African American Studies
Department of African American Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
732 Clemens Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4680
Phone: 716.645.2082/2083
Fax: 716.645.5976
Web: www.africanamericanstudies.buffalo.edu/
Lillian S. Williams
Chair
About the Department
The Department of African American Studies has as its central mission disseminating and creating knowledge on Africa and the African Diaspora, and promoting interdisciplinarity through teaching and research. It provides programs of teaching and research in African, African American and Caribbean culture, as well as history, politics, sociology, and contemporary affairs. African American Studies has four sub-fields that will shed light on the experiences of Africans throughout the Diaspora. They are:
- African American studies
- African studies
- Caribbean studies
- African Diaspora studies
Within these fields students may also pursue concentrations in areas such as public policy, health and the environment, media studies, museum studies, bio-informatics and technology, and gender and globalization.
Students in African American Studies have an opportunity to create knowledge by conducting original research and to engage in action research that may influence public policy.
Core faculty teach both lower and upper division courses and provide students with an opportunity to have meaningful interaction with faculty.
The department offers internships to students in the areas of public policy, law, and cultural studies.
Students may also participate in study abroad programs in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
The department has a video film library.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A.
Graduate: M.A., Ph.D. in American Studies
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in AAS 100 Introduction to African American Studies (or equivalent) and two aulitional departmental courses at any level.
Minimum sophomore-year status.
Acceptance Information
Students in the African American studies honors program must satisfy the requirements outlined for majors and must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 in courses within the major.
Application deadline: Rolling
Number of Majors: 28
Number of Minors: 20
Degree Requirements
Please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
Transfer Policy
Students who wish to transfer to the University at Buffalo and pursue a major in African American studies must first be accepted by the university’s admissions office before applying to the department. Students are referred by Student Advising Services to this department so that all transfer credits can be evaluated and applied. The UB Department of African American Studies attempts to keep current with the curricular offerings of a number of feeder institutions. Because these offerings are subject to change, however, transfer students are advised to bring course descriptions and syllabi to the director of undergraduate studies.
About Our Courses
The African American Studies department is interdisciplinary and offers courses in such areas as history, political science, sociology, education, music, film, and public policy.
Most African American Studies courses are taught in high technology classrooms that give students access to a variety of resources in the United States and abroad.
The typical class size for:
First year/introductory courses is: 40-45
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 50-100
Upper level/advanced courses is: 30-35
TA’s are used in large classes, such as “Blacks in Film.” Typically, assistants conduct small group discussion sessions. TA’s may also teach introductory courses under faculty supervision. GA’s assist faculty in grading and conduct research for faculty.
Popular among African American Studies courses are “Introduction to African American Studies,” “Blacks in Film,” “The African Slave Trade,” “African Diaspora: Social and Cultural Evolution,” “Slavery and the Underground Railroad,” and “Buffalo during the Nash Years.”
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
African American Studies has six core faculty who have distinguished themselves as scholars and teachers. Faculty have been fellows at prestigious scholarly centers such as the Rockefeller Foundation and Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies. This faculty is joined by renowned affiliated faculty from throughout the University and western New York.
Our faculty have published monographs and articles, edited major journals and served on prestigious, scholarly boards in the United States and abroad. They have been awarded distinguished teaching awards.
Many faculty serve on the boards of directors of local agencies.
Ms. Jessie M. Carter is director of undergraduate studies and is available to meet with students throughout the academic year.
Special Academic Opportunities
Internships
Students have an opportunity to work on public policy projects through the offices of state and local legislators and law firms. They may also be placed in community agencies or placed with individual faculty to pursue their research interests.
CIRTASS, a joint venture between the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School of Education, offers an interdisciplinary research agenda that focuses on understanding the dynamics of culturally relevant teaching of African American Studies in elementary and secondary schools; it also focuses on issues related to professional development and teacher preparation for teaching African American Studies.
Community Service Programs
The department’s Community Service Program was established to organize activities that are mutually beneficial to the African American community in Buffalo and the University at Buffalo. In the past, it has engaged in collecting archival material on the activities of the Black leadership in areas of education and legislation. The program emphasizes projects that develop academic and job related internships for students.
Students who enroll in the internship course (AAS 399) may be assigned a research project with a community-based organization. Provision for effective research enables the student to participate in the black community, and to observe the dynamics of community activities and the role of the black community in decision making in government and social agencies as well as in the development of cultural and economic activities.
Study Abroad Programs
Students are encouraged to participate in study abroad programs in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. See Study Abroad.
Underground Railroad Project
The Underground Railroad Project is a new program that features the research initiatives of the department’s mandate to serve the community. Students gain hands-on experience in data collection and archival research, and have an opportunity to create a knowledge base.
Extracurricular Activities
African American Studies enjoys close relationships with several student organizations, including the Black Student Union, the Caribbean Students Association and the African Students Association. African American Studies faculty often serve as advisors to these student groups.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Majors that Complement African American Studies
- American Studies
- Art History
- Communications
- English
- Fine Arts
- History
- Media Study
- Philosophy
- Sociology
- Studio Art
- Women’s Studies
- and other social science disciplines
Minors that Complement African American Studies
- American Studies
- Art History
- Communication
- English
- Fine Arts
- History
- Media Study
- Philosophy
- Sociology
- Studio Art
- Women’s Studies and other social science disciplines
Courses Outside African American Studies that Could Enhance Employment
Opportunities
- Communication
- Computer science
- Education
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Swahili
Advising Information
Students who have advanced placement credit in African American Studies may substitute those courses for comparable AAS courses.
Career Information
Career Choices
- Archivist
- Banker
- Broadcaster
- Business manager
- Diplomat
- Educator
- Foreign news correspondent
- Freelance writer
- Government official
- Health specialist
- Historian
- Human services worker
- Immigration official
- International civil servant
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Law enforcement officer
- Mass media critic
- Museum curator
Work settings include:
- Banking
- Erie County government
- Federal and New York State government service
- Film
- Health related professions
- Immigration services
- Law
- Libraries
- Local law enforcement
- Museum curating
- Prisons correctional service
- Professional sports
- Sales
- Social work
- Teaching
- Television
Salary Trends
Our graduates receive salaries that are commensurate with entry-level skills. Most of our graduates go on for at least an M.A. or M.S., and some complete a J.D. or a doctoral degree.
Post-undergraduate Opportunities
Students who Graduate from Our Program are Candidates for Further Degrees in:
- Arts
- Education
- Health sciences
- History
- Law
- Social sciences
What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school?
Over 50% of our recent graduates have gone on to graduate school in law, education, the Master of Arts in Humanities, divinity school and public policy.
Formal system of tracking graduates?
References letter requests and informal contacts. A link for alumni can be found on the African American Studies webpage.
What percentage of graduates goes on to find related employment?
Our liberal arts curriculum allows our graduates to be employed in numerous areas. Of those not going on for advanced degrees, many were joint or double majors and/or double degree graduates and we estimate about 90% are employed.