lecture hours:Varies
The course introduces students to concepts, theories, and debates of the vibrant discipline of Africana Studies. It surveys major themes, questions, concerns, and events of African, African American, and other African diasporic communities. The course examines the making of the modern world through the lens of black global experience.

AFST 250. Approaches to Africana Studies. 1 Credit.

Lecture hours:Varies
This course will provide students with an introduction to the key intellectual approaches specific to the multiple disciplines that constitute Africana Studies. The course instruction will be provided by an instructor of record as well as an assemblage of faculty who have expertise in the approaches to Africana Studies.

AFST 399. Independent Study. 1 Credit.

Lecture hours:Varies
Individual study or project, supervised by instructor. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

Faculty

Co-directors: Nina E. Banks, Carmen Gillespie

Coordinator: Linden F. Lewis (Caribbean Studies)

Co-coordinators: Michelle C. Johnson (African Studies), Leslie C. Patrick (African-American Studies), Geoffrey E. Schneider (African Studies), T. Joel Wade (African-American Studies)