Which Africana Studies degree route best suits you? With ample courses available, students can complete a general major in Africana Studies, designate a concentration, or earn a minor.
Earn a major
The major begins with an introductory course in Africana Studies (AFRA 110) and culminates in a major senior project that consists of one or more of the following: an independent research project or senior thesis; an approved internship in a local community or state-wide agency, and an electronic portfolio of experiences, accomplishments and accumulated essays that reflect major lessons learned and ways to incorporate them in career plans. We also emphasize research opportunities in both laboratory investigations and field settings.
Students acquire the skills and general knowledge typical of most liberal arts programs, which prepare them for a variety of specific careers and advanced professional training. Africana Studies majors find employment in the education, health and human services, journalism, advertising and marketing, human resources, personnel management, and social services. They also find career opportunities in business management, finance, legislative and public affairs, counseling and community organizations. Many go on to law school or enroll in graduate programs in social or behavioral science, history or literature fields. With the growing attention to human diversity in our society, the skills of comparative cultural analysis offer a major advantage to graduates pursuing careers in diverse organizations.
General AFRA Major — View the four-year plan, no concentration, all majors.
With the growing attention to human diversity in our society, the skills of comparative cultural analysis offer a major advantage to graduates pursuing careers in diverse organizations. The general AFRA major explores the voices, beliefs, cultural practices, and experiences of people of African descent regionally, nationally, and globally. The major equips you with the skills necessary to flourish in today's industry markets. The major begins with an introductory course in Africana Studies (AFRA 110) and culminates in a major senior project.
Africana Art, Literature, and Cultural Studies Concentration — View the four-year plan.
The AFRA major with a concentration in Africana Art, Literature, and Cultural Studies (AALCS) allows you to develop your focus and pursue an advanced degree or career in art, museum administration and education, culture and society, archive curation, writing and literature, social media management, and fashion, among other areas.
Africana Gender Studies Concentration — View the four-year plan.
The AFRA major with a concentration in Africana Gender Studies (AGS) allows you to develop your focus and pursue advanced degrees and careers in Black feminism and intersectionality, Black women's histories, the performance of Black masculinity in sports and other arenas, and Black queer studies, among other areas.
Law, Public Policy, and Social Justice Concentration — View the four-year plan.
The AFRA major with a concentration in Law, Public Policy, and Social Justice (LPPSJ) allows you to develop your focus and pursue an advanced degree in law, public policy, social justice organizing, or journalism, among other areas.
Social Studies Education Concentration — View the four-year plan.
The AFRA major with a concentration in Social Studies Education (SSE) allows you to develop your focus and pursue an advanced degree and career in primary and secondary education, among other areas. Students who complete this concentration will earn a teacher's certificate so they can begin teaching in classrooms upon graduating.
Earn a minor
View the AFRA Minor 4-year Plan.
An undergraduate minor in Africana Studies is available for those students wishing to pursue related careers in this area. The minor offers a comprehensive study of the origins, conditions, and experiences of Black Americans using the perspectives and techniques of various disciplines. The minor explores the social, political, and economic roots of contemporary problems, seeking to relate them to the major value systems in the United States and the world.
