Associate of Arts in Faith-Based African Studies (Specialization in Cultural Preservation, Advocacy)

Degree abbreviation

A.A. in Faith-Based African Studies

Total program length

60 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Two academic years

General education

18 credit hours

Professional application courses

9 credit hours

Capstone requirement

3 credit hours

Academic unit

HBIU College of Arts and Humanities

Total credits

60

Duration

2 years

• Analyze the historical and sociological narratives of African societies through critical research methodologies.
• Evaluate the impact of cultural preservation efforts on community identity and social stability.
• Design effective advocacy frameworks that address historical and contemporary social justice issues.
• Demonstrate proficiency in communicating complex cultural histories to diverse public audiences.
• Integrate ethical reasoning and servant leadership principles into community-based organizational operations.
• Apply biblical stewardship concepts to the management and preservation of cultural resources.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or a state-recognized equivalent (such as a GED). Admission processes consider previous academic performance, personal statements regarding the applicant's dedication to community service and faith-based values, and letters of recommendation. Candidates are expected to demonstrate an aptitude for social scientific inquiry and a commitment to the mission of HBI University, as evidenced by a personal essay outlining their professional and vocational goals. Culminating Project The Capstone Project serves as the final academic demonstration of the student’s mastery in Faith-Based African Studies. Students are required to develop a comprehensive proposal or resource manual designed to address a specific challenge in cultural preservation or community advocacy. This project requires students to synthesize their historical knowledge with practical advocacy techniques, ensuring the outcome is both academically sound and socially impactful. The project reflects the student's ability to engage with complex cultural contexts while upholding the institution's values of ethical integrity and community service. By incorporating biblical principles of stewardship, the project highlights the student's dedication to managing cultural heritage as a communal trust rather than a personal asset. The project deliverables include a detailed written report, a strategic advocacy plan, and an oral presentation that evaluates how the research addresses the needs of a specific community organization. This culminating experience demonstrates the student's readiness to integrate faith-informed character with professional competence, ensuring they are prepared for roles that demand both intellectual depth and a heart for service. This project integrates the student's academic learning with their spiritual formation, manifesting as a commitment to lifelong stewardship in their chosen field.

• To graduate with the Associate of Arts in Faith-Based African Studies, students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and successfully complete all 60 required credit hours within the curriculum. In addition to academic achievement, students are expected to exhibit spiritual growth and character development through active participation in chapel services, community engagement initiatives, and the completion of designated spiritual formation coursework. These non-academic requirements are designed to ensure that graduates possess both the professional readiness for service and the ethical maturity required for vocational ministry or community advocacy. Academic excellence is viewed as a foundational component of a holistic education, wherein students demonstrate their readiness to enter the workforce as individuals of integrity who prioritize the needs of others. The successful completion of the Capstone Project is a mandatory hurdle, signifying that the student has met the threshold of both academic rigor and faith-informed application. Graduation is contingent upon the faculty's assessment of the student's commitment to the university's mission and their ability to exemplify the virtues of servant leadership in all professional conduct.
• Career Opportunities
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Cultural Heritage Project Assistant
• Nonprofit Program Support Specialist
• Community Advocacy Liaison
• International Development Aide
• Historical Society Administrative Associate
• Faith-Based Community Engagement Specialist
• Important Notices
• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | A.A. in Faith-Based African Studies
• Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Two academic years
• General education | 18 credit hours
• Faith-Based African Studies core | 30 credit hours
• Professional application courses | 9 credit hours
• Capstone requirement | 3 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIS101 | Foundations of African History | 4 | None
• ENG101 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 | None
• SOC105 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | None
• PHI110 | Foundations of Philosophical Ethics | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIS210 | Modern African Social Movements | 4 | HIS101
• HUM200 | Cultural Preservation Studies | 3 | None
• MAT150 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | None
• COM220 | Communication for Advocacy | 4 | ENG101
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• SOC305 | Sociology of the African Diaspora | 4 | SOC105
• MGT310 | Nonprofit Organizational Management | 3 | None
• HIS350 | Heritage Advocacy and Ethics | 3 | HUM200
• RES300 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 | ENG101
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP490 | Senior Capstone Project | 4 | RES300
• MIN405 | Community Engagement Strategies | 3 | None
• EDU410 | Community Education and Literacy | 3 | None
• POL420 | Social Justice and Public Policy | 4 | THE110