Africana Studies (Minor)

Africana Studies promotes the awareness and understanding of the African Diaspora through the exploration of historical and contemporary phenomena. The program brings together scholars and courses from different disciplines in the humanities and social sciences such as history, political science, literature, and sociology. Africana studies hosts a variety of events throughout the year including film screenings, conferences, guest lectures, and student gatherings.

Opportunities for Minors

One of the most commonly asked questions concerning the practical usefulness of becoming a student of Africana Studies is:

What can I do with a major/minor in Africana Studies?

The answer is: the same thing you can do with any liberal arts or science major or minor—and much more! Africana Studies is an academic discipline that provides rigorous academic preparation that emphasizes writing, discussion, critical thinking and analysis, the ability to discern and trace the connections between ideas and social phenomena, and the ability to identify the relationship of particular concepts and social realities to larger systems of knowledge and human relations.

Students in Africana Studies courses explore history, philosophy, literature, religion, culture, politics, economics, language, law, and social dynamics with a special emphasis on African people in the United States and their interaction with African and other peoples in the global human experience. A concentration in Africana Studies, therefore, provides the foundation for critical thinking and broad education, which guide successful personal and professional ambitions.

Furthermore, in a world that is increasingly more conscious of the value of diversity and cross-cultural communication, the Africana Studies perspective also makes the student a more attractive candidate to prospective employers.

Africana Studies minors go on to become lawyers, diplomats, public health practitioners, teachers, professors, archivists, and entrepreneurs.