Program Overview

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Introduction to the Africology and African American Studies Major

The Bachelor of Arts in Africology and African American Studies is a 123-credit multidisciplinary undergraduate degree program offered by the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. This program invites students to study the cultures, history, and politics of Africa, its countries, and its people from an Afrocentric perspective.

Program Overview

The curriculum explores academic topics from the standpoint of African agency in economic, political, psychological, and social contexts. Students engage in critical discourse on subjects like class, ethnicity, gender, and race, and their relevance throughout history and in today's society. The program delves into African American culture, examining how it has developed into a rich and unique community over the centuries.

Department History and Mission

The Africology and African American Studies Department is one of the oldest of similar programs in the nation and was the first to offer a doctoral degree in the field. Emerging during the Black Power Movement, the program was created to serve as an academic platform from which students could combat racism, discrimination, and oppression. Today, the department remains committed to this mission, with Temple University being home to more African American students than any other university in the Northeast.

Classes and Curriculum

The Africology and African American Studies Major curriculum includes a combination of general education, global studies, elective, and degree program-specific courses. Required courses include:

• African Civilization
• Afrocentricity
• Black Folklore: African and African American
• Introduction to Africology
• Introduction to Research Methods
• Tupac Shakur and the Hip Hop Revolution

Related Graduate Degrees

Related graduate degrees offered by the university include:

• Africology and African American Studies MA
• Africology and African American Studies PhD
• Anthropology PhD
• Geography and Urban Studies MA
• Geography and Urban Studies PhD
• History MA
• History PhD
• Sociology MA
• Sociology PhD

Certificate Programs

The College of Liberal Arts offers 22 undergraduate certificate programs, allowing students to expand their knowledge and diversify their Temple education. Certificates can complement bachelor's programs, enabling students to specialize in an area and highlight their exposure to disciplines outside of their major.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level, course load, and residency status. For the 2025-2026 academic year, tuition costs are:

• Pennsylvania resident: $19,608.00 per year
• Out-of-state: $35,232.00 per year

Academic Advising

Advising support is provided by the College of Liberal Arts Center for Academic Advising. Dedicated advisors at the Joyce K. Salzberg Center for Professional Development are available to guide students through their academic careers and with their career paths beyond Temple.

Research and Facilities

Students in the Africology and African American Studies Department have the unique opportunity to contribute to the Journal of Black Studies, the top peer-reviewed publication in the academic discipline, and to study abroad in Ghana. The program is also supported by Temple's Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, one of the most prestigious collections of African American artifacts in the United States.

Accreditation

The Department of Africology and African American Studies is accredited by the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), which was established in 1975 to formalize the study of the African experience and expand and strengthen academic units and community programs devoted to this endeavor. Temple University's departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Student Organizations and Honor Societies

Students can supplement their coursework and enhance their undergraduate experience at Temple by participating in over 300 student clubs and organizations, including those related to African studies. Honor societies, such as Alpha Lambda Delta, Golden Key, and Phi Beta Kappa, recognize academic excellence and provide opportunities for leadership and service.