Program Guide

African American Studies

College: Social Sciences and Public Policy
Degree: B.S. or B.A.
Specialized Admission: No

*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.

There are no State-wide Common Program Prerequisites. 

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 are required to select a minimum of 36 credit hours for the major, which consists of 12 credit hours of African American Studies compulsory courses, 12 credit hours of African American Studies core courses, and 12 credit hours of approved supplementary courses.

Students may not overlap more than six hours of coursework used to satisfy General Education requirements with courses used to fulfill major requirements.

Students pursuing a Double Major or a Dual Degree may overlap up to nine hours with another major.

A 2.00 GPA average in African American Studies course requirements is required, and students will not receive credit toward the major requirements for courses in which grades less than “C minus” have been received.

A minimum of 18 credit hours in African American Studies major courses must be taken at Florida State University.

With the director's approval, courses offered at Florida A&M University that are not offered at FSU may be used to fulfill the requirements for the African American Studies major.

Compulsory Course Requirements (12 hours)

• AFA 2000 (3) Introduction to African American Studies
• AFA 3101 (3) Theories of African American Studies
• AFA 4851 (3) Research Methods and Scholarly Writing in Africana Studies 
• AFA 4940 (3) African American Studies Internship OR Senior Seminar

Core Courses (12 hours - choose any 4)
• AFA 3330 (3) Black Families in America
• AFA 3604 (3) Politics of Black Poverty
• AFA 3373 (3) Psychology of Hip Hop
• AFA 3353 (3) Race, Class, and Gender
• AFA 4007 (3) Black Political Thought & Social Movement
• AFA 4240 (3) African Diasporia 
• AFA 4358 (3) Culture, LAnd, and Ecology

Supplementary Courses (12 hours)

Choose 2 courses (3000+ level): 6 hours

Choose 2 courses (any level): 6 hours

Selected Approved Courses:
• AMH 1091, 2096, 2097, 4571, 4572, 4684 (African American History)
• AML 2600, 4604 (African American Literature)
• POS 4070, 4624 (Race & Politics)
• CCJ 3673, 3678, 4662 (Criminal Justice & Race)
• SOP 3782, SYD 4700 (Psychology & Sociology of Race)

[Plus 40+ additional approved courses - see full bulletin for complete list]

Program Notes:

• Minimum 18 AFA credits must be taken at FSU
• Maximum 6 credits can overlap with General Education
• Methods course may substitute with other department equivalents
• Contact program director for course equivalencies

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, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Social Media Manager, Content Creator, Policy Analyst, Nonprofit Program Coordinator, Museum Educator, Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Research Analyst, Grant Writer, Public Health Educator, Social Justice Advocate, Corporate Diversity Officer, Digital Marketing Specialist, Communications Coordinator, Youth Program Director, Community Relations Manager, Academic Advisor, Publishing Assistant, Journalist, Social Worker, Teacher, Librarian, Human Resource Specialist, and other positions for which a bachelor's degree is required.

Representative Employers: Federal Agencies, State and Local Government, Educational Institutions, Non-profit Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, Social Justice Organizations, Private Corporations, Diversity and Inclusion Consulting Firms, Media Companies, Publishing Houses, Museums and Cultural Institutions, Healthcare Organizations, Public Health Agencies, Research Institutes, Think Tanks, Foundations, Tech Companies, Marketing and Communications Firms, Public School Systems, Higher Education Institutions, Community Colleges, Youth Development Organizations, and Faith-Based Organizations.

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.