African and African American Studies ,Certificate

Do you want to advocate for social justice? Gain a deeper understanding of African and African American peoples' culture and history and an in-depth knowledge of prominent issues in their communities to help you excel in a variety of fields.

Description ▲

In the certificate program in African and African American studies, you examine the culture, arts, history, politics, economics and current status of Africans, African Americans and the larger African diaspora, especially in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

The goal is to prepare you for lifelong learning, advanced study in a variety of fields, successful careers and productive public service in an increasingly diverse society.

At a glance ▲

College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Location: Tempe

Curriculum ▲

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2026-2027 Catalog Year

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Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours

Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours
The certificate in African and African American studies requires 15 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be upper division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be completed through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00) or better may be applied toward the certificate requirements.
AFR 200 Introduction to Africana Studies (GCSI) or AFR 210 Introduction to African American Studies (CIVI) 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AFR 300 Precolonial Africa (GCSI) AFR 301 Race and Racism in Africa/African Diaspora (HUAD) AFR 370 / FAS 370 Family Ethnic and Cultural Diversity (CIVI) AFR 375 Race, Gender and Sport (SOBE) 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AFR 336 / ASB 336 African Art AFR 340 The Making of Modern Africa AFR 345 / JUS 345 Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean AFR 350 / APA 350 / CDE 350 / SOC 350 / TCL 360 / JUS 365 Inequality and Diversity in Education (SOBE) AFR 352 / APA 352 / JUS 353 Borders, Prisons and Suburbs AFR 353 / AMS 353 / ENG 353 / ETH 353 African American Literature: Beginnings through the Harlem Renaissance (HUAD) AFR 354 / AMS 354 / ENG 354 / ETH 354 African American Literature: Harlem Renaissance to the Present (HUAD) AFR 363 / HST 333 African American History to 1865 (AMIT) AFR 364 / HST 334 African American History Since 1865 (HUAD) AFR 365 / WST 364 Unruly Voices: Black Women and Cultural Narratives (HUAD) AFR 366 / ASB 366 African Archaeology: Precolonial Urban Culture AFR 372 / REL 362 / SGS 366 Islam and Islamic Societies in Africa: Social and Political History AFR 373 / REL 363 Islam and World Affairs AFR 420 / JUS 421 Race Ethnicity and Politics in the African Diaspora AFR 428 / APA 428 / JUS 428 Critical Race Theory AFR 459 / ENG 459 Studies in African American/Caribbean Literatures AFR 466 / ASB 466 Peoples and Cultures of Africa AFR 470 / WST 471 Women's International Human Rights AFR 480 / REL 461 / SGS 442 Different Voices Within Contemporary Islamic Discourse 9 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	9

Notes

Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.

Enrollment requirements ▲

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Program learning outcomes▲

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

Conduct independent research exploring critical issues in and to the African diaspora.
Analyze the ways in which race intersects with other social locations in shaping ideology, as well as social, political and cultural institutions.

Career opportunities▲

Students can advance their career options with an undergraduate certificate. By adding this specialization in African and African American studies as a complement to their major program of study, students become more marketable hires. Graduates who have completed this undergraduate certificate often pursue employment in education, law, public service, and human welfare and social work. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.

Contact information▲

School of Social Transformation | WLSN 5th floor
SSTadvising@asu.edu
480-965-7682

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

African and African American Studies ,Certificate