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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Africana Studies and Political Science, BA

Africana Studies and Political Science, BA

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
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    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
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    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Asian Studies
      • School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
      • Cultures, Societies, and Global Studies
        • Africana Studies, BA
        • Africana Studies and Political Science, BA
        • History, Culture, and Law, BA
        • Religious Studies and Africana Studies, BA
        • Spanish, BA
        • Spanish and International Affairs, BA
        • Africana Studies, BS
        • American Sign Language—English Interpreting, BS
        • American Sign Language and Human Services, BS
        • American Sign Language and Linguistics, BS
        • American Sign Language and Psychology, BS
        • American Sign Language and Theatre, BS
        • African American Studies, Minor
        • African Studies, Minor
        • Africana Studies, Minor
        • American Sign Language, Minor
        • Arabic, Minor
        • Black Feminist Studies, Minor
        • Chinese, Minor
        • Film and International Cultures, Minor
        • German, Minor
        • Italian, Minor
        • Japanese, Minor
        • French, Minor
        • Portuguese, Minor
        • Russian, Minor
        • Spanish, Minor
      • Economics
      • English
      • History
      • Human Services
      • International Affairs
      • Jewish Studies
      • Philosophy and Religion
      • Political Science
      • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The combined major in Africana studies and political science offers students the opportunity to integrate their studies of both disciplines and explore the historical, practical, and theoretical relationships between the two disciplines. In addition to considering the significant points of contention, students explore the ways in which insights from Africana studies can be brought to bear on the disciplinary issues and questions of political science. Within the combined major, students may also choose to concentrate their studies on a range of topics related to political behaviors and institutional developments in the United States, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and across the global African diaspora.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Africana Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundational
Complete one of the following:4
AFRS 1101
Introduction to African Studies
AFAM 1101
Introduction to African American and Africana Studies
Introductory
Complete one of the following:4
AFAM 1104
The African-American Experience through Music
AFAM 1113
Black Popular Culture
AFAM 1135
John Coltrane and the History of Jazz in the United States
AFRS 1185
Gender and Sexuality in the African Diaspora
AFAM 1225
Gender, Race, and Medicine
AFRS 1270
Introduction to Global Health
Humanities
Complete two of the following:8
AFAM 2296
Early African-American Literature
AFRS 2410
Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions
AFAM 2455
American Women Writers
AFAM 2690
Boston in Literature
AFRS 3900
Gender and Black World Literatures
Social Sciences
Complete two of the following:8
AFRS 2307
Africa Today
AFRS 2465
The Scope and Dynamics of Conflicts in Africa
AFRS 3424
Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora
AFRS 2464
Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
African American/African Studies Electives
Complete one AFAM/AFRS course at the 2000 level or above. 4
Complete one AFAM/AFRS course at the 3000 level or above.4

Political Science Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Courses
POLS 1150American Government4
POLS 1155Comparative Politics4
POLS 1160International Relations4
POLS 2399Research Methods in Political Science4
POLS 2400Quantitative Techniques4
Political Theory
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2325
Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought
POLS 2328
Modern Political Thought
POLS 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 2332
Contemporary Political Thought
Political Science Electives
Complete three POLS courses at the 2000 level and above.12

Political Science Concentrations (Optional)

If you are working toward one of the following concentrations, declare it with your advisor so that it may be added to your record. 

  • American Political Institutions
  • Campaigns and Elections
  • Comparative Politics
  • Identity, Culture, and Politics
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Law and Legal Studies
  • Public Policy
  • Security Studies

Integrative Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Integrative Courses
Complete one course from each discipline.
Africana/African American Studies4
AFAM 2360
Politics of Poverty
AFAM 2549
Public Policy and Black America
AFRS 2900
Swahili, Culture, and Politics in Kenya
AFRS 3460
Contemporary Government and Politics in Africa
AFAM 5001
Special Topics in Race and the Law
Political Science4
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
POLS 2385
U.S. Health and Welfare Policy
POLS 3324
Law and Society
POLS 3418
Nationalism
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Capstone Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
AFAM 4700
Capstone
AFRS 4700
Capstone
POLS 4701
Political Science Senior Capstone
POLS 4703
Senior Thesis

Major Credit Requirement

Complete  80 semester hours in the major.

Experiential Liberal Arts

All undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

 

Concentration in American Political Institutions

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 3300
The U.S. Congress
POLS 3302
Judicial Process and Behavior
POLS 3307
Public Policy and Administration
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3160
Campaign Strategy

 

Concentration in Campaigns and Elections

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
POLS 3160Campaign Strategy4
POLS 3302Judicial Process and Behavior4
Campaigns and Elections Electives
If POLS 4947 was replaced by a co-op or internship, an additional elective must be taken.
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 2355
Intergovernmental Relations
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3320
Politics and Mass Media
POLS 3304
Presidential Nominating Process

 

Concentration in Comparative Politics

Course List
Code Title Hours
Theoretical Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 3418
Nationalism
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Regional Requirements
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3465
Government and Politics in the Middle East
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4918
Model NATO
POLS 4937
Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad

 

Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics 

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Course
POLS 3418Nationalism4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 2368
Music and Politics in America and Abroad
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 2375
Gender and Politics
POLS 3309
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy
POLS 3324
Law and Society

Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy

Course List
Code Title Hours
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4910
Model United Nations
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4938
Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad
Core Courses
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 3405
International Political Economy
POLS 3406
International Law
POLS 3408
International Security
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict

Concentration in Law and Legal Studies

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 3300
The U.S. Congress
POLS 3302
Judicial Process and Behavior
POLS 3324
Law and Society
POLS 3406
International Law
POLS 3409
Global Governance
POLS 4500
U.S. Constitutional Law
POLS 4505
U.S. Civil Liberties

 

Concentration in Public Policy

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Requirement
POLS 3307Public Policy and Administration4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 2335
Budgeting and Taxation
POLS 2340
Business and Government
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 2357
Growth and Decline of Cities and Suburbs
POLS 2390
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
POLS 2395
Environmental Politics and Policy
POLS 3425
U.S. Foreign Policy

 

Concentration in Security Studies

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 3408
International Security
POLS 3420
U.S. National Security Policy
POLS 3423
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
POLS 3425
U.S. Foreign Policy
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
AFRS 1101 or AFAM 11014MATH 12154Foreign language course4POLS 34064
AFAM 11134POLS 11604AFAM 23604Advanced Writing in the Discipline elective4
POLS 11504POLS 11554  
CLTR 1000 or POLS 10001Foreign language course4  
ENGW 11114   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
AFAM 22964AFRS 34244Elective4Co-op0
AFRS 23074AFAM 26904Elective4 
POLS 24004POLS 23994  
Foreign language course4POLS 23254  
 16 16 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0AFAM 32704AFAM 23394Co-op
 POLS 34184AFAM 36644 
 AFRS 24644  
 PSYC 1101 (ND NUPath)4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0AFRS 34604  
 POLS 34874  
 POLS 23704  
 AFAM 4700 (or AFRS 4700)4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 129
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  • 2021-22 Undergraduate PDF

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