African American Studies Minor

Ethnic & Gender Studies Program
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Office: 241 Fenton Hall

(716) 673-3861

Dr. Jeanette McVicker, Program Coordinator

Dr. Jennifer Hildebrand, Director of Curriculum & Special Programming
(716) 673-4267
Email: hildebra@fredonia.edu

Website: https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-liberal-arts-sciences/ethnic-gender-studies

As a minor within the interdisciplinary Ethnic & Gender Studies program, students in the African American Studies minor will focus on the complex history, experiences and contributions of African Americans within a broad social justice framework. The program seeks to promote new ways of thinking about race, culture and social representation from different perspectives–notably, historical, literary, sociological, psychological and artistic.

African American Studies is for everyone! A minor in African American Studies will deepen students’ understanding of the complexity of US history and how African Americans have not only survived racism and segregation, but made significant contributions to every aspect of American culture and society. The African American Studies minor helps students prepare for careers in education, legislation and policy, international business and marketing, urban planning, counseling and social work, literature, arts and the media, and many other fields.

Minor Requirements

The African American Studies minor requires a minimum of 21 credit hours: up to 6 credit hours of transfer credit may be applied, with coordinator approval. No more than 6 credit hours may overlap a student’s major. Students may use courses taken retroactively after consultation with the coordinator. At least six credit hours, beyond the capstone, should be taken at the upper level (300/400).

Some courses require prerequisites. Click on any hyperlinked course for additional information.

Core courses:

ETHN 202	Foundations of Social Justice	3
ETHN 206	African American Studies	3
ETHN 491	Social Change Capstone	3
Total Credit Hours:		9

Electives:

	Courses taken by advisement with ESG coordinator	12
Total Credit Hours:		12

6 credits must be at the upper level

Recommended Electives Include:

BUAD 321	Management and Organizational Behavior	3
COMM 373	Gender and Communication	3
COMM 465	Intercultural Communication	3
ENGL 274	Social Justice & The Written Word	3
ENGL 296	American Identities	3
ENGL 331	American Literary Roots	3
ENGL 341	Harlem Renaissance	3
ENGL 342	African American Autobiography	3
ENGL 343	Queer Studies in Literature	3
ESCI 105	Global Environmental Issues	3
ETHN 240	Introduction to African American Literature and Culture	3
ETHN 275	Black Women Writers	3
ETHN 333	African American History to 1877	3
ETHN 334	African American History since 1877	3
ETHN 359	Ethnicity and Race	3
ETHN 234	Music, Society, and Crisis	3
ETHN 313	Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination	3
HIST 288	The Atlantic World, 1500-1820	3
HIST 328	Civil War Era	3
HIST 335	American Women	3
HIST 343	Civil Rights Movement	3
HIST 352	Environmental History of North America	3
MUS 233	Musics of the World	3
MUS 265	History of Jazz	3
POLI 371	Civil Rights and Liberties	3
PSY 370	Cross-Cultural Psychology	3
SOC 275	Social Inequalities	3
SOCW 249	Social Welfare History	3
SOCW 355	Diversity, Oppression, and Human Rights	3
SPMG 230	Sport in Diverse Societies	3
WGST 210	LGBTQ Literature & American History	3
WGST 301	Theories of Gender	3
WGST 302	Sex and Gender	3
WGST 314	Women Writers	3
WGST 345	Women, Health and Society	3

Students are encouraged to explore relevant Study Abroad courses and/or Internships to meet the elective requirements; discuss this option with the coordinator prior to registration.

Please note: students in any EGS minors are encouraged to register for the appropriate prefix (ETHN or WGST) when choosing cross listed courses from below as electives. Such courses can only be taken one for credit.

Total Credit Hours: 21