BLACK STUDIES
College of Ethnic Studies
(See Black Studies in the Academic Programs section for information on degrees)
Undergraduate Courses
101 Introduction to Black Studies (3)
An overview of the development of Black Studies as an academic discipline and a survey of the content areas included in Black Studies. Topics to be covered include history, literature, psychology, politics, and others.
110 Critical Thinking and the Third World Experience (3) [GE]
Developing the basic skills involved in understanding, criticizing, and constructing arguments by using materials reflective of experiences of Blacks and the third world culture in the United States. (Also offered as AIS 110, AAS 110, ETHS 110, and LARA 110.)
111 Black Cultures and Personalities (3) [GE]
F
Examination of the cultural influence on the development of Black personality configurations.
125 Black Community Involvement Workshop (3)
Exploration of community organizations through actual involvement in various community agencies. Special emphasis upon social, economic, and political resources in the community. May be repeated once for credit.
200 Introduction to Black Psychology (3) [GE]
F,S
An introduction and survey of the theories, characteristic methodologies, and applicability of these methodologies to the African-American behavioral experiences and its interface with other cultural communities.
201 Kemet, Afrocentricity, and the Dawn of Science (3) [GE]
F,S
Introduction to Kemetic Science and the primacy of Kemet (Egypt) in the development of modern science. Emphasis on the structured whole, the Nubian Vortex, Cartesian vs. Alchemical cosmologies; and the Afrocentric thought and achievement of African American scientists and engineers.
203 Introduction to Black Social Sciences (3) [GE]
Methodical principles, key theoretical concepts of western social sciences, and applications in third world critical perspective. Surveys work of black social scientists that have added to understanding black experience. Relevance of western methods and theories to black development.
204 Introduction to Black Creative Arts (3) [GE]
Provides an overview of the culture of Black Americans through a critical examination of the creativity of its women artists.
205 Issues in Black Gerontology (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: BIOL 100. A critical examination and analysis of gerontological theories and concepts as they relate to the Black experience. The biological theories of aging, the epidemiology of chronic illness, and the delivery of health services are explored.
206 Black Child Development (3)
Analysis of both the traditional theoretical approaches to the study of Black children and innovative approaches that are currently being developed. Topics include: areas of cognitive development, socialization, education, personality development, and the social context of childhood.
210 Introduction to Black Literature (3) [GE]
A critical analysis of the role of literature in the formulation, maintenance, and articulation of a cultural ethos. The historical route from caricature to hero through the medium of literature.
211 Kemetic Strategies in Physical Science I (3) [GE]
Kemetic approaches—fraction, ratio, and proportion; group theory; exponentials; handling polynomial expressions. Introduction to Kemetic (dimensional analysis mapping) strategies applied to physical calculations in first-year biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering; equilibrium calculations in solution.
213 Kemetic Strategies in Physical Science II (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: BLS 211 or consent of instructor. Kemetic approaches to a systematic and in-depth study of prototype problems in the physical sciences.
214 Second Year Written Composition: Black Studies (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: ENG 114 or equivalent. Development of expository and analytic writing skills through the study and appreciation of Black literature. Survey of various authors and genres of Black literature from different historical and cultural periods. Introduction to literary criticism. Focus on clear thinking and writing. ABC/NC grading.
215 Introduction to Black Family Studies (3) [GE]
Introduction to theories and research about Black families in America, with particular attention given to emerging trends in social science literature on Black families. Topics covered include ethnic stratification, family and marital stability, socialization processes, and research issues.
221 Afro-American Music: A 20th Century Survey (3) [GE]
An overview of the history, growth, and development of African American music.
225 Images and Issues in Black Visual Media (3) [GE]
An historical and developmental survey of Black film, based on in-class screenings, emphasizing criticism, analysis, aesthetics, and the cultural, economic, social, and political forces that influence and shape Black cinema in America.
230 Introduction to African-American Theatre (3)
Introduction to the origins, history, growth, and development of African American theatre. Examination and analysis of the relationship between socio-cultural reality and African-American modes of artistic expression.
300 From Africa to America (3)
F,S
Early African civilization and the pre-colonial era, survey of the history of the ancient empires of Nubia, Ethiopia, Congo, Zimbabwe, Zulus, etc. History of colonialism; patterns of annexation, the journey of Africans from Africa to the Caribbean, Latin and South America and the United States.
301 Africa in Global Perspective (3) [GE]
Exploration of physical, social, cultural, political, technological, economic, and business environment of Africa; policy determinants influencing economy; polity and business systems; analysis of interactions between modern development theory, world political economy, and domestic policy; strategies and constraints to reverse underdevelopment.
302 Black Diaspora (3) [GE]
Dynamics of Black dispersal, 15th to 20th centuries; analysis of cross-currents and interactions within the Black world; constraints on the formation of Black solidarity movements; contemporary movements that incorporate the Pan-African theoretic is examined.
303 Afro-American History (3)
F,S
Prerequisites: BL S 300, 301 or equivalent. Emphasis on recurrent themes and issues in Black history since the nineteenth century. Specific attention to reconstruction and the emergence of mass movements and counter-ideologies.
304 Black People and the American Experience (3) [US]
The history of Black people and their American experiences from 1770 to 1954. Provides an analysis of the important constitutional, political, economic, and cultural issues of the aforementioned time period as they developed nationally and locally. (See U.S. History and Government Requirement.)
305 Ancient Egypt (3) [GE]
The history, religion, culture, economic system, and dynastic periods of the worlds greatest ancient civilization, Egypt or KMT, the land of "The Blacks."
306 Blacks in the Caribbean (3)
The historical origin of the Caribbean from the Indian through the African periods. Important historical issues including color caste maroon societies, Garveyism and its offshoot Rastfarianism, Caribbean literature and, finally, independence and neocolonialism are analyzed.
310 Anthropology of Blackness (3)
F
Review and critique of traditional anthropological theories and methodologies as these relate to an understanding of Black peoples.
320 Black Politics, Mass Movements, and Liberation Themes (3) [GE]
Theoretical constructs and basic premises that draw on political experiences of Black people. A comprehensive review of political science theories as they have been applied to Blacks in the United States.
326 Black Religion (3)
F,S
Examination of the philosophical bases of contemporary Black religious movements. Emphasis on the reformation of traditional African, Islamic, and Christian religious concepts.
330 Sociological Dimensions of the Black Experience (3)
Sociological dimensions of the Black experience is constructed to develop an appreciation for the tentative nature of human knowledge. Analyzes a wide range of human conditions, philosophical problems, and overviews the theories, characteristics, methodologies plus applicability of these to persons of color in an ethnically pluralistic nation.
335 The Black Woman: A Cultural Analysis (3) [GE]
An examination and comparative analysis of Black women in the Americas, the Caribbean, and on the African continent with particular emphasis on their struggles for rights as Blacks and as women, their contribution to the development of their societies, their political aptitude, and their artistic adeptness.
340 Economics of the Black Community (3)
F
Economic problems of Black people. Examination of the role of Black labor in the American capitalistic economy. Various welfare schemes and Black reaction to population control.
370 Health, Medicine, and Nutrition in the Black Community (3)
F,S
A comprehensive study of dietary and health practices of Black people. Relationships between contemporary health practices and those of ancient Black cultures and solutions to problems of health in the Black Community are investigated.
375 Law and the Black Community (3)
F,S
Contemporary and historical investigations of city, state, and federal laws and how they affect the human rights, self-determination, and survival of the Black community in America. Emphasis on administration of justice by court, police, security, and legislative agencies.
376 Government, the Constitution, and Black Citizens (3) [GE] [US,CA]
F,S
The nature and source of constitutional power-federal and state. Emphasis on the interaction of the Supreme Court with the Congress and with the Presidency, especially in regard to constitutional issues involving poor and Black citizens. Satisfies the U.S. government and the California state and local government requirement. (See U.S. History and Government Requirement which includes California State and Local Government Requirement.)
400 Black Arts and Humanities (3) [GE]
F,S
Intensive examination of the creative efforts of Black writers and artists. Special attention to the values expressed in these works and their relation to African-American culture.
401 Kemet, Afrocentricity, and the Structured Whole (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: BLS 201 or consent of instructor. Advanced studies in Kemetic Science—application of Afrocentric structured whole methodology to: understanding systems behavior, especially ethno-social; scientific analysis of sociocultural systems; the unity of knowledge; special topics in the natural, applied, social, and economic sciences.
411 African—African-American Literature (3) [GE]
Examines the literature of Blacks of two continents and analyzes the cultural phenomenon of the critical impact of American Black authors on African writing and perspective.
420 Black Fiction (3)
F
Major contributions of Black fiction considered in relation to the development of poetic traditions and prose style.
425 African Influence on African-American Art (3)
F,S
Provides an analysis of African art and its influence on African American art and art in the 20th century, and an examination of various art forms created by artists from North, East, and West Africa.
430 Black Poetry (3)
F,S
Examination of structure, style, and techniques of representative Black poets.
440 Black Oratory (3)
Oratory as part of the Black American's political, social, and intellectual history; issues, ideas, spokesmen, and methods of advocacy. Analysis, preparation, delivery of speeches.
441 Black Arts Production (3)
Prerequisites: BL S 210, 400, and/or consent of instructor. Concurrent enrollment in BL S 617 and/or 630. Introduction and examination of theories and methods that Black scholars use in artistic interpretation and expression. May be repeated for a total of six units.
450 Black Philosophy (3)
F,S
The foundations of Black philosophy from ancient Africa to the present as related to theories of knowledge and thought considered within the social and political context.
460 AIDS and People of Color in the U.S. (3) [GE]
Prerequisites: BIOL 327 and H ED 370. The political, psychological, social, and economical impact of AIDS/HIV infection on persons from diverse cultural backgrounds within the United States, with an emphasis on prevention and educational strategies. (Also offered as COUN 450.)
515 Black Family Studies (3) [GE]
An investigation into the structure, history, and functioning of the Black family, particular emphases are placed on the African cultural traditions related to Black family life.
516 Research Methods (3)
Issues in the application of research methods to Black populations and the Black community are analyzed. Students are required to conduct individual or group research projects.
551 Field Work in Black Studies (3)
Supervised field work in community organizations enabling students to apply knowledge gained in classes to the solution of problems and the development of the community. Classwork, two units; fieldwork, one unit.
555 Pigmentation and the Experience of Color (3)
Historical and contemporary research focusing on the functional relationship between pigmentation and the African-American experience. Data on neural, hormonal, sensory, and motor systems are summarized and used in examining the complexity of mental and physical behavior of the African-American.
600 Seminar in Black Studies (3)
F,S
Prerequisite: senior standing or consent of instructor. Seminar for advanced students in Black Studies. Students investigate educational, sociological, psychological, political, economic, historical, and cultural aspects of the Black experience particularly as these pertain to Black Studies curricula and programs.
610 Art, Myth, and Religion (3)
The interrelationship between art and culture in Africa as a reflection of social values and religious processes. Evaluates the effect of social change on art and religion as well as new cultural patterns established by modern cultural diffusion.
617 Black Dance Experience (3) [GE]
Traditional and contemporary dance forms of the Congo and other Central African nations. The social function of dance from ritual contexts to those of daily life activities and emphasis on the interdependence of dance and drumming. Classwork, two units; laboratory, one unit. (Also offered as DANC 617.)
650 Teaching the Black Experience (3)
A study of linguistic, social, economic, and cultural problems confronting Black students in the public schools. Investigates reference materials. Recognizes the Black parallel culture; yet, locates the Black experience within the total spectrum of world history.
699 Special Study (1-3)
F,S
Prerequisites: consent of major adviser, department chair, and instructor. Supervised, individual study of a particular problem in Black Studies. The student must state the problem, the method of data-gathering, and the method of data-analysis.