AMS 101 - Introduction to African American Studies

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
This course meets the Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education Requirement. This course meets the Diversity Requirement.

Presents an overview of history, culture, religion, institutions, politics, economics, arts and psychology of peoples of African descent as developed from experience and both the old and new worlds. Multidisciplinary analysis of social life from an African-American perspective as illustrated in selected historical and contemporary writings.

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 111 or ENG 115 or ENG 121 .

Crosslisted: Also offered as AFA 101 ; credit is not given for both AMS 101 and AFA 101 .

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Apply different theoretical approaches to issues of race, ethnicity and socialization
- Explain the difference between ethnic groups and races as social and cultural constructs
- Contrast different theoretical approaches to understanding racial differences
- Describe the process by which parents, educators, peers and the media have shaped the perception of race.
Analyze the ways in which particular institutions have responded to communities of African ancestry in the United States.
- Identify the ways in which religious institutions, the educational system, legislative bodies, the courts and the family create definitions of race.
- Analyze the language spoken by and used to define groups of African ancestry in each of these institutions.
- Identify the ways in which accepted racial patterns are reinforced by social institutions.
Analyze the ways in which race is socially and culturally constructed
- Analyze the ways racial stereotypes are learned.
- Analyze the ways that class, sexual orientation and other categories of difference interact with race.
Evaluate the situation of Blacks in education, medicine and the health industry, religion, the arts, media, the workplace, and the law and public policy.
- Explain the history of Blacks in the areas of education, medicine and the health industry, religion, the arts, media, the workplace and the law and public policy.
- Identify issues of racial equity in these areas of life.
- Identify the ways Blacks’ concerns in these areas are being addressed at local, national and international levels.
Explain the relationship between the individual blacks experience and the collective black experience.
- Analyze current issues from the perspective of Blacks and the African American experience.
- Identify ways that Blacks resist and challenge restrictive ideologies.
- Compare the status and experiences of Blacks in various cultures, both within the U.S. and globally.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Blacks’ contributions to the struggle for equality.
- Compare and contrast student’s inherited views with those of other groups.
- Identify organized efforts to improve the situation of Blacks in contemporary societies.

Core Competencies
Core 1 Communication Core 3 Information Literacy Core 4 Personal Wellness Core 5 Self Management Core 6 Scientific Reasoning Core 7 Quantitative Reasoning Core 8 Social and Civic Responsibility Core 9 Global Perspective Core 10 Innovative and Critical Thinking