African & African American Studies

The African and African American Studies (AAAS) program at Francis Marion University is designed to offer students an interdisciplinary and multifaceted approach to the study of people of African descent and their experiences in Africa, the Americas, and the broader African Diaspora.

Through a minor or collateral and through extra-curricular offerings, the program allows students of all backgrounds to broaden their knowledge of the history and cultures of people of African descent and hone their skills of analysis and expression.

The program complements all majors in that it helps prepare students for the workplace and citizenship in an interconnected world.

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Founder's Hall in the evening.

African & African American Studies Minor

A minor in African & African American Studies consists of 18 hours of courses listed under the African & African American Studies to include AAAS 200, HIST 311 or HIST 370, and ENG 348, as well as 3 additional courses, with no more than two classes from any one discipline.

Special topics courses may also be counted for credit towards the program with the approval of the African American Studies Committee.

African & African American Studies Collateral

A collateral in African & African American Studies consists of 12 hours of courses listed under the African & African American Studies to include AAAS 200 and HIST 311, HIST 370, or ENG 348, as well as 2 additional courses, with no more than two classes from any one discipline.

Special topics courses may also be counted for credit towards the program with the approval of the African American Studies Committee.

Students investigate the Hewn TImber Cabins.

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Course Descriptions

200 Introduction to African American Studies

(3) Introductory survey course which provides an overview of the field of African American Studies from an interdisciplinary perspective.

201 Hip Hop: An American Story

(1), (2), or (3)(Prerequisite: AAAS 200 with grade of C or higher or permission of coordinator) In depth study of an area of interest related to Africa, African American experiences and/or other parts of the African diaspora. Different areas of study will be offered on a rotating basis during various semesters. May be taken up to two times (3 credit hours total) to count toward the program minor or collateral. May be taken for credit (3 hours) toward the Honors degree by special arrangement.

497 African and African American Studies: Special Studies

(3), (2), or (1) (Prerequisite: African American Studies 200 or permission of coordinator) Individual research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Research projects must be approved by the African and African American Studies Committee and are reviewed by three faculty members from two different disciplines. Open only to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in their major courses. A maximum of three semester hours may be earned. May be taken for credit (three hours) toward the Honors degree by special arrangement.

ARTH 360: Islamic and African Art

Introduction to the traditional art forms of Western and Central Asia, North Africa, and Spain while under Islamic rule. The arts of Africa, especially Sub-Saharan, will also be covered by tribe and region.

ECON 323: Urban and Regional Economics

Study of the growth and development of urban and rural areas of the United States. Topics include industrial, agricultural, and business location; labor migration; urbanization; benefit-cost analysis; and regional objectives and policies.

ECON 410: Labor Economics

Examines the nature of the labor market and problems dealing with labor groups. Topics include history of the labor movement, union structures, labor law, and collective bargaining.

ENG 384: African-American Film History

Explores the history of African Americans in North American film and the specific contributions of African Americans to visual forms in narrative films. Chronologically follows the involvement of African Americans in film production, acting, directing, and distribution.

ENG 448: Advanced Study in African-American Literature

Focuses on major African-American writers, groups of writers, a genre, or a theme (e.g., Toni Morrison, the Harlem Renaissance). May be taken twice for academic credit with departmental approval.

HIST 311: History of Black America to 1865

Consideration of the experience of black people in America, their contributions to the life and character of the nation, and their status in the rapidly changing society of today. One 100-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

HIST 312: History of Black America since 1865

(3) Study of people of African descent in the United States from emancipation to the recent past, with emphasis on Black identity, agency, and memory and the central place of African Americans in the national historical narrative. Major topics include Reconstruction; segregation, accommodation, and institution building; migration and urbanization; the civil rights movement and its aftermath; approaches to Black religion, culture, and intellectual life; and global dimensions of the Black freedom struggle. One 100-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

HIST 313: The American Civil Rights Movement

(3) (Prerequisites: One 100-level history course or permission of department) This course examines the various historical developments that arose during the “long civil rights movement” from the 1930s to the present. Students will investigate the shifting historical dynamics that African Americans confronted as they experienced, challenged, and eventually overcame Jim Crow segregation and sought an end to systemic racial discrimination. In particular, students will explore the nuanced interplay “bottom-up” and “top-down” forces played throughout the “long” black freedom struggle. They will also gain an appreciation of the movement’s wide-ranging implications on other 1960s-to-present-day social and political undertakings.

HIST 316: South Carolina History

Survey of the history of the state from its founding to the present with emphasis on political, social, and economic developments and the changing attitudes prevalent among its citizenry. One 100-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

HIST 344: The Old South, 1660 to 1865

Political, social, economic, and intellectual development of the Old South from its colonial beginning to its demise in the Civil War. Historiography of the period will also be covered. One 100-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

HIST 345: The New South, 1865 to the Present

Transition of the Old South into the New South: the Reconstruction period and the South in the 20th century. One 100-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

HIST 346: Civil War America

This course will examine the Civil War era in its broad cultural and social context beginning with a study of the divergent paths of the American people in the early 19th century and culminating in an examination of how the events of this era reshaped the understanding of concepts such as freedom, loyalty, and equality. A special emphasis will be placed on the interrelationship between battle front and home front. One 100-level history course or permission of the department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

HIST 370: African History

Survey of the African continent from human origins to the present. Major topics include the emergence and development of agriculture, varieties of African political organization, the spread of Christianity and Islam, colonization and resistance, the African Diaspora, decolonization, and contemporary Africa, with emphasis on Africa in a global context. One 100-level history course or permission of the department is prerequisite to all history courses about the 299 level.

GEOG 306: Geography of Subsaharan Africa

Introductory analysis of the geography of Africa, with particular emphasis upon cultural diversity and social organization, environmental perception, agricultural systems, economic development, and political instability.

POL 311: Southern Politics

Examination of selected aspects of change and continuity in Southern politics from Reconstruction until the present.

POL 322: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Study of civil rights in the American constitutional context with emphasis on freedom of religion and expression, freedom of association, privacy rights, and protection against discrimination.

PSY 319: Social Psychology

(3) (Prerequisite: 206) F, S. An overview of classic and contemporary research in social psychology. A wide range of topics will be covered that relate to everyday social life drawn from the areas of attitudes and persuasion, social cognition and self-processes and interpersonal relationships.

SOC 306: Social Problems

Critical review of problems resulting from social inequality (distribution of wealth, racial and ethnic relations, gender relations, sexism, healthcare), violations of social norms (substance abuse, violence, and property crime), and social change (population growth, food, urbanization, environment).

SOC 310: Racial and Cultural Minorities

Survey of racial and cultural conflicts in contemporary civilization, theories of race and culture; the status of racial, religious, and ethnic minorities in the United States.

SOC 331: Environment, Power, and Opportunity

An introduction to the study of the relationship between human society and the physical environment, with an emphasis on the relationships among population growth, economic development, systems of inequality, and control and use of the natural environment. Local, regional, and global approaches will be used to understand environmental issues. An emphasis is placed on how the allocation of environmental resources (kind, amount, and quality) varies by race/ethnicity, gender, class, and nationality, and the different responses that these groups have to environmental problems/issues.

SOC 349: Hate Crimes and Terrorism

A critical examination of hate crimes and terrorism, including their similarities and differences, types of perpetrators and victims, perpetrator activities and tactics used, and societal impacts, as well as explanations for why these crimes occur and approaches used to impede these crimes. Major hate crime cases and terrorism incidents within the US and abroad are also reviewed.

SOC 382: Families Public and Private

Examines sociological theories used to study the family. Explores current and historic American family trends, how society and various social institutions shape the family, and the internal dynamics of the family as a social group in society.

SOC 407: Urban Sociology

Historical and current urban growth patterns, theoretical perspectives regarding urban structure and change, distribution of power and other resources in urban settings, urban cultural and social forms, problems of urban areas, and strategies of urban planning. The United States and other nations are examined. Explores how gender, racial/ethnic, class, gender, age, nationality, and other group relations affect urban processes and life. A student research project involving secondary data analysis and an oral presentation of the project are required.

SOC 419: Population and Society

Scientific study of population size, composition and distribution; analysis of trends and differentials in birth rates, death rates, and migration by race/ethnicity, gender, class, age, and nationality; consideration of actual and potential pressures of population on natural resources; the interrelationship of population and the social structure as it varies by race/ethnicity, class, gender, age, and nationality. A student research project involving secondary data analysis and an oral presentation of the project are required.

Spring 2022

HIST 318: The Historical Focus

In-depth study of one historical subject emphasizing interpretations, bibliographies, and historiography and utilizing the historical method. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level. May be taken twice for academic credit with departmental approval.

HNRS 253H: Urban Geography and SciFi

More than half of all humans live in cities, and the number of people living in urban spaces is expected to continue increasing. For this reason, cities are the future of human societies. They are centers of influence and innovation, where different cultures, economies, and politics interact, merge, and diverge. Cities are also centers of incredible inequality, with patterns of extreme wealth and poverty showing the overwhelming possibility and struggle of the human experience. This course examines urban phenomena in order to understand the various ways that urban spaces are imagined, designed, and experienced. To do this, the course examines geographic approaches to urban design and structure, and uses Science Fiction literature to explore the relationship between urban imaginations and urban realities. Through this analysis, students will gain insight into the various futures that cities may hold.

HNRS 262 Clergy, Concubines, Corsairs

HNRS 264H: Independent Black Cinema

This film studies course explores the widest possible variety of Independent Black Cinema from the beginning of American film history to the present. This cinema does not respect the rules and boundaries set by conventional narrative film, and we will follow them out of bounds to Ibo Landing, Martinique, Cuba, and Ghana. The course trains students to analyze conventional film form in order to understand how Independent Black Cinema perverts, confronts, and replaces that form. All of these films are transgressive, and some are avant-garde, new wave, or retro.

HNRS 267H: History of Afro-Latin Dance & Music

Description not available at this time.

HNRS 397 Banned Books

The AAAS Experience

Committee Members

  • Dr. Couch Todd
    Dr. Todd Couch Associate Professor of Sociology, Co-Director African & African American Studies todd.couch@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1917 Departments
    African and African American StudiesSociology
    OfficeFH 238
    Additional information

    Ph. D. – Texas A&M University, 2014

    Bio

    Dr. Todd C. Couch is an Assistant Professor of Sociology. His research focuses on examining racial and ethnic relations in the United States from various theoretical perspectives. Dr. Couch's research using systemic racism theory to analyze threat narratives promoted by student gun rights organization Students for Concealed Carry on Campus was recently published in Issues in Race and Society. His current research examines racialized emotions and the influence of inverted epistemology in constructing vulnerability narratives. He also serves as an expert reviewer for The Journal of Historical Sociology. Dr. Couch has presented his research at national and regional conferences, including the American Sociological Association, the American Society of Criminology, the Association of Black Sociologists, the Southern Sociological Society, and the Southwestern Social Science Association.

    Courses Taught:

    SOCI 201: Principles of Sociology

    SOCI 310: Racial and Cultural Minorities

    SOCI 311: Economic Inequality

    SOCI 375: Sociology of Health and Medicine

    SOCI 389: Sociology of Religion


  • Dr. Johnson Erica
    Dr. Erica Johnson Associate Professor of History, Co-Director African & African American Studies ejohnson@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1497 Departments
    African and African American StudiesHistory
    OfficeFH 204
    Additional information

    Bio

    A native of Oklahoma, Dr. Erica Johnson specializes in the history of the Atlantic World. She is author of a monograph, Philanthropy and Race in the Haitian Revolution, part of the Cambridge Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies Series (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). She has published articles in The History Teacher, the Southern Quarterly, the Journal of Transnational American Studies, and the Journal of Western Society for French History. Her research interests include race, religion, and revolution in the greater Atlantic World. She is the faculty coordinator for FMU's Universities Studying Slavery initiative.

    Education

    PhD, Florida State University, 2012

    Courses Taught: 

    European History to the French Revolution

    The Historian's Craft

    Medieval Europe

    Native American History and Culture

    Atlantic World


  • Dr. Peterson LeRoy Jr.
    Dr. LeRoy Peterson Jr. Professor of Chemistry lpeterson@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1454 Departments
    African and African American StudiesChemistry
    OfficeMSB 301-F
    Additional informationFormer Chair, Department of Chemistry

    Leroy-Peterson-Chemistry-Full-Size-Image
  • Steadman Allison M.
    Allison M. Steadman Associate Provost, Professor of Theatre Arts - Costume Design, Administrative Liaison with the National Consortium of Universities Studying Slavery ASteadman@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1685 Departments
    African and African American StudiesFine ArtsProvost's Office
    OfficeHFAC 225
    Additional information

    http://www.allisonsteadman.com/

    Education

    Masters of Fine Arts, Costume Design May 1999- University of Tennessee, Knoxville Projects in Lieu of Thesis: Costume Design/Developmental Collaboration, Adaptation of The Threepenny Opera, Director: Beth Craven Costume Design, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Modern Interpretation, Director: Liviu Ciulei

    Bachelor of Arts, Theatre May 1996- Mississippi University for Women, Columbus

    Biography

    Originally from Pensacola, FL., I have been designing in educational and professional theaters since 1992. I received my BA degree in Theatre from Mississippi University for Women and my MFA degree in Costume Design from The University of Tennessee. I have also trained at the Skoulli Art School with Frank Hänig.

    As a Costume Designer and Theatre Artist, I strive to create designs that inform and enhance the production through the development of character as supported by the text. I am at my best working in a collaborative environment where I can develop my designs with the director and actors as the characters evolve through the rehearsal process. I also enjoy the challenge of creating designs in a fast-paced repertory setting.

    As an Educator, I believe in fostering students’ passion and talents in a nurturing and challenging environment. Whenever possible I create opportunities for learner-centered practical application of theory. I feel that students learn best when permitted to take risks and learn from their mistakes as well as their successes. It is the educator’s responsibility to share their knowledge and to provide the student with clear guidelines and a method of evaluation and assessment. The why is as important as the how.

    As a Costume Technologist I have experience in all levels and types of costume and costume craft construction from draping to tailoring to millinery. I am a draper with a particular interest in corsetry.


    Allison-Steadman
  • Dr. Venters Louis
    Dr. Louis Venters Professor of History lventers@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1593 Departments
    African and African American StudiesHistory
    OfficeFH 273
    Additional information

    Bio

    Dr. Venters began teaching at Francis Marion in 2007. He is a co-author of the award-winning public history study "African Americans in Camden, South Carolina" (2006), No Jim Crow Church: The Origins of South Carolina's Bahá'i Community (University Press of Florida, 2015) and A History of the Bahá'i Faith in South Carolina (The History Press, 2019). He is particularly interested in the history of race, religion, and social change in the United States, as well as issues of rural and urban planning and the intersection of cultural and environmental stewardship. A Pee Dee native, he has lived and traveled extensively in Africa, Central America, and Europe.

    Education

    PhD, University of South Carolina, 2010

    Courses Taught: 

    • U.S. History since 1877
    • The New South, 1865 to the Present
    • History of Black Americans Since 1865
    • African History
    • South Carolina History  

    Dr. Louis Venters poses for a photo