Overview

Interdisciplinary minors, African and African diaspora studies are integrative programs intended to deepen your understanding of the African continent. A broad range of courses make it possible to adapt the minor to a variety of major programs in humanities, social sciences and fine arts. The minor program encompasses both Africa itself as well as the dispersal of Africans to Europe and the Americas.

• the African diaspora track focuses primarily on the new world
• the African studies track is centered around African culture and history.

Careers in African and African Diaspora Studies

As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:

• Lobbyist
• Professor
• Journalist
• Multi-cultural Programmer
• Counselor
• Advocate

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Participate in Rangeela; Join International Students Association Committee; Live on the Grassroots floor

Course Requirements 2011-12

African Diaspora Studies

A broad choice of courses is offered, making it possible to adapt the minor to a variety of major programs in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. The minor program encompasses study both of Africa and its peoples and of the dispersal of Africans to Europe and the Americas through forced migration and voluntary immigration (18 semester hours).

• IDIS-391 Senior Seminar in African and African Diaspora Studies
• Four from:
  • ENGL-225 African-American Literature
  • FREN-362 Francophone Literature and Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Diaspora
  • FREN-363 Francophone Literature and Culture in North Africa
  • HIST-255 African American History
  • SOC-252 African Diaspora in the Americas
  • SOC-303 Anthropology of Religion
  • SPAN-370 Advance Cultural Topics (when appropriate)
• One from:
  • ARTH-245 African and Oceanic Art
  • GEOG-242 The Geology of Africa
  • ENGL-300 Advanced World Literature
  • FREN-362 Francophone Literature and Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Diaspora 
  • FREN-363 Francophone Literature and Culture in North Africa
  • HIST-241 Africa From Antiquity to 1700
  • HIST-242 Modern Africa 1800 to the Present
  • PHIL-226 African Thought and Culture
  • POLS-279 African Politics
  • STGH-217 West Africa Literature
  • STGH-280 Politics and Development in Africa
  • STGH-312 Culture and People in Ghana and West Africa (offered through the semester in Ghana program)

Other courses, including on-campus or off-campus interim courses, may be counted toward the minor requirements with the approval of a program advisor. No more than one language instruction course, and no more than two interim courses, may be counted toward the requirements for the minor.

Scholarships

New students are automatically considered for general academic scholarships ranging from $1,000-15,000 based on a careful review of their application materials.

For a complete listing of departmental scholarships available to first-year students, use the Scholarship Search ».

Faculty

Johnathan Bascom Professor, Sabbatical Department of Geology Geography & Environmental Studies jbascom@calvin.edu (616) 526-7053 Glenn Fetzer Professor Department of French fetzer@calvin.edu (616) 526-6486 David Hoekema Professor, department chair Department of Philosophy dhoekema@calvin.edu (616) 526-6750 Brian Ingraffia Associate Professor Department of English bi22@calvin.edu (616) 526-8595 Michelle Loyd-Paige Dean of Multicultural Affairs Department of Sociology lopa@calvin.edu (616) 526-8703

Amy Patterson Professor, department chair Department of Political Science apatters@calvin.edu (616) 526-7028 Lisa Van Arragon Assistant Professor Department of Art and Art History ejv9@calvin.edu (616) 526-6637 Jolene Vos-Camy Professor, department chair Department of French jvos@calvin.edu (616) 526-6324 Eric Washington Assistant Professor Department of History emw23@calvin.edu (616) 526-8630 Jane Zwart Assistant Professor Department of English jcz3@calvin.edu (616) 526-8606