Africana Studies

Learning Goals & Mission

Mission Statement

The Africana Studies Programs provides courses, a minor and programming for undergraduates in CAS/BA and SPCS at Saint Peter’s College. The interdisciplinary program allows students to focus on areas that complement and augment their major fields of study, as well as expanding the horizons of their academic interests. Africana Studies, through courses and programs, explores the interconnected historical, cultural, artistic and political forces of African-American, African and Caribbean peoples. It encourages students of all ethnicities to think critically about the interplay of race in the lives of individuals, institutions, and societies. We seek to enhance students’ awareness of and commitment to issues of social justice and community service.

Learning Goals

  1. Provide students from all majors with instruction in college level courses that familiarize them with the multiple forces that relate to, and emerge from, the African-American, Afro-Latino, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.
  2. Provide students with programming that familiarize them with the multiple forces that relate to, and emerge from, the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.
  3. Develop with multiple departments and programs a greater depth to our classes and programming.
  4. Develop with student organizations common programming to celebrate similarities and differences with the African-American, Afro-Latino, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.
  5. Foster with multiple offices common programming to celebrate similarities and differences with the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.

Relationship of Department Mission and Goals to those of the College

The Africana Studies Program Mission and Goals are harmonious with the College’s Mission states we are to educate a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. Our evolving curriculum, programming and coalition building all serve to meet these goals.

Program Objectives in Accordance with Its Goals

Goal A– Provide students from all majors with material that familiarize them with the multiple forces that relate to, and emerge from, the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.

Objective

Students will achieve a greater understanding of the underlying complexities of the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.

Goal B – Provide students with programming that familiarize them with the multiple forces that relate to, and emerge from, the African-American, Afro-Latino, African and Caribbean people’s experiences. Students achieve a greater understanding of the underlying complexities of the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.

Goal C – Develop with student groups common programming to celebrate similarities and differences with the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.

Objectives

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate a cooperative spirit where they are comfortable working with one another to embrace who they represent
  2. Demonstrate a comfort level to explore issues which at times are avoided.
  3. Demonstrated that limited resources can be maximized by collective activities.

Goal D – Foster with multiple offices common programming to celebrate similarities and differences among the African-American, African and Caribbean people’s experiences.

  1. Demonstrate that numerous offices can work collectively to further the knowledge of common issues
  2. Demonstrated that limited resources can be maximized by collective activities.