Africana Studies

Department Information - Africana Studies

The Africana Studies Department is an interdisciplinary unit that focuses on the histories, sociology, philosophy, literatures, politics, anthropology, religions, and experiences of people of African heritage within a global context. Our faculty facilitates social commitment, promote sensitivity to the civil rights of all people, and teach responsibility to community. 

The major in Africana Studies provides students with a thorough background in the historical, political, social, and economic conditions of people of African descent. The major is designed to explore issues within the black international communities of Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Particular attention is focused on political concepts, cultural developments, literary manifestations, and social theories. Because of this field's interdisciplinary approach, students are exposed to the critical contributions of scholars representing a variety of theoretical approaches and intellectual perspectives.

Africana Studies offers our majors and minors excellent preparation for graduate and professional schools in such disciplines and professions as law, medicine, business, engineering, nursing, social work, and education. Africana Studies courses also benefit students who go on to do graduate work in history, politics, anthropology, sociology, literature, cultural studies, and other fields.