Iowa State University

Iowa State University

2005-2007 Courses and Programs

Iowa State University Catalog

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African American Studies

200 | 300 | 400

www.iastate.edu/~catalog/catalog/courses/african.htm
(Interdepartmental Undergraduate Program)
Program Committee: D. Anderson, R. Baum,
J. H. Blake, K. Hickok, C. Pope, D. Rollins, G. Tartakov

Undergraduate Study

African American Studies, a cross-disciplinary program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offers students the opportunity to explore African Americans' contributions to American culture. Students in the program analyze and learn about African American experiences through the study of history, literature, art, religion, and society. They gain knowledge and develop skills and sensitivities to help them function effectively in today's diverse society.

African American Studies at Iowa State University is an expanding program. Most of the courses in the program satisfy general education requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the human relations requirement for teachers, and the university's diversity requirement. At present students can minor or even design their own Interdisciplinary Studies major with an emphasis in African American Studies.

A minor in African American Studies requires six courses in the program with a minimum of 18 credits, including Introduction to African American Studies (Af Am 201) and Seminar in African American Culture (Af Am 460). The remaining credits must come from at least two departments, with at least two courses taken at the junior level or above. Independent study and internship opportunities are available for credit, but do not count in the minimum requirements for the minor.

Graduate Study

Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: 334, 347, 348, 349, 350, 460, 475.

Courses primarily for undergraduate students


Af Am 201. Introduction to African American Studies. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. S. An interdisciplinary introduction to the study of African American culture. Includes history, the social sciences, literature, religion, and the arts, as well as conceptual frameworks for investigation and analysis of the African American experience.

Af Am 252. African American Theatre Production. (Same as Thtre 252.) See Theatre.


Af Am 325. Peoples and Cultures of Africa. (Same as Anthr 325.) See Anthropology.

Af Am 330. Ethnic and Race Relations. (Same as Soc 330). See Sociology.

Af Am 334. African American Religious Experience. (Same as Relig 334.) See Religious Studies. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Af Am 347. Survey of African American Literature. (Same as Engl 347.) See English. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Af Am 348. Contemporary African American Literature. (Same as Engl 348.) See English. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Af Am 350. African American Women. (Same as W S 350.) See Women's Studies. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Af Am 353. History of African Americans I. (Same as Hist 353.) See History.

Af Am 354. History of African Americans II. (Same as Hist 354.) See History.


Af Am 460. Seminar in African American Culture. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Intensive study of a selected topic in African-American Studies in one or more disciplines. Selected readings of various authors, movements, eras, or genres. Primary and secondary source materials. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Af Am 490. Independent Study. Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken, maximum of 3. Prereq: 6 credits in African American Studies, and permission of instructor and of the chair of the African American Studies Program.

Courses Offered by Other Departments


Engl 349. Selected Topics in Multicultural Literatures of the United States. See English. Available only when offered as a course in African American literature. Nonmajor graduate credit.


Relig 475. Seminar: Issues in the Study of Religion. See Religious Studies. When content is appropriate, may be taken as Relig 475. Nonmajor graduate credit.