African American Studies, Department of

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Department Chair

Erica L. Ball

Department Office/Website

Humanities 314
657/278-3848
hss.fullerton.edu/african-american/about/index.asp

Faculty

Stan Breckenridge, Siobhan Brooks, Natalie Graham, Tyler D. Parry, Julie Stokes

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 ethnomusicology, history, psychology, sociology, literature and cultural studies.

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 community development. These areas include law, medicine, civil service, education and a number of other professional occupations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who major in African American Studies will be expected to:

• Identify a range of cultural documents and expressive forms (such as folk culture, music, literature, mass media, interviews and oral history), and describe their significance to African American culture.
• Identify and explain the significance of key individuals and events that shaped the culture and history of people of African descent in the U.S. and wider diaspora. 
• Examine the ways that race, gender, class and/or sexuality intersect in the lives of individuals and their communities.
• Integrate Ethnic Studies methodologies into one’s written work.
• Communicate complex arguments, ideas, and research findings in well-organized written papers.

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 African American Studies (3)
• AFAM 108 - Linguistics and Minority Dialects (3)
• AFAM 190 - Survey of American History with Emphasis on Ethnic Minorities (3)
• AFAM 196 - Tutorial (1-3)
• AFAM 301 - African American Food Culture (3)
• AFAM 304 - Black Families in America (3)
• AFAM 306 - American Indian Women (3)
• AFAM 307 - Research and Writing in Ethnic Studies (3)
• AFAM 308 - Black Men in America (3)
• AFAM 310 - Black Women in America (3)
• AFAM 311 - Race and Relationships (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 in Minority Communities (3)
• AFAM 322 - Psychology of African Americans (3)
• AFAM 324 - Introduction to 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 388 - Hip Hop Culture (3)
• AFAM 405 - Hollywood v. History: An Intrpretive 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 - Education and Ethnic Minorities (3)
• AFAM 496 - Tutorial (1-3)
• AFAM 499 - Independent Study (1-3)

Courses are designated as ETHN in the class schedule.

• ETHN 490 - Ethnic Studies Senior Seminar (3)

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