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

Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work, DSW

Kimoni Yaw Ajani (formerly Wilbert St.Hilaire), Assistant Professor of Africana 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.