African Diaspora Literature, AA
English and World Languages Department
Program Overview
Curious about amazing stories from around the world?
The African Diaspora Literature Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree is your two-year passport to exploring the diverse voices, traditions, and complex cultures of people across the African Diaspora. This program prepares you for a future in English, communications, or publishing and gives you the perfect start for earning a four-year bachelor’s degree. You’ll dive deep into powerful literature that shapes how we understand the world.
HEGIS Code: 5615.00
NYSED Program Code: 39976 – AFDIAS-AA
Major
Description
The African Diaspora Literature A.A. degree immerses you in rich, unique stories that reflect the beliefs and values of people throughout the diaspora. You’ll strengthen your writing and composition skills while taking specialized courses focused on this powerful literary field. If you love history, culture, and great books, this degree is the perfect way to build a strong foundation for a four-year degree in English or Literary Studies.
Student
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
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Enhance students’ critical/analytical thinking, reading, and writing skills -
Draw upon a range of cultural traditions to develop students’ proficiency in various forms of writing, including expository, literary, professional, and creative writing. -
Strengthen students’ research skills (the collecting, evaluating, and integrating of sources). -
Develop students’ knowledge of major works in a range of diverse literatures and cultures. -
Develop students’ knowledge of major works in African Diaspora Literature. -
Increase students’ knowledge and experience in the discipline of English Studies -
Provide students with an understanding of the various paths they may follow after the AA degree in terms of both the professions related to the field of English studies and the options for further academic study in the field -
Broaden students’ understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and thus prepare them for work in an increasingly global environment, as well as for further study. -
Provide students with opportunities to participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular program. -
Provide students with writing assignments that require them to understand that writing is a process and enable them to apply a process approach (which implies multiple drafts, revision, and editing) to all forms of writing.
Major
Requirements
As part of your degree, you must fulfill the CUNY Pathways general education requirements, which consist of the Common Core (Required and Flexible) and the 91ÁÔÆæ Option. These courses provide the essential quantitative, scientific, and socio-cultural literacy that complements your technical training.
Students must complete ALL of the following required core courses
- English: ENGL 210, ENGL 211
- African Diaspora Literature: Students must earn at least 12 African Diaspora Literature credits
- Elective: Earn at least 6 English electives credits
Degree Map
To help you stay on track and graduate on time, 91ÁÔÆæ has developed four-year degree maps for all its majors. These guides are designed to help you plan your studies efficiently and make the most of your academic journey.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help
If you have questions regarding the Department of English and World Languages or need assistance navigating the application process, please reach out to our department office.
Chairperson: Dr. Susan Alice Fischer | safischer@mec.cuny.edu
Phone: 718 270-4993
Location: 1650 Bedford Avenue, B-1015A