Students will advance their critical thinking skills by:
Developing an appreciation of how communities and identities are produced and the relationship of these communities and identities to the larger social systems.
Writing, presenting and analyzing professional research papers in a variety of forums.
Acquiring familiarity with and recognizing the validity and significance of virtual technological methodologies and learning experiences.
Acquiring practical, “hands-on” knowledge of diasporic and other communities.
Students will develop an increased respect for humanities education by:
Understanding that critical interrogation is the center of knowledge production.
Developing an insight into the international connectedness of the black experience from a variety of perspectives.
Developing an insight into the international connectedness of the human experience from a variety of perspectives.
Recognizing their responsibility as stewards of their own legacy.
Statement of Need: The Africana Studies ad-hoc committee requested a survey of currently enrolled students to determine viability of the proposed degree program. The survey was designed to receive feedback from KSU students regarding the following:
Interest in the proposed Africana Studies major;
Student perception of existing Africana, African American and African and international curriculum at KSU
Student participation and inclination to participate in study abroad opportunities
The survey was distributed electronically to all KSU students with a valid email address. The survey was available for a two-week period. The College of Arts, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies offered a lottery of $100 cash to respondents for participating in the survey. Sixty-nine (69) students responded. The relevant findings are as follows:
Seventy-two percent (72%) stated they would support the creation of a degree in Africana Studies at KSU.
Fifty percent (50%) stated that the Africana Studies degree at KSU was necessary.
Eighteen percent (18%) stated that they would pursue a degree in Africana Studies at KSU.
Thirty-three percent (33%) stated that they may consider pursuing a degree in Africana Studies at KSU.
Comments related to this section included: (Comments are copied verbatim from the survey).
The course I've taken on non-Western cultures at KSU were great. My interest at this time is with the African and African American cultures. There's not a lot of being offered at KSU.
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