B.A. in Africana Studies
The Africana Studies program provides the opportunity for students to study, analyze and systematically evaluate the various disciplines from an Africana perspective.
The program continues to attract students from all ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds as they recognize ways that Africana Studies provides them with a forum to examine the intellectual life, the historical experience, and the cultural understanding of one of this country’s largest racial minority groups.
About the Program
Students electing to pursue courses in the Africana Studies program are entering into the current intellectual dialogue on multiculturalism in this society as they study with professors who have conducted notable research in African, Caribbean, Africana, and African-American Studies.
The Africana Studies program at Stockton University is affiliated with the National Council for Black Studies, Inc. (NCBS) and students are eligible to apply for membership in Ankh Maat Wedjau, the National Honor Society for majors and minors in Africana Studies. Majors and minors in Africana Studies at Stockton University will also come to appreciate their responsibility to their communities through various projects, including, but not limited to: assisting in building and preserving exhibits at the African American Museum in Atlantic City ; involvement in research and service projects that impact the homeless, youth and seniors in the surrounding communities ; and programs assisting those in need who are abroad. Students will also gain opportunities to intern for various nonprofit and for-profit organizations and government agencies.
Program Coordinator
Dr. Donnetrice C. Allison
Program Chair, Professor of Communication Studies and Africana Studies
Donnetrice.Allison@stockton.edu
609-652-4721 | C-118
Curriculum
Program Organization
Students may major or minor in Africana Studies by completing the required core and cognate courses, meeting the grade-point-average criterion and submitting a portfolio with samples of their written course work. The Africana Studies program at Stockton University is affiliated with the National Council for Black Studies, Inc. (NCBS) and students are eligible to apply for membership in Ankh Maat Wedjau, the National Honor Society for majors and minors in Africana Studies.
A diverse selection of Africana Studies (AFRI) program courses and General Studies courses are available for completion of either the major or minor. Courses are divided into core and cognate categories. Core courses are further divided into the following concentrations: history/humanities, arts and entertainment, social and political perspectives, global perspectives, and literature. Both core and cognate courses are offered each academic year. Independent study projects with interested faculty members are also available. In addition, opportunities for study in selected African countries are possible, as are faculty-led study tours to West Africa, South Africa and historic sites across the U.S. Students interested in these travel opportunities should contact the coordinators of Africana Studies and Study Abroad for further details. The Africana Studies program is open to everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnic background.
To view the curriculum, you’ll use the web program, Degree Works. This program is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.
Current Students
Access your portal for Degree Works, then look for the “what if” option to explore the various paths towards degree completion. Click the button below for instructional viodes on how to use Degree Works
Prospective First Year or Transfer Students
Use the button below:
How to Use Degree Works Equivalency
- At the next page you are prompted with three (3) options. Select the one that says “continue without signing in.”
- Respond to each prompt using the pull-down menu in the center of the page. [Please be patient. It may take a few seconds for the system to process your request. If you see a NO symbol, you need to wait a moment!]
Prompts include:
- Enrollment dates (Choose intended semester attending)
- Intended level (Choose “undergraduate”)
- What degree you will pursue? (Choose “Bachelor of Arts”)
- What is your intended major? (Choose “Africana Studies”)
- What is your intended concentration? (Choose “History/Humanities,” "Arts, Entertainment, and Literature," or "Social/Political and Global Perspectives")
- What is your intended minor? (Choose “none” or select one - it is not required). For Africana Studies minors, select "Africana Studies."
- For prospective students, choose “I’m all done" button.
- For transfer students, use the “class” button to see how courses already taken fit into the Stockton degree path.
- You will see an overview of the degree you have selected, including all requirements.
- At the bottom of the screen, you could save or print the worksheet.
See the Catalog of Courses for complete descriptions of course offerings.
For detailed curriculum information on the Africana Studies program, please refer to the Academic Bulletin.
Minor
Each student will be required to take a minimum of five courses to complete the minor. Two of these must be the introductory course (AFRI 1101 Introduction to Africana Studies or GSS 2201 Africana Studies: An Introductory Perspective) and the seminar (AFRI 4601 Senior Seminar or GIS 4601 African-Americans: A Seminar). The introductory course is the required prerequisite for the seminar. Two additional courses may be selected from one of the above concentrations, and the final course may be selected from the cognate group. Students selecting an independent study as a substitute should discuss this with the program coordinator prior to registration. For program assessment purposes, graduating seniors are required to submit a portfolio with three (3) samples of their written work from core courses in Africana Studies.Students who earn a minimum 2.0 grade point average in their required courses qualify for the minor. Students who earn a 3.5 or greater average in core courses qualify for Ankh Maat Wedjau, the National Honor Society for Africana Studies majors and minors for NCBS. Core and cognate courses are listed below. Interested students should contact the Africana Studies coordinator each term for updates.
Faculty
Donnetrice C. Allison, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Communication Studies and Africana Studies
Donnetrice C. Allison
Director of Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Communication Studies and Africana Studies
BIOGRAPHY
Donnetrice C. Allison, Ph.D, currently serves as a professor of both Africana Studies and Communication Studies at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ.
Dr. Allison also serves as coordinator for the Africana Studies Program, and she teaches numerous Africana Studies courses, which include Introduction to Africana Studies, African American Movies, Introduction to Hip Hop Culture, a Seminar on Representations of Race in Media, and a learning abroad course to Senegal, West Africa. In addition to Africana Studies, Dr. Allison also teaches for the Communication Studies program. These courses include: Film Theory and Criticism, Communication Research Methods, Senior Seminar in Communication Studies, Mass Communication Theories, Television and Popular Culture, News and Politics, African Americans on Television, and Women, Minorities, and the Media.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Howard University
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Media Images of African Americans, Hip Hop Culture and Identity
COURSES
GAH 2184 Introduction to Hip Hop Culture
GSS 2201 African American Studies: An Introductory Perspective
GSS 3295 African American Movies
COMM 1201 Introduction to Communication
COMM 2409 Television and Popular Culture
COMM 2414 African Americans on Television
COMM 3200 Theories of Mass Communication
COMM 3203 Communication Research Methods
COMM 3306 Women, Minorities, and the Media
COMM 3400 Film Theory and Criticism
COMM 4601 Communication Seminar (Topics: Crime and Media, Political Communication)
PUBLICATIONS
Allison, D. (2017). "The Perpetuation of Racial Stereotypes in American Media". In P. Reid-Merritt (Ed.), Race in America: How a Pseudo-Scientific Concept Shaped Human Interaction, Praeger.
Allison, D. (Ed.). (Jan. 2016). Black Women's Portrayals on Reality Television: The New Sapphire. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
“Hip Hop, Identity, and African American Teens.” International Journal of the Humanities 9.6 (2012): 255-262.
“The Academy in Color.” The International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations 8.4. 101-108.
“Free to Be Me? Black Professors, White Institutions.” Journal of Black Studies 38.4 (2008): 641-662.
Co-authored with Donyale Griffin. “Making a Case for Restorative Rhetoric: Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Mayor Ray Nagin’s Response to Disaster.” Communication Monographs 77.3 (2010): 376-392.
“Accommodation,” “Acculturation,” and “Adaptation.” Encyclopedia of Identity. Ed. Ronald L. Jackson. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2010.
“I wonder if they would say that in HIS classroom.” Teaching Race, Diversity and Social Justice in White Space: Challenges, Implications and Effective Strategies. Ed. Darrell Cleveland. Forthcoming.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILATIONS
National Council for Black Studies
The National Communication Association
Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work, DSW
Patricia Reid-Merritt
Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work, DSW
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt – author, educator, scholar, community activist and performing artist - is the Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work. Dr. Reid-Merritt received the Doctorate of Social Work in Race, Law and Social Policy (University of Pennsylvania); the Master of Social Work (Temple University); and, the Bachelor of Arts in psychology and social science (Cabrini College). She served as Coordinator of the Africana Studies Program (2003 - 2016), spearheaded the University’s annual Fannie Lou Hamer Human and Civil Rights Symposiums ((2004 - 2015), and chaired the National Fannie Lou Hamer Statue Committee (2012).
Dr. Reid-Merritt is also the Founder and Artistic/Executive Director of Afro-One Dance, Drama and Drum Theatre, Inc., a community-based cultural and performing arts organization currently celebrating its 46th year of operation. Afro-One has been described as "the cultural magnet" for African American youth, families and the community in southern New Jersey
Dr. Reid-Merritt is the author of numerous publications, including: the national Blackboard best-seller, Sister Power: How Phenomenal Black Women Are Rising to the Top; Sister Wisdom: Seven Pathways to a Satisfying Life for Soulful Black Women; Righteous Self-Determination: The Black Social Work Movement in America; Race in America: How a Pseudo-Scientific Concept Shaped Human Interaction; Tarnished Legacy: A Reluctant Memoir; and, A State by State History of Race and Racism in the United States.
A resident of Hamilton, NJ, Dr. Reid-Merritt is a well-known scholar and lecturer. She has presented scholarly papers and keynote addresses at numerous national and international conferences, including Kenya, Brazil, Egypt, France, South Africa, England and Venezuela. She spent four weeks at the University of Ghana as a Ford Fellow with the National Council for Black Studies. She was the founding President of the Association of Black Women in Higher Education, Philadelphia Chapter, having served previously on the National Board of Directors. Dr. Reid-Merritt served as the founding President of the Burlington County Black Business and Professional Association, and as founding president of the National Association of Black Social Workers, South Jersey Chapter. From 1993 - 2011, she served on the Board of Directors for the National Council for Black Studies. Additionally, she is a consultant on arts and culture to communities throughout the State of New Jersey.
Dr. Reid-Merritt is the recipient of numerous honors/awards including: Cabrini College Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award; Temple University, Alumni Society Certificate of Honor; NAACP Freedom Award; Stockton University’s Council of Black Faculty and Staff Annual Achievement Award and Lifetime Achievement Award; National Council for Black Studies’ Presidential Award, and Mary McLeod Bethune and Carter G. Woodson Award for the most significant contribution to the promotion of Africana Studies. She has been honored by the NJ State Council of Black Social Workers as Social Worker of the Year, the NJ State Legislature, and named by City News as one of New Jerseys' 100 Most Influential Citizens. She is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who's Who among Black Americans and 2000 Notable American Women.
EDUCATION
Dr. Reid-Merritt received the D.S.W. in Race, Law and Social Policy (University of Pennsylvania)
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Africana Studies – history, art, culture, social organizations and leadership development
COURSES
African American Dance, Introduction to Africana Studies, African American Movies, African American Female Writers, Race, Ethnicity and Diversity, Senior Seminar: The African Americans, Senior Seminar: Social Work, Social Justice, African Americans and the Law, Jazz and Blues Dance, Contemporary African American Dance, Black Comedy.
PUBLICATIONS
- A State by State History of Race and Racism in the United States, (editor), Santa Barbara Praeger,/ABC- CLIO, Publications, 2018.
- Race in America: How a Pseudo-Scientific Concept Shaped Human Interaction, (editor), Praeger,/ABC-CLIO, Publications, Santa Barbara, 2017.
- Tarnished Legacy: A Reluctant Memoir, www.outskirtspress, Outskirts Press, 2017.
- Righteous Self-Determination: The Black Social Work Movement in America, Baltimore: Black Classic Press, 2010.
- Sister Wisdom: Seven Pathways to a Satisfying Life for Soulful Black Women, New York: John Wiley & Sons Publishing Co., 2002.
- Sister Power: How Phenomenal Black Women Are Rising To The Top. John Wiley & Sons Publishing Co., New York, 1996.
Articles/Book Chapters
- “Temple University African American Studies Ph.D. Program at 30: Assessing the Asante Affect,” Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies,12. no.6, November 2018.
- “Malcolm X: What Measure of a Man? Assessing Personal Growth and Social Transformation from An African-Centered Social Work Perspective,” in A Lie of Reinvention, Jared A. Ball and Todd Steven Burroughs, editors, Baltimore: Black Classic Press, 2012.
- “Defining Ourselves: Name Calling in Black Studies,” One Name, One Discipline, Journal of Black Studies, Patricia Reid-Merritt, Guest Editor, Sage Publications, Fall, 2009.
- “The Popularization of Afrocentricty Among the People,” in Essays in Honor of an Intellectual Warrior: Molefi Kete Asante, Ama Mazama,(editor), Paris, Menaibuc. (2008).
- “Leadership, Social Responsibility and Economic Fund Development: The Case for Africana Studies,” The Afrocentric Scholar, summer, 2001.
- "Black Female Leadership" in Voices of Vision, Julianne Maleaux, ed., National Council of Negro Women, 1996.
- "On Transforming Images of Nutcrackers and Sugar Plum Fairies into Kinaras, Geles and Brown Sugar Ladies." Sage, spring, 1992.
- "Organizational Life in South Jersey: A Look at Burlington County's Black Community", in Blacks in New Jersey, 1986; Perspectives on South Jersey, Bruce Ransom, Ph.D., editor, New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute, 1986.
- "An Historical Survey of the Black Experience Through Dance," Perspectives, AGLS Press, Summer, 1983.
Archives
- "A Study of African-American Women in Positions of Power in Nontraditional Leadership Roles". Harvard - Radcliffe University, Institutes of Advanced Study, Murray Research Center, Cambridge, MA, 1999.
Encyclopedia Entries
- “Dance Culture” The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America, Mwalimu Shujaaand Kenya J. Shujaa, editors, Sage Publications, 2015.
- “The National Black United Fund” The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America,Mwalimu Shujaa and Kenya J. Shujaa, editors, Sage Publications, 2015.
- “The National Association of Black Social Workers” The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America,Mwalimu Shujaa and Kenya J. Shujaa, editors, Sage Publications, 2015.
- “Odunde” The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America, Mwalimu Shujaaand Kenya J. Shujaa, editors, Sage Publications, 2015.
- “Afrocentric Approaches to Social Work.” In: James D. Wright (editor-in-chief), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition, Vol 1. Oxford: Elsevier. pp. 305–309, 2015.
- “Affirmative Action,” Encyclopedia of African American History, Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Publications, pp. 597-599, 2010.
- “Molefi Asante,” Encyclopedia of African American History, Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Publications, pp. 618-619, 2010.
- “Fannie Lou Hamer,” Encyclopedia of African American History, Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Publications, pp. 792-794, 2010.
- “Maulana Karenga,” Encyclopedia of African American History, Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Publications, pp. 837-838, 2010.
- “National Council for Black Studies,” Encyclopedia of African American History, Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Publications, pp. 921-922, 2010.
- “Willie Tappan Barrow,” African American National Biography, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Evelyn Higginbotham (editors),Harvard University and Oxford University Press, 2008.
- “Affirmative Action.” Encyclopedia of Black Studies, Asante, M. and Ama Mazama,, editors, Sage Publications, 2004.
- “National Black United Fund, Inc.,” Encyclopedia of Black Studies, Asante, M. and Ama Mazama,, editors, Sage Publications, 2004.
- “National Black United Front, Inc.,” Encyclopedia of Black Studies, Asante, M., et.al., editors, Sage Publications, 2004.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
National Council for Black Studies
DIOP International
Senior Fellow, MKA Institute for Afrocentric Studies
National Association of Black Social Workers
International Association of Blacks in Dance (founding member)
Kimoni Yaw Ajani (formerly Wilbert St.Hilaire), Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
Kimoni Yaw Ajani (formerly Wilbert St.Hilaire)
Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Ajani originally hails from a small Ayisyen (Haitian) community in Spring Valley, New York and is 1st generation of Ayisyen descent living in the United States. Dr. Ajani graduated from SUNY Oswego in the Spring of 2014 with a B.A. in History and a minor in African American studies. He would go on to receive an M.A. in Africana studies at the University at Albany (SUNY) in 2016 and most recently a Ph.D from the department of Africology & African American studies at Temple University. His dissertation is titled: “An Afrocentric Re-examination of the Historiography around the Afrikan Revolution in Ayiti (Haiti).”
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in Africology & African American Studies, Temple University
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
African American History & Culture, Caribbean Culture & Politics, Haitian Revolution (Afrikan Revolution in Ayiti), Afrikan Civilizations, Afrikan religions & spirituality, African world politics and history, Hip Hop culture, African American Sports & Leisure in American society, and History & Significance of Race.
COURSES
AFRI 2103: The African World-Contemporary Issues & Social Concerns (Fall 2021)
GAH 1360: Topics in African American History and Culture-Racial Injustice and Historical Inequity (Fall 2021)
PUBLICATIONS
St.Hilaire, Wilbert. "Book Review: Ama Mazama: The Ogunic Presence in Africology." Journal of Black Studies 52, no. 5 (June 15, 2021): 547-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219347211021090.
St.Hilaire, Wilbert. “Haitian Women Warriors: The Influence of African Martial Art & Military Traditions.” Imhotep Journal, no. 1 (Fall 2019): 22-41.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
DISA (Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement)
National Council of Black Studies
Adjunct Faculty
Toyo Aboderin, Dual Credit Coordinator for Africana Studies; Africana Studies Adjunct Faculty
Affiliated Faculty
Robert James Barney, Associate Professor of Social Work
Darrell Cleveland, Associate Professor of Education and Africana Studies
Faculty Research
Africana Studies Statement
"We are, indeed, experiencing a unique moment in American history. In the summer of 2020, the Nation witnessed an outpouring of emotions as tens of thousands took to the streets in virtually every state of the Union to protest the persistence of racism in America. Led by the Black Lives Matter Movement and galvanized by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, protesters, both Black and White, young and old, took it upon themselves to engage in public demonstrations amid calls for social justice. For many, witnessing the slow and brutal death of George Floyd, in an eight minute, forty-six second video clip captured by 17-year-old Darnella Frazier on her cellphone, was the tipping point that moved them to action. But it wasn’t just about George Floyd. The names of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and so many others served as a chorus to cacophonous chants of “No Justice, No Peace!” In the midst of the global and national Covid-19 pandemic, which forced millions to shelter at home for months, the American people were signaling that they had had enough.” Dr. Pat Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work. We here in the Africana Studies Program vow to help you navigate these issues, understand the history behind racial injustice, and help you find your own voice to add the chorus demanding change. When do we want it – NOW!
Alumni Highlights
Melody Jasper, B.A. Africana Studies ('22)
Melody Jasper recently graduated from Stockton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies and a minor in Childhood Studies. She currently works for Stockton’s Goals Gear Up program where she mentors 11th grade students to prepare them for the next steps after high school. Some of Melody’s hobbies include dancing, writing, and crocheting.
“The Africana Studies program has helped me understand the world from an Afrocentric point of view. It has given me a different outlook on religion/spirituality and history. I’ve gained a better understanding on power dynamics, and I’ve also learned that the history is not always what it seems. The Africana Studies program taught me how to conduct deep research and to think critically.
Now that I have graduated, I plan to share the knowledge that I’ve learned. I plan to enroll in an alternate route teaching program so that I can earn my teaching certificate. With that, I hope to teach young children or high school students. I would also love to start or join a program that specifically educates students about Black/African American history. In the meantime, I hope to use social media to educate anyone who will take the time to listen.”
Career Opportunities
What can a student do with a degree in Africana Studies…. Anything!
Professional opportunities range from medicine, to the sciences, to criminal justice,
to politics, to education and entertainment. A professional can take their knowledge
and understanding of people of African descent into any professional field to educate
others and increase sensitivity.
- Angela Bassett, Actress – BA in African American Studies, Yale University
- Rhea Boyd, Pediatrician – BA in Africana Studies, University of Notre Dame
- Ava DuVernay, Director – BA in English literature and African-American studies, UCLA
- Jendayi Frazer, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs – BA in Political Science and African-American Studies, Stanford University
- Mae Jemison, Engineer, Astronaut – BA in African and Afro-American Studies, Stanford University
- Aaron McGruder, Cartoonist The Boondocks – BA in African American Studies, University of Maryland
- Gloria Naylor, Novelist – MA in African American Studies, Yale University
- Michelle Obama, Former FLOTUS – BA in Sociology and minor in African-American studies, Princeton University
- Issa Rae, Actress & Writer – BA in African and African-American Studies, Stanford University
- Richard W. Roberts, Judge – BA, Vassar College
- Amanda Seales, Actress Comedian – MA in African American Studies, Columbia University
- Claudia L. Thomas, first female African-American orthopedic surgeon in the US – BA in Black Studies, Vassar College
- Jose Antonio Vargas, Journalist – BA in political science and Black Studies, San Francisco State University
- Toyo Aboderin, Dual Credit Coordinator for Africana Studies – BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Africana Studies, Stockton University; MA in African American Studies
- Darrell Cleveland, Associate Professor of Education and Africana Studies – BA in African American Studies, Temple University
- Richlyn Goddard, Adjunct for Stockton University Africana Studies Program – certificate in Africana Studies at Stockton University and MA in African American Studies from Temple University.
- John Gray, Instructor of Organizational Leadership – certificate in Africana Studies, Stockton University
- Carra Hood, Associate Professor Emerita of Writing – BA in Africana Studies/Puerto Rican/Latino Studies from Hunter College/CUNY and an MA in African Studies from Yale University.
- Christina Jackson, Associate Professor of Sociology – postdoctoral fellowship in Africana Studies, Gettysburg College
- Ariane Hutchins-Newman, Associate Provost for Academic Success – certificate in Africana Studies, Stockton University
Click here for a comprehensive list of Africana Studies majors and possible career paths.
Additional Information
Special Opportunities
One of the most important components of Black Studies Programs, which first emerged at colleges and universities across the country in the late 1960s, is service to the community. Majors and minors in Africana Studies at Stockton University will also come to appreciate their responsibility to their communities through various projects, including, but not limited to: assisting in building and preserving exhibits at the African American Museum in Atlantic City; involvement in research and service projects that impact the homeless, youth and seniors in the surrounding communities; and programs assisting those in need who are abroad. Students will also gain opportunities to intern for various nonprofit and for-profit organizations and government agencies.
High School Dual Credit
The Africana Studies Program offers Topics in African-American History and Culture-GAH 1360 as a dual credit course. The Dual Credit Program at Stockton University provides a community service to college-bound high school students, giving them a jump-start on college by providing the opportunity to earn college credits and complete high school course requirements simultaneously. For additional information, click here.
