Overview

Mission

Temple University's Department of Africology and African American Studies provides students with a textured intellectual experience through the systematic Afrocentric study of the thought, behavior and practices of African people globally. Inasmuch as our faculty and students pursue knowledge from the perspective of African people as both agents and subjects of experience, we also remain open to plural understandings emanating from the multicultural society in which we live, and the rapidly shrinking world beyond. Students engage in critical discourse about issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class and culture across a great expanse of time and geographical space. Our classes interrogate African frames of reference, from the classical to the contemporary periods, tracing continuities and transformations from Africa to numerous diasporic communities worldwide.

We commit ourselves to the shaping and evolution of our discipline, and to positive change in our communities. Through enhanced mentoring and cooperative pedagogy, we cultivate the academic excellence, social responsibility and political engagement necessary for subsequent generations of scholars to carry this work into the future.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Africology and African American Studies stresses the skills necessary to think critically, write clearly, argue persuasively and solve problems effectively. Students are exposed to theory and research in a variety of subject areas and are encouraged to engage in active research and service beyond the classroom.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: LA-AAAS-BA

Career Opportunities

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

• MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The African American Studies major requires AAAS 2296 Introduction to Africology and AAAS 4096 Senior Seminar.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities or Natural/Mathematical Sciences. This includes the following departments in the College of Liberal Arts: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish as well as the Department of Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements
    • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
    • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
    • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
      • Third semester of a foreign language;
      • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
      • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
      • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
      • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
    • Notes on Foreign Language Study
      • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
      • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
      • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (33 credits)

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Africology and African American Studies

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year