African American Studies
About the Major
The primary emphasis of the African-American studies program is to educate students about the theories and methodologies pertaining to the study of African Americans. Students will be able to compare and contrast the experiences of people of African descent in the U.S. to those in the wider African Diaspora. They also learn through participation in community-service activities.
This is a new major. Graduates with the minor have gone on to become...
- A doctoral candidate at the W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
- An actor.
- A high school Spanish teacher.
- A corporate associate at a law firm in New York City.
Possible Careers for this Major
- Attorney
- Civil Rights Professional
- Community Activist
- Government Employee
- Journalist
- Public Policy Professional
- Teacher
Cool Courses You Might Take
- African American Literature (AML 3270)
- African American Politics (AFA 4931)
- The Politics of Black Hair (AFA 4931)
- Introduction to African American Studies (AFA 2000)
- African American Religion (REL 3139)
- Civil Rights and Religion (AFA 3930)
- Haitian Creole (HAI 1130)
- Black Feminist/Womanist Theory (AFA 3332)
- For more course descriptions, please visit the course descriptions page in the Undergraduate catalog
Some Unique Opportunities in this Major
- Students will receive one-on-one mentoring from the program director Sharon Austin. The program is committed to assisting its majors in finding internship and career opportunities. One major objective of the major is to prepare students for graduate and law school and to assist them with their applications for summer programs that will prepare them for graduate and law school. Students will earn credit for courses that address the African American experience in Paris and in Ghana, West Africa.
- For more opportunities, please refer to the department website
