Getting Started with Africana Studies

Gateway Course

If you want to have a solid introduction to our diverse field of critical inquiry, start with AFST 205, Introduction to Africana Studies. This course is required of all Africana Studies majors and minors. It also fulfills a COLL 200 and CSI requirement. It's a worthy elective, even if you decide against getting a degree with us.

We recommend that you complete AFST 205 before you declare your major or minor. After this course, you will have a better idea of which concentration you want to complete, and can better make your academic plans.

First Semester Course Guide by Major

Find an advisor

After you decide to major in Africana Studies, you need to find a major advisor. Minors are not required to have an advisor, but we strongly recommend it. All our core faculty welcome the opportunity to advise students interested in pursuing degrees in Africana Studies.

Most students choose as their advisor a professor who has taught a favorite course, or who is doing research that interests them. Once you've selected a professor to be your advisor, send them an email asking if they can serve as your advisor. Your first choice may not be able to do it, due to scheduled research leave or other commitments.

Declare Your Major/minor

Schedule a time to meet with your advisor. Before your meeting, complete a draft of the AFST Course Planner [pdf] and the Declaration of Major Form [pdf] (or Declaration of Academic Minor Form [pdf]). During your meeting, you will go over your plan so your advisor can approve it and forward it on to the Program Director for signature.

After the Director signs your Declaration of Major Form, you may deliver it to the Registrar's Office