Learn about the African diaspora to celebrate and honor the Black experience. Raise your critical race consciousness and cultural literacy to challenge systemic racism and inequities. Use your knowledge to champion justice and equity.
Why Study Africana Studies?
We are cultivating an intellectual environment grounded in the histories, cultures, and worldviews of African people that seeks to activate the strengths of our students and their communities.
Through our degree programs, curriculum and programming, we aim to raise students' and scholars' critical race consciousness and cultural literacy to challenge systemic racism, anti-Blackness and dismantle white supremacy. We also offer a wealth of community engagement and empowerment opportunities.
Gain cultural intelligence and critical race literacy and consciousness. Receive preparation for culturally appropriate civic engagement along with Africana literary and cultural competence. Strengthen your knowledge and skills in Africana research methodologies and methods for studying people of African descent and obtain training in advocacy for social change and social justice.
Why Study Africana Studies at CSUN?
History of Activism
CSUN’s Department of Africana Studies is one of the oldest and largest degree-granting Black Studies programs in the nation. It began in 1969, after the mass arrest of hundreds of students who protested the treatment of students of color, and demanded educational justice and the establishment of Black Studies and Ethnic Studies at CSUN. The rich tradition of student activism continues to be a hallmark of our department.
Multiple Options
As a student, you will choose between three options in Africana studies based on your area of interest. This will prepare you for further graduate study or your career.
- The African and African-American Social Sciences option focuses on sociological trends and political history.
- The African and African-American Humanities and Cultural Studies option emphasizes the cultural and historical impact of Africans and African Americans.
- The African-American Urban Education option prepares you to think critically about racism and education policy.
Dedicated Faculty
Our faculty are the key to our successful program. Our professors are at the forefront of advancing the discipline. They research, publish and teach new and innovative scholarship. They will also mentor and guide you as you prepare for your career.
What You'll Learn
By studying Africana studies, you will gain a broad perspective of the African and African American experience. You will discuss social class, gender, race, culture and ethnicity. You will learn political, social, historical and cultural perspectives. You will develop critical thinking skills and practice research skills.
All Africana Studies majors share the same core curriculum. In those classes you will learn about:
- African American history
- The African diaspora
- Psychological or social environment of African Americans
- Economics of the African American community
- African American culture
Your capstone experience for the Africana Studies major is the proseminar in Africana Studies. As part of the project, you will conduct research on critical issues impacting Black communities and present at conferences.
For the rest of your major classes, you will focus on one of three options.
This option focuses on sociological trends and political history of the African American and Africana people groups.
You will take classes on:
- African American politics
- Economics of the African American community
- African American personality development or the African American family
- Research methods and paradigms in Pan African studies
- Advanced writing
You will take one additional elective based on your interests. You'll perform fieldwork or complete a social science career internship.
This option emphasizes the cultural and historical impact of Africans and African Americans. It has a set of required courses and two tracks.
There are a variety of courses to choose from for this option:
- Traditional African cultures
- African American music
- Contemporary Black female writers
- Literature of the Caribbean and African experience
- Mass communication in the African American community
- Colonialism in Africa
- Advanced writing
You will also choose between the Humanities or Cultural Studies Tracks to complete your major requirements.
In the Humanities Track, you will choose from courses such as:
- African American drama
- Workshop in creative writing for minority students
- African Americans in film
In the Cultural Studies track, you will choose from courses such as:
- History and accomplishments of classical African civilization
- History of Caribbean societies since the 1830s
- Politics of hip hop
The African-American Urban Education option equips you to think critically about education policy.
In this option, you'll learn about:
- Advanced writing
- Equity and diversity in schools
- The Black Child
- Proseminar in Africana Studies
You will also select from a variety of electives to complete your education.
Careers & Outcomes
After graduating, Africana Studies majors continue with higher education while others find a career in a variety of fields. Many graduates have attended law school or graduate schools in various academic fields. Others become educators, social workers, entrepreneurs and government employees, or they work in media and entertainment.
Employers of recent alumni include:
- LAUSD
- West Valley Counseling Center
- California State University
- Kaiser Permanente
- Learn 4 Life
- High Museum of Art
Common career paths for Africana Studies graduates include:
- Social workers
- K-12 teachers
- Community development program directors or assistants
- Marriage and family therapists
- Professors and researchers
- Museum directors
- School counselors
- Poets and authors
- Cultural critics and artists
- Urban planners
The home of Black excellence.
The Black House hosts a safe space for Black students and others to learn and grow together. It offers tutoring, community workshops and professional development. Come and make yourself at home.
Teach Social Studies
Your Africana Studies courses can help you become a middle school or high school social studies teacher. Combine your major program with the Single Subject Social Science Subject Matter Program to meet requirements for entering a Single Subject Credential Program. Talk to your advisor about coordinating the two programs. View Social Science Subject Matter Program for Secondary School Teachers for more information. Find out about CSUN's teaching credential program.