About the Major
Africana and Latinx Studies prepares students to succeed professionally and socially in an ever-changing and complex society by understanding themselves within the context of race, ethnicity, class and gender. SUNY Oneonta’s Africana and Latinx Studies Department, similar to other interdisciplinary fields, still struggles for recognition, survival and growth. Nonetheless, our mission is just as vital as ever.
As an Africana and Latinx Studies (ALS) major at SUNY Oneonta, you'll be encouraged to think across disciplines and understand the language and methods of philosophy, social theory, literary studies, music, ethnography, history and other areas of study. By examining connections between the past and present in Africa, the Caribbean, North America, Central and South America, you'll develop a better understanding of the significance of race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender and sexuality in today's world.
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Curriculum
Our students include majors from Communication and Media Studies, Economics, Psychology, Biology, Criminal Justice and Secondary Education who choose to dual major in Africana and Latinx Studies. As an ALS major, you’ll be well-positioned to take advantage of the increasing job opportunities for graduates with knowledge and expertise of African, African American, Latinx and Latin American communities. Our curriculum prepares students for graduate school by providing them with the skills and opportunities to develop a graduate school writing sample and acquire letters of recommendation from committed faculty.
Course Topics Include
Some Africana and Latinx courses include:
- Black and Latinx Experience
- Topics in Racism
- Jim Crow to Black Power
- Latin American Politics
- Hip Hop Culture
- Race and sex in Science & Technology
- Black Hollywood
- Latinx Media and Performance
- African Politics
- LGBTQ U.S. Communities of Color
- History of Crimes and Prisons
- Race, Gender, Class and Culture
- Social Topics in Music
- Latinx: Cultures on the Move
Tailor Your Program Through Hands-On Guidance
You can tailor the program to your interests by adding a related minor in Social Justice Studies or Urban Studies. Experiential learning is a valuable part of the program. Since 2005, the ALS Department has offered short-term, faculty-led study abroad experiences in Ghana and South Africa, giving students the chance to apply and augment their classroom knowledge through internships, service-learning projects and cultural immersion.
You’ll be taught by experienced faculty members who have published scholarly books and articles. Our faculty members have earned distinguished honors that include the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service, the Susan Sutton Smith Prize for Academic Excellence and the Richard Siegfried Junior Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence. ALS faculty provide dedicated hands-on guidance and advising throughout your career at SUNY Oneonta and beyond.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities
- Undergraduate Research: Faculty provide students the opportunity to work on research projects. Students gain valuable research and work experience that prepares them for graduate school and professional endeavors.
- Internships: The department assists students who are interested in obtaining internships. Both majors and minors have the opportunity to intern in a variety of career settings.
- Open House: Our department hosts two promotional open houses throughout the semester. Our majors and minors play an important role communicating their experiences within the department and how the major is preparing for life after Oneonta.
- Kente: Kente celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion via academic, leadership and service. Faculty and staff from Africana and Latinx Studies work to create an inclusive celebration that reflects the university's diverse student population. Selected students serve on the advisory committee to plan the ceremony.
Social Justice HUB & Scholarships
The Dr. Ralph R. Watkins Hub for Social Justice Serves as an incubator for students to create and initiate social justice projects.
The Dr. Ralph R. Watkins Scholarship and the Pamela L. Matthews and Harry Bradshaw Matthews Scholarship are available to Africana and Latinx Studies major.
Student Clubs
Africana and Latinx Studies Club
Contact
Africana and Latinx Studies Department
270 Fitzelle Hall
607-436-3449
Katherine.Bashaw@oneonta.edu
