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Home Student Resources Black Student Success African American Studies Classes

African American college courses students can take.

ENGLT 301 Introduction to Literature in Hip-Hop Culture

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: ENGWR 300 and LIBR 318
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA/AS Area I

This course surveys the literature that exists within Hip-Hop culture. Students will learn to apply critical literary analysis skills while exploring literature across multiple genres within Hip-Hop culture (including poetry, memoir, song, and film). The course will explore how the historical, cultural, racial, social and political context of Hip-Hop literary works shape the creative process and products. Students will also explore the evolution of Hip-Hop as a complex culture with various creative outputs, not just a musical genre.

ENGLT 331 African-American Literature (1730-1930)

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: ENGWR 101 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Advisory: LIBR 318 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable: UC/CSU

General Education: AA/AS Area I; AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3BENGLT 331 is a study of major African-American authors and their literature from 1730 to 1930. This course includes critical reading of slave narratives, autobiographies, essays, novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and folklore. The course examines the cultural, political, and historical contexts for the readings and the connections between the literature and the experiences that inspired them. Some of the writers studied include Lucy Terry, Jupiter Hammon, Frederick Douglass, Phillis Wheatley, William Wells Brown, Frances Harper, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B Dubois, Charles Chestnutt, Alain Locke, Zora Neale Hurston, and many others. One field trip may be required.

ENGLT 332 African-American Literature (1930-Present)

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: ENGWR 101 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Advisory: LIBR 318 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA/AS Area I; AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B

ENGLT 332 is a study of major African-American authors and their literature from 1930 to the present. This course includes critical reading of essays, novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and folklore. The course also examines the cultural, historical, and political contexts for the literature. Some of the writers studied include Richard Wright, Ann Petry, Gwendolyn Brooks, Amiri Baraka, Owen Dodson, August Wilson, Rita Dove, J. California Cooper, Bebe Moore Campbell, Mari Evans, Ralph Ellison, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and many others. One field trip may be required.

ENGLT 365 Introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Literature

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: ENGWR 101 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA/AS Area I; AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B

This class will survey representative literature concerning gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) themes and issues as written by or about GLBT people from ancient times to the present day. The comprehensive literary study includes analysis of significant historical and cultural influences.

ETHNS 320 Introduction to African American Studies

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: ENGWR 300 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable: CSU (Formerly approved for SOCSC 320); UC (Formerly approved for SOCSC 320)
  • General Education: AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; CSU Area F (effective Fall 2022); IGETC Area 4

This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances of African Americans within the United States. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and presents an overview of the cultural, economic, historic, social, and political issues in the life of African Americans in the United States. It will expose students of all ethnic backgrounds to the issues germane to the experience of African Americans in the United States. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 320 The African American Experience.

HIST 320 History of the United States, African American Emphasis - to the Civil War

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: Eligibility for ENGWR 300, ENGWR 108, or ESLW 340, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA-AS Area V(a); AA-AS Area V(b); AA-AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; CSU Area D; CSU Area U1; CSU Area U2; IGETC Area 3B; IGETC Area 4

This course covers the development of American Institutions and society through Reconstruction and fulfills American Institutions requirements for California State University and the University of California. The course emphasizes the role played by political, economic, cultural, and intellectual forces in American society and the development of multiple ethnic groups in a comparative format. Beginning on the African Continent, this course will also examine the origins of the Atlantic Slave Trade and its implications for North American labor systems, including slavery. The course pays particular attention to the ways in which black people have influenced the formation and development of this nation; and examines the ways in which racial issues have shaped American society, culture, and politics. Credit may be earned for HIST 320 or HIST 486, but not both.

HIST 321 History of the United States, African American Emphasis - Civil War to the Present

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: Eligibility for ENGWR 300, ENGWR 108, or ESLW 340, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA-AS Area V(a); AA-AS Area V(b); AA-AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; CSU Area D; CSU Area U1; CSU Area U2; CSU Area U3; IGETC Area 3B; IGETC Area 4

This course covers the development of American Institutions and society from Reconstruction to the present and partially fulfills American Institutions requirements for California State University and the University of California. The course emphasizes the role played by political, economic, cultural, and intellectual forces in American society and the development of multiple ethnic groups in a comparative format. Beginning with a review of the Civil War, HIST 321 closely examines the Reconstruction Era, the societal "place" of African Americans, the development of "Jim Crow" segregation, and the subsequent legal demise of segregation in American life. This course pays close attention to the ways in which African American people have subsequently shaped and contributed to American society, culture, and politics. Credit may be earned for HIST 321 or HIST 487, but not both.

HIST 486 History of the United States, African American Emphasis - to the Civil War - Honors

  • Units: 3
    Hours: 54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: Eligibility for ENGWR 300, ENGWR 108, or ESLW 340, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable: CSU; UC (effective Fall 2022)
  • General Education: AA/AS Area V(a); AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; CSU Area D; CSU Area U1; CSU Area U2; IGETC Area 3B (effective Fall 2022); IGETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2022)

This course covers the development of American Institutions and society through Reconstruction and partially fulfills American Institutions requirements for California State University and the University of California. The course emphasizes the role played by political, economic, cultural, and intellectual forces in American society and the development of multiple ethnic groups in a comparative format. Beginning on the African Continent, this course will also examine the origins of the Atlantic Slave Trade and its implications for North American labor systems, including slavery. The course pays particular attention to the ways in which black people have influenced the formation and development of this nation; and examine the ways in which racial issues have shaped American society, culture, and politics. This class is conducted in a seminar format and uses intensive instructional methodology that is designed to challenge motivated students.

Honors courses are open to students who demonstrate an ability to write carefully reasoned, well-organized essays of varying lengths, are prepared to make clear oral presentations in class, and are able to actively contribute to seminar discussions. Credit may be earned for HIST 320 or HIST 486, but not both.

HIST 487 History of the United States, African American Emphasis - Civil War to the Present - Honors

  • Units: 3
    Hours: 54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: Eligibility for ENGWR 300, ENGWR 108, or ESLW 340, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable: CSU; UC (effective Fall 2022)
  • General Education: AA/AS Area V(a); AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; CSU Area D; CSU Area U1; CSU Area U2; IGETC Area 3B (effective Fall 2022); IGETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2022)

This course covers the development of American Institutions and society from Reconstruction to the present and partially fulfills American Institutions requirements for California State University and the University of California. The course emphasizes the role played by political, economic, cultural, and intellectual forces in American society and the development of multiple ethnic groups in a comparative format. Beginning with a review of the Civil War, HIST 487 closely examines the Reconstruction Era, the societal "place" of African Americans, the development of "Jim Crow" segregation, and the subsequent legal demise of segregation in American life. This course pays close attention to the ways in which African American people have subsequently shaped and contributed to American society, culture, and politics. This class is conducted in a seminar format and uses intensive instructional methodology that is designed to challenge motivated students.

Honors courses are open to students who demonstrate an ability to write carefully reasoned, well-organized essays of varying lengths, are prepared to make clear oral presentations in class, and are able to actively contribute to seminar discussions. Credit may be earned for HIST 487 or HIST 321, but not both.

SOC 321 Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Advisory: ENGWR 101 and ENGRD 110, or ESLW 340 and ESLR 340, with grades of "C" or better.
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4J
  • C-ID: C-ID SOCI 150

This course examines patterns of ethnic relations. The course emphasis is domestic but includes investigations of global concerns. Topics include discrimination, prejudice, social stratification, inequality, racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, and related subjects.

SOC 482 Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States - Honors

  • Units: 3
  • Prerequisite: None.
  • Enrollment Limitation: Eligibility for admission to the Honors Program.
  • Advisory: LIBR 318 and SOC 300 with grades of "C" or better; ENGWR 101 and ENGRD 110, or ESLW 340 and ESLR 340, with grades of "C" or better.
  • Transferable: UC/CSU
  • General Education: AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
  • C-ID: C-ID SOCI 150

This course examines patterns of ethnic relations. The course emphasis is domestic but includes investigations of global concerns. Topics include discrimination, prejudice, social stratification, inequality, racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, and related subjects. This honors section uses an intensive seminar style of instructional methodology with extensive research projects on race and ethnicity designed to challenge motivated students. This course is not open to students who have completed SOC 321.