Course Descriptions
AFAM 115
Introduction to African American Studies
3 Semester Hours
An introductory course designed to give an overview of African American Studies in order to familiarize the student with the history, culture, aspirations, and contemporary issues of the African American experience.
AFAM 150
Black Cultural Arts
3 Semester Hours
A study of Black American art forms, such as music, dance, theatre, film, television, painting, sculpture, and literature, as they have developed in the African Diaspora from slavery to the modern age.
AFAM 155
African American History
3 Semester Hours
An analysis of the historical forces which shaped the African American experience in America from past to present.
AFAM 198
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 199
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 208
Social Research Methods
3 Semester Hours
An introduction to scientific inquiry and research methods in the social sciences with special emphasis on African Americans.
AFAM 298
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 299
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 301
Black Identities, Families, and Cultures
3 Semester Hours
This course examines relevant issues about life within the Black Family and the impact that these issues have on the identity, community, and culture. Emphasis is placed on myths, gender roles, socialization, parenting styles, and male/female relationships. The course gives students an opportunity to select an aspect of Black life and do an in-depth critical analysis of it with a focus on the current research, competing views, and implications for the future.
AFAM 335
Sociology of the Black Community
3 Semester Hours
A survey of the effects of long-standing discrimination and deprivation upon family structure, occupational patterns, health and educational conditions, motivation, and personal as well as group identity. An analysis of the Black power concept and its influence upon the growing community control of the ghetto.
AFAM 337
Black Arts Movement
3 Semester Hours
A survey of the critical, fictional, poetic, and dramatic writings of Black Americans in the 1920s-1930s and the 1960s-1970s.
AFAM 395
Black Drama
3 Semester Hours
A survey of dramatic literature written by African American playwrights from the 19th century to the current day. Representative playwrights include Garland Anderson, Theodore Ward, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Charles Gordone, Charles Fuller, Ntozake Shange, and August Wilson. Students will have opportunities to attend live performances of African American drama in L.A. communities and to stage readings of selected works.
AFAM 396
Survey of African American Literature
3 Semester Hours
A study of the major themes in selected works of African American literature; examination of their social, historical, cultural, and contemporary significance.
AFAM 397
Hip Hop Culture
3 Semester Hours
This course will explore how and why hip hop has become a global phenomenon, examining themes within hip hop culture with a primary focus on race, gender, class, sexuality, and youth politics of hip hop.
AFAM 398
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 399
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 435
Sex, Race, and Violence
3 Semester Hours
This course examines the issues of sex, race, and violence and their implications for the individual, the family, and the community. Emphasis is placed on the role of socialization and the myths that impact societal attitudes about sex and violence. Students have an opportunity to identify and to explore factors that influence the manifestation of physical violence (including dating violence, child abuse, and domestic violence) and sexual violence (including date rape, stranger rape, and marital rape) across the dimensions of race, ethnicity, and gender.
AFAM 485
African American Social Thought
3 Semester Hours
A survey of the development of African American social thought with special emphasis upon current philosophies which have influenced contemporary African American social movements.
AFAM 497
Senior Seminar
3 Semester Hours
Designed as a capstone experience for African American Studies majors and minors. In the seminar format, students will be challenged to integrate knowledge, skills gained in course work, and life experiences into a meaningful project that meets the challenge of academic excellence and social responsibility.
Senior standing required.
AFAM 498
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
AFAM 499
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours
Cross-listed Courses
AFAM 326
Economic Development of the Minority Communities
3 Semester Hours
(See ECON 371.)
AFAM 334
Race and Ethnic Relations
3 Semester Hours
(See SOCL 334.)
AFAM 338
Civil Rights Movements
3 Semester Hours
(See POLS 338.)
AFAM 339
Racial and Ethnic Politics
3 Semester Hours
(See POLS 337.)
AFAM 365
Metropolitan Los Angeles
3 Semester Hours
(See URBN 365.)
AFAM 390
African Kingdoms
3 Semester Hours
(See HIST 390.)
AFAM 392
Colonial Africa: 1860-1960
3 Semester Hours
(See HIST 392.)
AFAM 490
The Quest for the Nile's Source
3 Semester Hours
(See HIST 490.)
AFAM 491
South Africa
3 Semester Hours
(See HIST 491.)
AFAM 590
Seminar in African History
3 Semester Hours
(See HIST 590.)
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