African Studies and the African Diaspora taps a wide range of academic pursuits, intellectual methods and cultural traditions to give our majors and minors a broad perspective of African experiences—both historic, contemporary, local and global. Our students are informed and knowledgeable in dialogues concerning the socio-political, literary, cultural, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of how the African experience has influenced every aspect of the world we live in. This ranges from the history, politics and culture (among other aspects) of African countries, to the influence and lives of people in the African diaspora around the world, including black life in the United States. Numerous opportunities exist for our students to study abroad in Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean, further enabling them to expand their international and multicultural awareness of issues relative to globalization and social justice. Internships or service-learning programs that foster experiential learning are also available.

The Black World Studies program was inaugurated in 1971 as Loyola's first interdisciplinary program. It uniquely advanced the university's transformative educational mission for over four decades. As agents of social change, our students strive to apply their knowledge of the global black experience in ways that help make our world a home for all. In keeping with changes in the various disciplines that study the African and diaspora experience, in 2013 the program evolved into the new African Studies and the African Diaspora program.

Related Programs

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Course
AFR 201	African Studies and the African Diaspora	3
Electives 1		15
ANTH 100	Globalization and Local Cultures
ANTH 105	Human Biocultural Diversity
ANTH 211	Peoples of Latin America
ANTH 213	Culture in Africa
ANTH 214	African-American Anthropology
ANTH 245	Gender in Deep Time
ANTH 332	Language, Race, and Inequality
CJC 372	Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice
ANTH 361	Issues Cultural Anthropology
COMM 272	Intercultural Communication
ENGL 282B	African-American Literature 1700-1900
ENGL 282C	African-American Literature since 1900
ENGL 316C	Caribbean Literature in English Since 1900
ENGL 384	Studies in African American Literature
ENGL 384B	Studies in African American Literature, 1700-1900
FREN 309	Francophone Literature
FREN 390	French & Francophone Cultures & Civilizations
FNAR 251	African-American Art
FNAR 355	Art of Africa
HIST 209	Islamic History: Themes & Issues
HIST 210	Latin American History: Themes & Issues
HIST 213	African History: Themes & Issues
HIST 350	Colonial Latin America
HIST 363	Civil War & Reconstruction 1850-1877
HIST 374	Black Politics
HIST 380	Introduction to African-American History
HIST 380A	Islam in the African-American Experience
HIST 381	Rebels & Reformers in U.S. History
MUSC 104	Gospel Choir
MUSC 109	Jazz Ensemble
MUSC 156	Intro to Jazz
PLSC 102	International Relations in an Age of Globalization
PLSC 218	African-American Politics
PLSC 340	International Relations of Africa
PLSC 342	African Politics
PSYC 360	Understanding Prejudice
SOCL 101	Society in a Global Age
SOCL 122	Race and Ethnic Relations
SOCL 125	Chicago: Urban Metropolis
SOCL 228	Sociology of the African American Experience
SOCL 250	Inequality in Society
SOWK 370	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice
THTR 395	Seminar in Theatre
Total Hours		18

¹

Two (2) of the AFR electives must be from a single academic department.  One (1) course must be 200-level or higher and one (1) must be 300-level or higher.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection. 

Plan of Study Grid

Sophomore
Fall		Hours
AFR 201	African Studies and the African Diaspora	3
	Hours	3
Spring
Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
Junior
Fall
Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
Spring
Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
Senior
Fall
Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
Spring
Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
	Total Hours	18

¹

Two (2) of the AFR electives must be from a single academic department.  One (1) course must be 200-level or higher and one (1) must be 300-level or higher.

Transfer-Student Residency Requirement

At least 8 credit hours of AFR-MINR requirements must be completed at Loyola.

Undergraduate Policies and Procedures

Please see Undergraduate Policies and Procedures for academic policies that supersede those of academic units within the University.

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the program, our students can recognize, identify, and appreciate the unique gifts and enriching contributions of African and African descended people, communities and countries in the areas of literature, politics, spirituality, morality, psychology, philosophy, and the arts. In service of humanity, our students are able to skillfully communicate their knowledge and values to peoples of all cultural backgrounds, nurturing within them a spirit of tolerance, accommodation, and respectful inclusion that grounds a more just, humane, and peaceful social order. Differences with regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, and religion are viewed and affirmed as valuable. Our students are able to reasonably discuss Africa as the cradle of humanity and civilization, locate African and African influenced culture in space and time from its earliest beginnings, and describe the varied ways in which African people’s cultural identity and gifts have come to expression across global communities for centuries. They are knowledgeable about the liberation struggles of African and diaspora communities and the inspirational impact these struggles have exerted globally on other civil and human rights movements. They understand the history of enslavement of Africans in the Western hemisphere and the European colonization of Africa as this history relates to current issues of institutional racism and social inequality in the US, Africa, and elsewhere. From their elevated perspective, our students view African descended peoples as actors or agents of justice rather than as helpless victims of injustice on the stage of history, recognizing that the primary reality is not what oppressors have done to blacks but what blacks have done to resist, counter, and overcome their oppressors' power to enslave, exploit, defame, and dominate.