African and African Diaspora Studies

African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) is an interdisciplinary program that offers students the opportunity to study the histories, cultures, and experiences of peoples of sub-Saharan Africa and its Diasporas through the study of history, literature, sociology and anthropology, political science, geography, and the arts. Whether they major or minor in AADS, students will gain an understanding of African history and culture; the history and legacy of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade; the ideas and experiences of race in the United States and the world and how they have changed over time; and the role peoples of African descent have played in the development of the United States and other New World societies and in the world-wide struggle for racial justice and equality. The program's rigorous curriculum has prepared our graduates for success in careers and graduate degree programs in such fields as the arts, business, education, civil service, health care, government, journalism, law, law enforcement, and public advocacy.