African and African American Studies

Bachelor of Arts in African and African American Studies

The study of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African diaspora has a long and dynamic history. So too does the Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) at Brandeis. AAAS is one of the oldest departments of its kind in the country, founded in 1969 at the height of a movement to institutionalize Black Studies in U.S. colleges and universities.

Just as Black Studies is a foundational field, AAAS is a foundational department. People of African descent, in countless ways, have transformed the cultures of the Americas and the world. African, African-American and Caribbean thinkers have also played a major role in defining some of the most critical issues in modern history of our time, just as the cultures of Africans and their descendants have transformed the cultures of the Americas and the world.

As a AAAS major or minor, you will take courses in the humanities, creative arts and social sciences. You will gain the analytical tools needed to read, write, talk and think knowledgeably about the past, present and future of black people on the African continent, in the Americas and around the world.

The possibilities of a degree in AAAS are endless. Some of our students go on to pursue graduate study in African and African American studies or in a discipline represented in our department. Others use their knowledge to pursue careers in health care, social work, government, international organizations, business, journalism, law, education and other professions.

• A completed Common Application.
• $80 application fee (or fee waiver).
• Official copies of all high school transcripts and/or GED certificate and/or marks from any externally graded national exams. (If the original documents are not in English, please submit both original documents and English translations.) This should include transcripts for courses taken for credit outside your high school. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school.
• A school report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official.
• High School Senior Grades: Send your senior midyear grades as soon as they become available. We understand this may not be until late January or early February for some students, though we encourage you to send them as soon as possible. For Early Decision applicants, submit first marking period grades, which may be first quarter or first trimester grades.
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course (math, science, history, foreign language or English). (Homeschooled students and those applying for the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, see the tabs below for more details.)
• Optional standardized test scores: Learn more about our test-optional policy.
• A completed Early Decision Agreement Form (pdf). If you're applying for Early Decision I or Early Decision II.

Additional Materials and Information

• English Proficiency: If you're an international student for whom English is not your native language, you should submit results of an English proficiency exam. You have the choice of submitting scores from one of the following exams. Scanned copies of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Assessment exams are accepted; Duolingo (DET) scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 
  • Duolingo English Test (DET) 
  • Cambridge Assessment English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
  • If you have spent four or more years attending a high school where the full academic curriculum is in English, you are exempt from this requirement, and may submit a request for a waiver in your DEISconnect portal after applying.
  • If you're applying directly from a United World College (UWC) campus, you are also exempt from this requirement.
• Financial documentation:
  • If you are not applying for financial aid, you must submit:
    • The Certification of Finances for International Students through your DEISconnect portal.
    • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
  • If you are applying for financial aid, you must submit:
    • A completed CSS Profile.
    • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family can contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
• Additional recommendations:
  • Visits: We encourage you to participate in a virtual visit and, if possible, schedule an interview with an admissions representative.
  • Third-party interviews: Interviews through services like InitialView or Vericant are also encouraged. Deadlines are as follows:
    • Early Decision I : Record and submit by November 15.
    • Early Decision II / Regular Decision: Record and submit by January 15.

Your roadmap to a complete application.

Applying to Brandeis as a first-year student? Below, you'll find everything you need to include in your application.

In addition to the core first-year applicant materials list, be sure to check out the additional guides below for more info, advice and supplementary information! And remember, we're always here to help.