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Department of African and Afro-American Studies
112 Faculty Office Building
(585) 395-2470
Chairperson and Professor: John K. Marah; Professor: F. Nwabueze Okoye; Assistant Professor: Stanley Rose; Professor Emeritus: Ena L. Farley.
The Department of African and Afro-American Studies (AAS) articulates, in intellectual terms, the actual life experiences of Africans and people of African descent in North and South America and the Caribbean. Thus, students may utilize studies in AAS for any purpose in order to satisfy personal, educational and professional goals. The AAS major or minor offers students the sensitivity to minority issues and concerns that will stand the graduate in good stead when seeking private- or public-sector employment. Indeed, students who take AAS courses can capitalize on the increasing interest of private-sector employers in recruiting personnel who are aware of minority issues and concerns.
AAS majors go into graduate school; into appointments at federal, state and local levels; into the various United Nations agencies; and into fields as diverse as banking, business, counseling, teaching, international studies, journalism, and labor relations.
Major Program
Basic components of the program, consisting of the core area as well as the supplementary
fields within the major, are organized around the liberal arts disciplines. The core
area subjects are selected from topics on Africa, on African-Americans in the United
States, on the Caribbean and on other parts of the Third World.
Majors must complete 36 credits. These 36 credits must include 12 credits from the basic core and 24 credits from upper-division work offered by the department. After successfully completing 12 credits of introductory work, students are encouraged to select a liberal arts discipline in which to specialize. At least 12 of the 24 credits of required upper-division work must be in the chosen area of specialization.
Required Basic Core (12 credits):
Complete four of the following five courses:
- AAS 104 Institutional Racism
- AAS 113 Introduction to Afro-American History
- AAS 204 African Politics & Society
- AAS 215 Caribbean History
- AAS 235 Introduction to Afro-American Literature
Required Upper-division Courses (24 credits):
- In the area of specialization, at least 12 credits.
- Electives, by advisement, to complete 24 credits. These remaining 12 credits are selected from the Department of African and Afro-American Studies or, where necessary, from other departments by advisement from the Department of African and Afro-American Studies.
Minor ProgramMinors must complete 18 credits in courses offered by the department. These must include six credits of basic core courses and 12 additional upper-division credits of department courses.