We are a vibrant community of scholars and students who examine the historical and contemporary experiences of people of African descent in the U.S. and throughout the world. Our interdisciplinary degree programs allow you to study a breadth of topics through the lens of Black experience and race.
Explore AAADSAfrican American and African Diaspora Studies stands out among national peers, builds community, with teaching, research, and student experience offerings
AAADS offers degrees “from the bachelor’s to the Ph.D.,” and provides students a rich array of programmatic opportunities and myriad topics for study, research, and creative activity with a mission to create and share scholarship of the highest quality, considering the many dimensions of the African American and African diasporic experience.
(RE)Vision
Reimagining Black Collective Freedom
Drawing on the legacy of the Colored Conventions, (re)VISION urges us to rethink and reimagine Black freedom amid shifting terrains. The Herman C. Hudson Symposium centers the lived experiences, wisdom, and ongoing freedom work of Black communities across the diaspora, from civil rights and economic sovereignty to social justice and community engagement. Through cross-disciplinary and intergenerational dialogue, (re)VISION invites us to envision the practices, ideas, and creative applications that will shape the next chapter of Black liberation.
Our undergraduate majors allow you to pursue your interests and customize your academic experience. We offer several Master’s degrees, and are one of few departments in the country with a Ph.D. in African American studies.
11 degree options
3 research community initiatives
3 performing arts ensembles
2 department-created archives
Our courses explore a variety of fields including politics, art, culture, literature, sports, sociology, history, and more. Many of our classes examine topics relevant to the most crucial conversations in our society today. Our programs offer flexibility, so you can choose the areas of interest you wish to study.
Our faculty represents a wide variety of interests and disciplines, spanning the social sciences and humanities. We create and share research that aids in the development and shaping of African American and African diaspora studies.
Meet our faculty Learn about our research + creative activity
We are teachers who value community and strive to make our department a warm, welcoming environment for our students. Small class sizes allow our faculty to spend more time mentoring and getting to know our students.
Explore the undergraduate student experience Check out the graduate student experience
The College of Arts