Plan Your Education
How to Apply
Apply for Admission
Please review the first-year and transfer apply pages for important information about application requirements, deadlines, and application status check.
Deadline & Cost
Early action deadline: November 1; Regular Decision Deadline: June 15
Financing Your Education
Become a Beacon and pursue your passion in UMass Boston’s diverse, supportive environment. Many students across our 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs receive financial aid—providing access to an education that’s exceptional and affordable. Click below to learn more about financial aid opportunities and deadlines.
Financial Aid Deadlines & Application Process
Scholarships for First-Year & Transfer Students
For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@zjjxhcj.com.
Curriculum
For detailed course descriptions, please visit the university catalog for Africana Studies Major BA.
Introductory Course (3 Credits)
AFRSTY 111 - African-American History II 3 Credit(s)
Electives (27 Credits)
Take nine electives from courses offered through Africana Studies and approved courses from other departments. Students in the major must specialize in the area of humanities, history, or social science. At least five of the electives taken must be in the student’s area of specialization and at least one course must be taken in the other two areas.
At least three courses must be at the 300-level or higher. No more than three courses from other departments may be applied toward this requirement.
Specialization Areas
History Specialization
Students in the history area must take, as one of their ten major courses, one of the following methods courses:
- HIST 481 - Research & Methods: Senior Research Methods in History 3 Credit(s)
Social Science Specialization
Students in the social science area must take, as two of their ten major courses, a theory course and a methods course in one of the social sciences. Courses on the following list are approved for this requirement; students wishing to use other courses to meet the requirement should first seek the approval of the department chairperson.
Methods Courses
- SOCIOL 202 - Methods of Sociological Research 3 Credit(s)
Theory Courses
- ECON 201 - Microeconomic Theory 3 Credit(s)
- SOCIOL 201 - Sociological Theory 3 Credit(s)
Classification of Courses
Courses are classified as follows (please note that the same course may belong to more than one area):
A. Courses in history
AFRSTY 101 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 110 - African-American History I 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 108 - African-American Social Movements 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 111 - African-American History II 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 225 - The Origins of Caribbean Civilizations 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 230 - African-American Women’s History 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 250 - The Civil Rights Movement 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 310 - Modern Caribbean Society 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 480 - Topics in Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
B. Courses in the humanities
AFRSTY 100 - Introduction to African-American Literature 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 101 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 110 - African-American History I 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 111 - African-American History II 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 230 - African-American Women’s History 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 260L - African-American Folklore 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 270 - The Black Image on Stage and Screen 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 301 - African-American Intellectual Thought 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 440 - Post-Colonial Literature: Africa and the Caribbean 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 480 - Topics in Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
C. Courses in the social sciences
AFRSTY 101 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 108 - African-American Social Movements 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 250 - The Civil Rights Movement 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 301 - African-American Intellectual Thought 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 320 - Problems in Urban Education 3 Credit(s)
AFRSTY 480 - Topics in Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
Note
AFRSTY 480 - Topics in Africana Studies, AFRSTY 489 - Senior Capstone Seminar, and AFRSTY 498 - Africana Studies Honors Seminar I may be used as applicable in any of the three areas of specialization.
For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.
Graduate Criteria
Degree Requirements
If this is the student’s only or primary major, the degree requirements below must be completed for graduation. See graduation requirements for more information.
College of Liberal Arts Requirements for Bachelor of Arts
Major Requirements
Complete 30 credits of from ten courses including one introductory course and nine electives. Students within the major must choose an area of specialization in history, humanities, or social sciences.
Pass/Fail: No more than one course taken pass/fail may be applied toward the major.
Residency: At least six courses for the major must be completed at UMass Boston.
Related Minors
Africana Studies Minor
Minor Requirements:
Complete 18 credits from six courses including two introductory courses and four electives.
Pass/fail: No more than one course taken pass/fail may be applied toward the minor.
Residency: At least four courses applied toward the minor must be completed at UMass Boston.
Africana Studies Department
Learn more about UMass Boston's Africana Studies department, our research, and our faculty.
Explore the Department of Africana StudiesCollege of Liberal Arts
Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Liberal Arts.
Explore College of Liberal Arts