African American and Africana Studies Minor
The African American and Africana Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program of study focused on the historical and contemporary experiences of people of African heritage. The study of race, ethnicity, and other forms of collective identity will be central concerns of the minor, as are intersecting issues such as gender, sexuality, diversity, and inclusion. This minor leads students to a comprehensive understanding of the African American experience and African Diaspora.
The following requirements below are intended for students beginning fall 2026. To declare your minor, please speak to your academic advisor for assistance.
Minor Coordinators:
Mario Valero
mario_valero@fitnyc.edu
Kristen Laciste
kristen_laciste@fitnyc.edu
| Take Five (5) Courses | ||
| EC/MC 308 | White Gold: Sugar, Power and the Creation of Atlantic Capitalism (Interdisciplinary) | 3 |
| EN 235 | African American Literature | 3 |
| EN 274 | Voices of Civil Rights in American History | 3 |
| FI 203 | African American Film Culture | 3 |
| FM 363 | Corporate Social Responsibility | 3 |
| HA 123 | African Art and Civilization | 3 |
| HA 219 | African American Art | 3 |
| HA 230 | Modern and Contemporary African Art | 3 |
| HA 239 | The History of African Textiles and Fashion | 3 |
| HA/FI 253 | Afrofuturist Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| HA 258 | African Photography | 3 |
| HA 318 | Repositioning Ancient Egypt and Rethinking Egyptology | 3 |
| HA 385 | Racism and Antiracism in Public Art and Architecture of the United States (Honors) | 3 |
| HI 201 | Classics in African American History | 3 |
| HI 205 | American Business from Slavery to the Present | 3 |
| HI 209 | Fashion and Slavery | 3 |
| MC 209 | Hispanic Cultures In New York | 3 |
| MC/FI 211 | Brazilian Cinema: Inventing Places and Spatial Myths | 3 |
| MC 300 | The Poetics of Sound in Hispanic Caribbean Literature | 3 |
| MC 301 | Imaginary Encounters: Representations of the Caribbean (Honors) | 3 |
| MC 303 | Black in Paris: African American, African, and Caribbean Writers in the City of Lights (Honors) | 3 |
| MC 306 | Africa: Contemporary Voices in Francophone Culture | 3 |
| PE 220 | Dance and Rhythms of West Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| PY/SO 227 | The Sociopsychology of Gentrification | 3 |
| PY 368 | Racialized Urban Landscapes: A Psychosociospatial Exploration | 3 |
| SO 275 | Sociology of Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SS/MC 304 | Introduction to Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| SS 315 | Contemporary Issues Impacting the Caribbean Region | 3 |
*Semesterly course offerings are subject to change.
Upon completion of the African American and Africana Studies minor, students will be able to:
- Critically analyze the Transatlantic slave trade by synthesizing historical, socioeconomic, political, and cultural perspectives to develop nuanced understandings of this system's complexities and legacies.
- Evaluate European imperial expansion and African agency throughout colonization in the Americas and Africa using interdisciplinary frameworks to assess power dynamics, resistance, and cultural transformation across regions.
- Compare distinctive features of African diasporic cultures across British, Spanish, Portuguese, and French colonial contexts through analysis of cultural practices, social structures, and adaptation strategies.
- Identify African and African American cultural expressions across multiple historical periods through comprehensive examination of music, literature, film, visual arts, and media.
- Assess African American contributions to U.S. historical and political movements to develop informed perspectives on social change and collective action.
- Apply methods from art history, anthropology, linguistics, and sociology to examine African American and African cultures, evaluating how different analytical frameworks shape understanding.