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:

Africana Studies

  • 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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