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| THE
MAJOR: AFRICANA STUDIES |
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The Africana Studies undergraduate major prepares students for
a broad range of academic
and professional careers relevant to both the public and
private sectors. The Center has a history of shaping students'
intellectual discipline, creativity, and social and politicalawareness.
The Center also assists students interested in advanced
graduate study for:
 teaching and research
law
medicine
public policy analysis
and administration
social work
community development
international affairs
and development
Each semester, the Center
offers approximately 23 graduate and undergraduate courses concerning
the African, African-American, and Caribbean peoples, in the
areas of history, sociology, political economy, Swahili language,
music, literature, visual arts, education, and gender studies. |
| REQUIREMENTS |
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Freshmen and transfer students
typically begin the major with 100-level courses and/or writing
seminars, such as:
ASRC 172 Black
Families and the Socialization of Black Children
ASRC 131 Swahili
ASRC 191 Africa:
the Continent and its People
ASRC 100.1 Black
Male Writers
ASRC 100.2 African
American Music and Theatre
ASRC 100.3 African-American
Women Writers
ASRC 100.4 Politics
of Identity in African-American Literature
Thirty-six (36) credit hours
need to be completed to fulfill the major's requirement. There
are four core courses that all students need to complete before
graduation:
ASRC 205 African
Civilizations and Cultures
ASRC 231 Black
Political Thought
ASRC 290 Sociology
of the Black Experience
ASRC 422 African
Literature
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| HONORS |
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Those
admitted into the program will have an honors faculty committee
consisting of the studentd's advisor and an additional faculty
member. The Center's honors program offers seniors the
opportunity to complete a library research thesis, a field project
in conjunction with a report on the field experience, or a project
or experiment designed by the student.
Upon approval of the honors thesis
by the honors faculty committee, students are eligible to graduate
cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude
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| MINOR
CONCENTRATION |
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A
minor concentration in Africana studies requires at least sixteen
(16) credit hours of Africana Studies courses, including ASRC
290 Sociology of the Black Experience. |
| CERTIFICATE
IN AFRICAN STUDIES |
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In
conjunction with the Institute
for African Development , the Center has established an
undergraduate Certificate in African Studies. This is available
as a concentration complementing a disciplinary major to students
of all undergraduate colleges at Cornell, and provides students
with an interdisciplinary understanding of Africa.
A foundation on African culture,
society, and development is provided in the introductory course
ASRC 191 Africa: The Continent and its People. Students
then choose to focus on either the humanities or development
studies. A focus on the humanities provides a background on
African culture or languages. A focus on development studies
concentrates on the social, political, and institutional development
of Africa. A student may select courses from either area, depending
upon his or her interest or course requirements. Although students
are encouraged to take the core courses in sequence, there are
no course prerequisites and students may enter the certificate
program at any class level.
A minimum of eighteen (18) semester
credits of Africa-related courses is required. Students focusing
on the humanities take ASRC 205 African Civilizations and
Cultures , and then choose twelve (12) additional credits
either in cultural studies, or languages and linguistics. Students
interested in cultural studies may choose from courses in African
literature, history, philosophy, music, dance, art history,
or drama. Those interested in languages and linguistics may
take African linguistic courses, and language courses in Ewe,
Kiswahili, Malinke, Swahili, Yoruba, or Zulu. Kiswahili and
Yoruba are occasionally taught during the academic year. Intensive
courses are offered during the Cornell
Summer Program in African Languages .
Students focusing on development
studies begin with one required African development course,
and then choose twelve (12) additional credits in the social
sciences or food production. Students interested in the social
sciences may take courses in government, demography, economics
and agricultural economics, regional planning, rural sociology,
anthropology, and education. Students interested in food production
may take courses in animal science, agronomy, ecology, and nutrition. |
| PROFILE
OF AN ASRC GRADUATE |
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Born
to South African and Swazi parents, Mandliesilo "Mandla"
Msimang lived in Zambia, Kenya, Canada,and Ethiopia. Her
Pan-African experiences led her to Cornell's College
of Arts and Sciences , and eventually the Africana Studies
and Research Center.
While at Cornell, Mandla was
actively involved within Cornell's African community. She
served as publicity coordinator for the CASA
(Cornell African Students Association) ; was a member
and adviser for the Black Women's Support Network; and, was
a resident adviser at the Ujamaa
Residential College . By her junior year, Mandla
became assistant editor and treasurer of Umoja Sasa
and layout editor of Gender and Global Change. Mandla
received a Cornell
Tradition Fellowship , and was inducted into the Golden
Key National Honor Society , Quill & Dagger Senior
Honor Society, and
Mortar
Board Honor Society .
Since graduating in 1998, Mandla
has been working for the South
African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA)
. As assistant to the deputy chairperson, she monitors
industry developments, prepares presentations and papers,
and serves on the Organisational Development and Gender Committees.
Says Mandla, "The spirit
of cooperation and commitment that was passed on to me from
the Africana and Ujamaa communities with whom I interacted
while pursuing my Africana Studies major invariably shapes
my life and decisions today."
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| QUESTIONS
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