African American Studies, Department of

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Department Chair

Alexandro José Gradilla

Department Office/Website

Humanities 314
657/278-3848
hss.fullerton.edu/afro

Faculty

Stan Breckenridge, Julie Stokes, Lezlee Hinesmon-Matthews, Kendall Radcliffe

Introduction

African American Studies is a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the black experience in a global context. In addition to degree programs in African American Studies, the department provides coursework in Ethnic Studies (e.g., Intracultural Socialization). Our faculty areas of expertise are diverse and include political science, history, urban planning, psychology, sociology and literature.

African American studies majors and minors go on to pursue graduate degrees in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Our graduates make career choices that reflect a commitment to leadership and development. These areas include law, medicine, civil service, research, education and a number of other professional occupations.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The following learning goals and learning outcomes have been established for students pursuing a degree in African American Studies:

Knowledge

• Describe and characterize the history and experiences of enslavement, colonialism, democratic ideals, and societal realities that foster inclusion and/or marginalization of racial and ethnic groups, particularly African Americans
• Identify economic, political and social challenges impacting ethnic groups, particularly African American
• Provide casual explanations, including racism, to explain the problems of marginalized racial and ethnic groups, particularly African Americans
• Determine the nature and extent of information needed to critically evaluate information sources used in responding to the identified challenges facing African Americans and minority communities

Critical Thinking

• Demonstrate knowledge and application of theory, research and contexts of development when analyzing experiences of ethnic groups, particularly African Americans

Critical Writing

• Perform independent research using qualitative and quantitative research methods and communicate information and interpretations orally and in writing

Leadership

• Engage technology and multimedia in the communicating of written and oral presentations
• Engage in self-assessments, reflecting on the influence of diversity in one’s life and society and on social responsibility for participating in creating economic, political, and social change

Social/Global Awareness

• Exposure to issues of culture, ethnicity and gender
• Examine and critically assess normative standards of governing social relations, practices, and institutions, including a wide range of human activities dependent upon value judgments

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

• Ethnic Studies, Option in African American Studies, B.A.

• African American Studies Minor

Courses

Courses are designated as AFAM in the class schedule.

• AFAM 101 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3)
• AFAM 107 - Introduction to Afro-American Studies (3)
• AFAM 108 - Linguistics and Minority Dialects (3)
• AFAM 190 - Survey of American History with Emphasis on Ethnic Minorities (3)
• AFAM 210 - Introduction To Hip Hop (3)
• AFAM 301 - African-American Culture (3)
• AFAM 304 - The Black Family (3)
• AFAM 306 - American Indian Women (3)
• AFAM 307 - Research and Writing in Ethnic Studies (3)
• AFAM 308 - African American Males in American Social Systems (3)
• AFAM 310 - Black Women in America (3)
• AFAM 311 - Intracultural Socialization Patterns (3)
• AFAM 314 - Pan-African Dance and Movement (3)
• AFAM 317 - Black Politics (3)
• AFAM 320 - Black Political Thought (3)
• AFAM 321 - Grassroots Planning and Community Development Planning In Minority Communities (3)
• AFAM 322 - Psychology of African Americans (3)
• AFAM 324 - African-American Literature (3)
• AFAM 325 - African-American Religions and Spirituality (3)
• AFAM 335 - History of Racism (3)
• AFAM 337 - American Indian Religions and Philosophy (3)
• AFAM 346 - The African Experience (3)
• AFAM 356 - African-American Music Appreciation (3)
• AFAM 357 - Blacks in the Performing Arts (3)
• AFAM 370 - Development of African American Children and Youth (3)
• AFAM 381 - African Literature (3)
• AFAM 405 - Hollywood v. History: An Interpretive History of Blacks through Film (3)
• AFAM 430 - A Social Psychological Study in Ethnic Minority Behavior (3)
• AFAM 458A - West Africa and the African Diaspora (3)
• AFAM 458B - Southern Africa in the 20th Century (3)
• AFAM 458C - African History Since 1935 (3)
• AFAM 485 - Schools, Education and Ethnic Minority Groups (3)
• AFAM 490 - Ethnic Studies Senior Seminar (3)
• AFAM 499 - Independent Study (1-3)

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