Faculty

Chair

Gloria I. Chuku

Professor

Gloria I. Chuku
B.A., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1986; Ph.D., 1995; M.A., University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria), 1989

Assistant Professor

Thomas N. Robinson, Jr.
B.A., Morehouse College, 1967; M.S., Howard University, 1971; Ph.D., 1974

Lecturer

Tammy Sanders Henderson
B.A., Johnson C. Smith University, 1994; M.A., Bowling Green State University, 1996; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 2009

Professor Emeritus

Daphne D. Harrison
Mus.B., Talladega College, 1953; Mus.M., Northwestern University, 1961; Ed.D., University of Miami, 1971

Willie B. Lamouse-Smith
B.Sc., University of London (U.K.), 1962; Dr.sc.pol., University of Muenster (Germany), 1966

Adjunct Instructor

Tiffany L. T. Copeland
B.A., Millikin University, 1997; M.A., Southern Illinois University, 2002; M.A., Temple University, 2004; Ph.D., Howard University, 2020

Peters Chuka Nwafor
B.A., University of Jos (Nigeria), 1997; M.A., Morgan State University, 2005; Ph.D., 2011

Sussie U. Okoro
B.A., University of Nigeria, 1986; M.Sc., University of Jos (Nigeria), 1989; M.P.A., Southeastern University, Washington D.C., 1999; Ph.D., Howard University, 2014

Damon J. Turner
B.A., University of Akron, 2000; M.A., 2008; Ph.D., Morgan State University, 2017

Affiliates

Professor

Shawn M. Bediako
B.S., University of Central Arkansas, 1994; M.S., Florida A&M University, 1997; M.A., Stony Brook University, 2000; Ph.D., 2002

Kimberly R. Moffitt
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1992; M.S., Boston University, 1994; Ph.D., Howard University, 2000

James Smalls
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1981; M.A., 1986; Ph.D., 1991 

Associate Professor

Loren Henderson
B.A., Northeastern Illinois University, 2006; M.A., University of Illinois, Chicago, 2008; Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2014

G. Derek Musgrove
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1997; M.A., New York University, 1999; Ph.D., 2005

Michelle R. Scott
B.A., Stanford University, 1996; M.A., Cornell University, 2000; Ph.D., 2002

The Department of Africana Studies (AFST) provides students of all ethnic, national, and cultural backgrounds the necessary tools to understand, critically evaluate, analyze, and interpret events and phenomena that structure the experiences, possibilities and dynamics of the people of African descent in the United States, Africa and its diasporas. AFST students are offered a broad array of courses addressing cultural, economic, historical, political, psychological, and sociological issues that affect peoples of African descent from diverse disciplinary and comparative perspectives. Africana Studies at UMBC offers a rigorous and challenging academic program that prepares students to think and write critically and clearly, engage in research and service, argue persuasively, and effectively solve problems. Africana Studies adopts an interdisciplinary approach that is sensitive to the interests and outlook of the people of African descent and their contributions to the interdependent global world through teaching, research, and service in human development and civilization, arts and the sciences.

Students may pursue the standard major in Africana studies or a concentration in community involvement studies. Many students find it productive to combine Africana studies with another discipline in a dual major. Students also may minor in Africana studies. Students who select the major or double-major in Africana Studies have the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge through internships or field research.

Career and Academic Paths

Majors in Africana studies have continued to graduate and professional schools and built successful careers in many fields, including public affairs, law enforcement, archives and museums, law, health, government, social work, education, the visual and performing arts, and business and management. Many students planning careers in medicine, law, public policy, social work, and education pursue a second major or a minor in Africana studies. Students with interest in foreign service in Africa and the Caribbean or students who intend to acquire graduate training with specialization on Africa or the Caribbean are well-prepared in the department. The concentration in community involvement studies prepares students to work in community-oriented and community-based agencies or in local government. Students with career interest in elementary- and secondary-level teaching can prepare for Maryland Teacher Certification in social studies through Education .

Transfers and Other Majors in the Upper Division

If a student successfully has completed 60 or more credit hours at the time of declaring the major, the core requirements in Africana studies may be substituted with equivalent courses completed elsewhere, subject to approval by the student’s AFST advisor and the department’s chairperson. 

Non-Majors

Generally, students learn comparatively little about the Black experience in elementary and secondary schools. Through Africana Studies, they find the opportunity to benefit from courses offering broad perspectives on the history and culture of people of African descent. For students planning careers in public service (including education, health-related professions, environmental management, law, and social services), an exposure to the cultural heritage and the dynamics of African society and African diasporic communities is indispensable. In addition to AFST 100 , other lower-level courses in Africana studies, including AFST 211 , AFST 212 , AFST 213 , AFST 261 , and AFST 271  are highly recommended to all students for the purpose of fulfilling the General Education Program. Many of the courses in Africana studies are cross-listed with other departments in the humanities and social sciences.

Special Opportunities

The department encourages and assists students to pursue research assistantships and internships focused on community involvement in urban development, health, education, justice, African diplomacy, business, and industry.

First- and second-year students can obtain research experience on an Africana studies topic of their choice by completing any of the following courses under the supervision of a faculty member of the department: AFST 490 , AFST 495 , AFST 498 . Students pursuing the Africana Studies, B.A.  complete six credits of faculty supervised directed research/independent study or community internship.

Programs

• Africana Studies, B.A.

• Africana Studies Minor

Courses

• AFST 100 - Introduction to the Black Experience (3)
• AFST 100Y - Introduction to the Black Experience (3)
• AFST 201 - Introduction to Methodology and Research in Africana Studies (3)
• AFST 205 - Contemporary Black Popular Culture (3)
• AFST 206 - Introduction to African-American History: A Survey (3)
• AFST 211 - Introduction to Contemporary Africa (3)
• AFST 212 - Introduction to African History (3)
• AFST 213 - Africa: Culture and Development (3)
• AFST 215 - Introduction to African Dance (3)
• AFST 230 - Comparative African Religions (3)
• AFST 240 - Topics in African and African-American Studies (3)
• AFST 241 - The Making of the Caribbean (3)
• AFST 245 - Introduction to Black Music (3)
• AFST 250 - Directed Individual Study (3)
• AFST 255 - Psychology of the Black Experience in the United States (3)
• AFST 260 - Black Literature to 1900 (3)
• AFST 261 - Black Literature: Twentieth Century (3)
• AFST 262W - Introductory Writing in Africana Studies (3)
• AFST 263 - Introduction to Black Drama (3)
• AFST 264 - Introductory Writing in Africana Studies (3)
• AFST 271 - Introduction to Community Involvement (3)
• AFST 275 - The Criminal Justice Process and Black Americans (3)
• AFST 301 - Research Design and Documentation (3)
• AFST 312 - West African History (3)
• AFST 314 - Islam in Africa (3)
• AFST 320 - Contemporary African Politics (3)
• AFST 323 - Economic Development in Africa (3)
• AFST 340 - Issues in African and Afro-American Studies (3)
• AFST 344 - Black Folklore (3)
• AFST 345 - Black American Music (3)
• AFST 347 - Gender, Race, and Media (3)
• AFST 348 - Black, Queer, and Feminist Film (3)
• AFST 350 - Psychology of Racism (3)
• AFST 351 - Black Political Thought (3)
• AFST 352 - African-American History to 1865 (3)
• AFST 353 - African American History Since 1865 (3)
• AFST 354 - African American Women’s History (3)
• AFST 360 - Studies in Black Fiction (3)
• AFST 361 - Studies in Black Drama (3)
• AFST 362 - Studies in Black Poetry (3)
• AFST 363 - Literature, Society and Blacks: Regional (3)
• AFST 364 - Advanced Writing in Africana Studies (3)
• AFST 367 - Workshop in Black Theatre (6)
• AFST 368 - African Religions in Africa and the Diaspora (3)
• AFST 369 - Black Families in the United States (3)
• AFST 370 - Black Women: Cross-Cultural Perspectives (3)
• AFST 371 - The Female Offender (3)
• AFST 372 - Economic Activity in the Black Community (3)
• AFST 375 - The Black Church (3)
• AFST 377 - Black Community Development (3)
• AFST 378 - Population Dynamics of Black Americans (3)
• AFST 381 - Urban Housing Policy (3)
• AFST 385 - Problem-Solving in the Urban Black Community (3)
• AFST 390 - American Health Care System and the Black Community (3)
• AFST 392 - Race, Crime and Public Policy (3)
• AFST 394 - Race, Social Inequality, and Institutional Structure (3)
• AFST 396 - Psychology, Race, and Social Justice (3)
• AFST 411 - American Foreign Policy and Africa (3)
• AFST 415 - Music, Art and Society in West Africa (3)
• AFST 420 - Comparative Slavery: Africa and the New World (3)
• AFST 430 - Health Care in Africa (3)
• AFST 439 - Women in Africa and the Diaspora (3)
• AFST 440 - Topics in African and African-American Studies (3)
• AFST 442 - African-Caribbean Music (3)
• AFST 445 - Black Music in the New World (3)
• AFST 450 - Black Philosophical Thought in the Twentieth Century (3)
• AFST 453 - Topics in the Psychology of the Black Experience (3)
• AFST 460 - Seminar in Black Hair and Body Politics (3)
• AFST 465 - Seminar in African and African-American Literature (3)
• AFST 473 - The Black Senior Citizen (3)
• AFST 490 - Community Internship Project (6)
• AFST 493 - Service Learning: Race and Social Advocacy (3)
• AFST 495 - Field Research in Africana Studies (3-6)
• AFST 498 - Directed Individual Study (2-6)
• AFST 499 - Honors Thesis (3-6)