African American Studies Program

African American Studies examines the unique experiences of African-descended people throughout the diaspora. Drawing on a rich tradition of civic engagement, scholarship, and teaching, the faculty introduce students to the foundations of African American Studies and collaborates with them to develop projects and analyze information that leads to new intellectual perspectives. Our courses and research revolve around three core areas of study: History, Religion and the Diaspora; Literature and Performing Arts; and Media, Politics, and Society. Within these, students carefully consider the construction of race, ethnicity, along with identity and the performance of class, gender, and sexuality. Students who take courses in African American Studies acquire a special skill set that will enable them to critically interrogate their own experience, as well as the world around them.