Kent State University Catalog 2010 - 2011

Pan-African Studies - B.A.

COLLEGE:	College of Arts and Sciences
DEPARTMENT:	Department of Pan-African Studies Oscar Ritchie Hall Tel: 330-672-2300 Fax: 330-672-4837 Web: http://www.kent.edu/cas/pas

Resources:

DESCRIPTION:	The Bachelor of Arts in Pan-African Studies consists of four concentrations: African Disapora Studies, Pan-African Literature, Arts and Culture, Pan-African Studies and Theoretical and Applied Research in Pan-African Studies. . African Diaspora Studies, within the Bachelor of Arts in Pan-African Studies, focuses on the history, culture and politics of people of African descent in Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, this concentration prepares students to function in a diverse, global and multicultural environment, working in areas such as education, law, public service, social work, research, foreign service, business and community development. Pan-African Literature, Arts and Culture, within the Bachelor of Arts in Pan-African Studies, focuses on the study of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East through the study of literature, arts and culture. With a strong emphasis on popular as well as non-literary cultural expressions, this concentration provides insights into the challenges black communities face while encouraging the study of less commonly taught languages such as Kiswahili. This program also provides a good foundation for those interested in continuing to graduate school in ethnic studies, public health, international studies, political science, justice studies, comparative literature and global and world studies. Pan-African Studies focuses on African descendants’ global, cultural and historical experiences. It examines ways in which continental African and African diasporic communities and individuals have developed political, creative and coordinated strategies for survival in the midst of, and resistance to, racism, socio-economic and political oppression. In addition to preparing students to work in areas such as education, law, public service, social work, research, foreign service, business and community development, this program provides a good foundation for those interested in graduate studies. Theoretical and Applied Research in Pan-African Studies focuses on major theoretical issues and methodologies involved in studying the African Diaspora, encompassing the study and research on communities of continental Africa. This concentration helps students synthesize information through research, intensive reading and critical writing. This concentration prepares students to work in areas such as education, law, public service, social work, research, foreign service, business and community development. It also provides a good foundation for those interested in continuing to graduate school.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:	In addition to the career and graduate school opportunities mentioned above, a degree in Pan-African Studies opens many doors. Postsecondary teachers held nearly 1.7 million jobs in 2008. Archivists, curators, and museum technicians held about 29,100 jobs in 2008. About 39 percent were employed in museums, historical sites, and similar institutions and 18 percent worked for public and private educational services. Around 30 percent of archivists, curators, and museum technicians worked in Federal, State, and local government, excluding educational institutions. Most Federal archivists work for the National Archives and Records Administration; others manage military archives in the U.S. Department of Defense. Most Federal Government curators work at the Smithsonian Institution, in the military museums of the U.S. Department of Defense, and in archaeological and other museums and historic sites managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior. All State governments have archival or historical record sections employing archivists. State and local governments also have numerous historical museums, parks, libraries, and zoos employing curators. (Source: American Political Science Association)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:	General Admissions for New Freshman: Students most likely to be admitted and succeed at the Kent Campus are those who have graduated with at least 16 units of the recommended college preparatory curriculum in high school, who have achieved a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and whose composite ACT score is 21 or better (980 combined critical reading and math SAT score). For more information on admissions, visit the Admissions website for new freshmen. General Admissions for Transfer Students: Generally, a transfer applicant who has taken 12 or more semester hours with a college cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale may be admitted. An applicant who has taken fewer than 12 semester hours will be evaluated on both collegiate and high school records. For more information on admissions, visit the Admissions website for transfer students.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:	Minimum 121 total credit hours and 42 upper-division hours for graduation. Minimum 2.00 GPA overall and 2.00 GPA in major required for graduation.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:	Yes
STUDY ABROAD/AWAY OPPORTUNITIES:	University of Ghana
PROGRAM FEE:	None
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:	Black United Students (BUS); College Summit; Harambee; Kent African Student Association; KSU National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)