Curriculum Overview

Africana Studies

Africana Studies is an interdisciplinary program combining the study of Africa and the African Diaspora, including the African-American experience. Several disciplines contribute to Africana Studies at Franklin & Marshall, among them American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, English, Government, History, Music, Religious Studies and Sociology.

A major in Africana Studies consists of 10 courses: AFS/AMS 150; AFS/HIS 241 and 242; AFS/AMS/ENG 256 or 257; AFS/HIS 331 or 332; AFS 350; AFS 490; and three electives from a list of approved courses, including but not limited to the following: AFS/GOV 326; AFS/AMS/ENG 256; AFS/AMS/ENG 257; AFS/ANT 267; AFS/ANT 269; AFS/HIS 331; AFS/HIS 349; AFS/SOC 360; and AFS/ENG/WGS 488. Prospective majors should take note that several of these electives have prerequisites (e.g., introductory level courses in anthropology, economics or sociology), such that the number of courses necessary to complete the AFS major may exceed ten.

A minor in Africana Studies consists of six of the following courses: AFS/AMS 150, HIS 241 and 242, AMS/ENG 256 or 257, HIS 331 or 332, AFS 350. In addition, the electives listed after the required courses may be of interest to students in this area.

For further information, students should consult the Africana Studies Program Chair.

Recent Africana Studies Program students have studied abroad in the following programs in recent years: Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Guyana.  See the International Programs section of the Catalog for further information.