Africana Studies major
Eight courses (32 credits) taken within the department are required. These should include:

AFST 101, Introduction to Africana Studies;
One introductory course in Africana Studies (100-200 level);
One upper-level writing course in the humanities (300-400 level);
One upper-level writing course in the social sciences (300-400 level);
Four other courses chosen from departmental offerings or courses cross-listed
   with other departments, which must be at the 300-400 level.

Many students choose to pursue double majors with one of the related departments represented in Africana Studies. Students must earn a grade of C or above in courses fulfilling the major requirements. Courses fulfilling major requirements may not be taken Pass/Fail. Only one independent study course may be counted in fulfillment of the requirements for the major.

Africana Studies minor
The minor in Africana Studies is designed to give students with majors in other fields an opportunity to have a supplementary discipline and focus that may combine their political, social and academic interests as well as future professional concerns. Students develop their programs with the advice of departmental faculty. You may, for example, take a history, psychology, literature, philosophy, political science concentration with the supervision of the Africana Studies faculty.

A minimum of six courses (24 credits) is required, including:

any two Africana Studies courses at the introductory level (100 or 200), one of
   which must be in the humanities and the other of which must be in the social sciences;
four upper-level courses.

All courses in fulfillment of the minor must be taken in the department. Only one independent study course may be counted in fulfillment of requirements for the minor. Students must earn a grade of C or above in courses fulfilling the minor requirements. Courses fulfilling minor requirements may not be taken Pass/Fail.

Honors program
Exceptional students majoring in Africana Studies are considered for admission to the honors program after successfully completing five semesters or 80 credit hours (including at least 16 in Africana Studies). The program consists of two courses taken in the senior year: AFST 497, Advanced Independent Study/Honors Research, and AFST 499, Honors Thesis. Honors in Africana Studies are awarded to students who receive at least a B+ grade in a Special Topic and at least an A– in an Honors Thesis.

:: Staff ::

Chair of Africana Studies:
Nkiru Nzegwu
panap@binghamton.edu

Undergraduate Director:
Michael West
mwest@binghamton.edu

Department Secretary:
Barbara Kumiega
bkumiega@binghamton.edu

Webmaster:
Nkiru Nzegwu
panap@binghamton.edu

Africana's address
Binghamton University
Department of Africana Studies
POB 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Telephone & fax
Phone: (607) 777-2635
Fax: (607) 777-6547

Inquires about undergraduate studies should be directed to Professor Michael West. Inquires about the department should be directed to Professor Nkiru Nzegwu. All other inquires should be directed to the Department Secretary, Barbara Kumiega.

Students who wish to enroll in the honors program must have a 3.5 grade-point average. The undergraduate studies director solicits a sample of the student’s written work in Africana Studies courses and two letters of recommendation from appropriate faculty.

Individualized Major Program (IMP)
Although the IMP is not a program within Africana Studies department, adventurous students at Binghamton University may design their own program. The IMP allows students to design a program not presently available within the established University structure. The major must be academically sound, must show breadth and depth, and must provide a theoretical and conceptual framework for a particular course of study.