Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Africana Studies


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Africana Studies Chair
Devyn Benson (Africana Studies and Latin American Studies)

Africana Studies Core Faculty
Dan Aldridge (History)
Garry Bertholf (Africana Studies and English)
Laurian Bowles (Anthropology)
Nneka Dennie (Africana Studies)
Joseph Ewoodzie (Sociology)
Caroline Fache (French and Francophone Studies)
Hilton Kelly (Educational Studies)
Takiyah Harper-Shipman (Africana Studies)
Gerardo Marti (Sociology)
Ken Menkhaus (Political Science)

Africana Studies Affiliated Faculty
Brenda Flanagan (English)
Rick Gay (Educational Studies)
Melissa Gonzalez (Hispanic Studies)
Michael Guasco (History)
Clark Ross (Economics)
Fred Smith (Economics)
Anne Wills (Religion)

Core Faculty Emeritus
Nancy Fairley (Anthropology)

Major Requirements (A.B. Degree)


The Africana Studies Department requires 10 courses for the completion of the major.  It is highly recommended that students begin their study with AFR 101.  Students must succesfully complete the following major curriculum:

  1. Gateway Course:  AFR 101  - Introduction to Africana Studies
  2. One course:  Methods Courses category
  3. Two courses: Cultural Production and Expression category
  4. Two courses: Historical and Geographical Investigations category
  5. Two courses: Social Thought and Institutions category
  6. One Intellectual History Course:  AFR 300-309 - Major Thinkers in Africana Studies   
  7. Senior Capstone: AFR 495  - Senior Capstone in Africana Studies

Notes:

  • At least six of the required courses for the major must be taken in the Africana Studies Department at Davidson College.

  • At least two courses in two different geographic regions (North America, Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean)  must be completed.  See course descriptions for geographic region.
  • Courses for the major may also be considered from Davidson-run and approved study abroad programs (i.e., Davidson in Ghana, etc.)
  • For double majors, no more than two of the same AFR-designated or approved cross-listed courses may count towards the Africana Studies major.

Cultural Production and Expression Courses


Historical and Geographical Investigations


Africana Studies Honors


Students who qualify during their junior year with a minimum GPA and an approved research proposal (submitted by May 30 of the junior year) will be eligible to complete a year-long thesis and enroll in a one-credit thesis course (AFR 498 ) by way of which honors in the major can be earned.  This course will be taught as an Independent Study.  Please note that students who write a thesis must still complete the capstone course (AFR 495 ).  To qualify for honors at graduation, candidates must earn an average of 3.5 or above in the major and an overall average of 3.2 or above.  In the case of an exceptional academic record, together with  a thesis of the highest quality, the department may confer high honors.

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