College: Social Sciences and Public Policy
Degree: B.S. or B.A.
Specialized Admission: No
Address: 211 Bellamy Building, FSU Tallahassee, FL 32306-21
Phone: (850) 644-4418
Email: pmason@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
African American Studies is an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary approach to the study of racial and ethnic identity, human relations, and cultural dynamics. The curriculum provides an intellectually powerful analysis of social outcomes, cultural phenomena and paradigms, institutional behaviors, global trends, and public discourse. The curriculum also focuses on economic and social policy issues.
In addition to common coursework, students in this major select one of the three following specialty areas: Social Sciences, or Literature and Arts, or Philosophy, History, and Religion.
There are no State-wide Common Program Prerequisites. However, each specialty area within this major may have prerequisite courses that must be completed that may not be used to meet major requirements.
Note: State-wide Common Prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the "Common Prerequisites Manual." This is available from the "College Students" section of http://www.flvc.org.
Requirements for Progression to the Upper-Division Major:
Students must complete at least 52 semester hours of credit with a minimum FSU GPA of 2.00 and most of the required General Education requirements met, including freshman English Composition and mathematics, or an A.A. Degree.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (36 hours)
Students should consult with a program advisor regarding current courses approved to meet the history and concentration requirements.
1. Core Course Requirements
Completion of fifteen (15) hours in African American Studies core courses.
A. Three required courses: (9 hours)
• AFA 2000 Introduction to the African American Experience
• AFA 3101 Theory and Dynamics of Racism and Oppression
• AFA 3930 Research Methods and Scholarly Writing in Africana Studies (Special Topic)
B. One of the following experiential courses: (3 hours)
• AFA 3330 Black Families in America or
• AFA 4240 Africana Diasporic Experience (Special Topic)
C. One of the following research/service learning courses: (3 hours)
• AFA 3930 Senior Capstone Thesis (Special Topic) or
• AFA 3930 Practicum/Internship (Special Topic)
2. History Requirement
Completion of six (6) hours in African and/or African American history courses.
• AMH 2091 African American Experience in the United States
• AMH 2096 Black Women in America
• AMH 2097 Nationality, Race, and Ethnicity in America
• AMH 4173 Post–Civil War America, 1865–1890
• AMH 4571 Black America to 1877
• AMH 4572 Black America Since 1877
• AMH 4684 Women and Children in the Civil Rights Movement
• HIS 4930 Special Topics in History (Black History through Film)
• LAH 4470 History of the Caribbean
• LAH 4723 Race and Class in Colonial Latin America
3. Specialty Area. Complete 15 hours in one of the following specialty areas: Social Sciences, Literature and Arts, or Philosophy, History, and Religion. Each area includes coursework comprised of required and supplementary courses chosen from approved lists.
Language requirement: (0 to 12 credits)
Students choosing to complete a BA degree are required to demonstrate proficiency in French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic through the intermediate (2XXX) level.
Digital Literacy: (3 hours)
CGS 2060 (3) or CGS 2100 (3) or other University-approved course.
Oral Communication Competency: (0-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with an approved college-level course.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary:
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education *36
Prerequisite courses vary
Major Coursework 36
Minor Coursework 0
Foreign Language 0-12
Digital Literacy 3
Oral Competency 3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*Note: Only 6 credit hours may count for both General Education and major requirements.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Community Organizer, Policy Analyst, Museum Curator, Public Historian, Researcher, Communications Specialist, Social Science Teacher, Data Analyst, College Professor, Legislative Aide, Urban Planner, Program Manager, Writer/Editor, Cultural Consultant.
Representative Employers: Federal and State Agencies, Educational Institutions, Non-Profit Organizations, Museums and Cultural Centers, Media Companies, Community-Based Organizations, Research Institutes, Private Foundations, Political Campaigns, Public School Systems, Advocacy Groups.
International Opportunities: International study is available for all students and may include opportunities for internships or taking course work towards various majors and minors. International study may have an impact on the MAP; therefore, it is important to consult with the academic advisor before participating. Interested students can find information about international study, research, internships, and service opportunities at: global.fsu.edu/undergraduate-students/going-abroad.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
The African American Studies major requires 36 hours from the recommended list of courses with a "C minus" or better in each course. A maximum of 6 hours from General Education can count towards the major hours. A modern foreign language up to the intermediate level is required for the Bachelor of Arts track.
Mapping Coordinator: COSS Acad Affairs Off. 101 BEL
Email: COSS-Admissions-Mapping@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| GE History (recommended African American History)3 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice 3 |
| GE Mathematics3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| GE Mathematics 3 |
| GE Natural Science 3 |
| GE Social Science3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| AFA 2000 Introduction to the African American Experience 3 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice 3 |
| GE Natural Science with Lab4 |
| General Education Elective (recommended African American History)3 |
| CGS2060 Computer Fluency3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| AFA 3101 Theory and Dynamics of Racism and Oppression 3 |
| Ethics course3 |
| GE Elective3 |
| Oral Communication Competency3 |
| Elective (If BA, begin language)3-4 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete General Education requirements |
| Oral Communication (Strongly Recommended): SPC1017, SPC2608 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| AFA 3930 – ST: Research Methods3 |
| African American History course3 |
| Specialty Area Course3 |
| Elective (If BA, continue language)3-4 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete AFA 2000 |
| Complete 3 hours of African American history courses |
| Complete 3 hours towards Specialty Area |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Declare Specialty Area at www.bit.ly/COSSminors |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| AFA 3330 Black Families in America 3 |
| Specialty Area Course3 |
| Supplementary Course3 |
| Elective (If BA, finish language)3-4 |
| African American History course3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete one Core Course |
| Complete 6 hours towards Specialty Area |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| AFA 4240 Africana Diasporic Experience 3 |
| Specialty Area Course3 |
| Specialty Area Course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete AFA Research Methods |
| Complete 9 hours towards Specialty Area including one Supplementary Course |
| Complete 6 hours of African American History |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| AFA Thesis or Practicum/Internship3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Complete AFA Thesis or Practicum/Internship |
| Complete major course requirements |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Apply for graduation within 1st two weeks of semester |