About African and African-American Studies

The African and African-American Studies (AAAS) Program offers a minor option for undergraduates. We are working to transform the program into a full-fledged department awarding its own B.A. degree (along with the minor option).

UMass Dartmouth has many professors who study aspects of African or African-American Studies. The professors are mostly in the College of Arts and Sciences (notably, History, Sociology/Anthropology, English, Political Science, Economics, and Education) and the College of Visual and Performing Arts (notably, Music and Art History). These professors offer a wide variety of courses on African and African-American Studies in their various departments. The AAAS Program integrates all such courses and gives them a unifying platform and focus. This is therefore an interdisciplinary program that provides a rigorous engagement with the various cultures, politics, religious traditions, literatures, music, visual arts, histories, and contemporary conditions of Africa, the African-American society, and other regions of the African diaspora.

The AAAS minor is open to ALL students, even those majoring in Engineering, Business Studies or Nursing.

Intellectual and Social Relevance of AAAS Courses

Through our courses, the AAAS Program:

1. Enables students to cultivate an informed perspective of (a) Africa, its peoples, their histories, cultures and contemporary conditions, and (b) the black experience in the United States;
2. Provides a basic background to the African diaspora;
3. Fosters debate and awareness of African/African-American issues on the campus, thereby enhancing the visibility and significance of issues of ethnicity, race and cultural diversity as well as cultural similarities.

Job Utility of AAAS

Our curriculum helps prepare students for a wide range of careers (for example, teaching, advocacy, diplomatic service, and nongovernmental overseas operations). Like any other liberal arts discipline, AAAS provides a strong preparation for professions such as law. It is also useful for students who intend to do graduate studies in AAAS.