African American and African Diaspora Studies Major

Major in AAADS

If you are interested in learning about history, art, literature, and social issues from a cross-cultural perspective, the major in African American and African Diaspora Studies may be the right choice for you. Students in the program enjoy an interdisciplinary approach to learning.

Coursework in this major helps you gain the skills needed to think critically about African American, African diasporic, and American cultures. You focus on one concentration area for most of your advanced coursework, working with the academic advisor to choose among:

  • Arts
  • Literature
  • History, culture, and social issues

You are encouraged to research and develop your own projects while completing your degree, and may wish to pursue an Honors version of the degree.

Interested in African American and African Diaspora Studies? Students applying to IU for Fall 2026 should contact the College's recruiting team. Current IU students can speak with their academic advisor. 

Develop meaningful + marketable skills

Our AAADS major helps you focus and develop a scholarship of value, engagement, civic duty, and interdisciplinary analysis. The skills stressed in AAADS include critical thinking and experiential learning, creative writing, reflective reading and writing, ethical and moral reasoning, service learning, community service, intercultural competence, and social justice.

Our graduates successfully pursue careers in academics, information technology, law, engineering, education, theatre and drama, music composition, journalism, criminal justice, creative writing, fundraising, politics, social work, business, community organizing, nonprofits, health care, the legal profession, banking, technology industries, and more.

Learn more about our major in our Student Portal

AAADS + English
AAADS + History
AAADS + Religious Studies
AAADS + Sociology