UB Programs At-A-Glance

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 Program

African American Studies provides students with an understanding of the diverse African American and African Diaspora experiences. It features examinations and analyses of the unique historical, political, and sociocultural experiences of African Americans in the context of U.S. history and society. It also relates the African American experience to African history and to cognate experiences of people of African descent living in Latin America and the Caribbean. The department’s curriculum covers a broad spectrum of topics in the arts, humanities, and social sciences that are pertinent to these historical and sociological experiences.

The department encourages students to complete either a joint or double major or a double degree.
Joint Major- Students complete 67 percent of the requirements of both departments.
Double Major- Students complete all requirements of both departments.
Double Degree- Students complete 30 credit hours above the bachelor-level requirements.

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 additional 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 prerequisite courses.

Application deadline: Rolling
Number of Majors: 28
Number of Minors: 20

Degree Requirements

Please see the Undergraduate Catalog.

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.

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."

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

In African American Studies, what do teaching assistants (TA's) do?

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.

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.

Dr. Keith Griffler is director of undergraduate studies and is available to meet with students throughout the academic year.

See a list of our undergraduate faculty.

Practical Experience and Special Academic Opportunities

Notable Program Features

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 collected archival material on the activities of the Black leadership in areas of education and politics. 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(www.buffalo.edu/studyabroad).

Undergraduate Research and Practical Experience

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.


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.

Honors, Awards, and Scholarships

Honors Program Acceptance Information
1) Completion of AAS 100 Introduction to African American Studies or equivalent course and two additional departmental courses.
2) Maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall.
3) Maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the department’s prerequisite courses.
4) Students must be in good academic standing and have progressed to at least their sophomore year.

Academic Requirements
Students in the Department of 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.

Project
Students in the honors program must complete AAS 464 Honors Seminar. This advanced level is reflected in the course’s 4-credit-hour value for honors students (1 credit hour beyond that required for majors outside the honors program). The senior research project must be awarded at least a “B+” grade (3.33) to be accepted as an honors project.

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


Minors that Complement African American Studies


Courses Outside African American Studies that Could Enhance Employment
Opportunities

Career Information and Further Study

Career Choices

  • Archivist
  • Banker
  • Broadcast Journalist
  • Business manager
  • Diplomat
  • Educator
  • Foreign news correspondent
  • Freelance writer
  • Government official
  • Health specialist
  • Historian
  • Human services worker
  • Immigration official
  • Intelligence agent
  • 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
  • Health related professions
  • Immigration services
  • Law
  • Libraries
  • Local law enforcement
  • Movie industry
  • Museums
  • Prisons/ correctional service
  • Professional sports
  • Sales
  • Social services agencies
  • Teaching
  • Television


Salary Trends

Our graduates receive salaries that are commensurate with entry-level skills. Most of our graduates pursue a M.A. or M.S. 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 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.

Formal system of tracking graduates?

References letter requests, exit interviews and informal contacts. A link for alumni can be found on the African American Studies webpage (www.africanamericanstudies.buffalo.edu).

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.

Links to Further Information About This Program

Last Modified: Tuesday, 7-Nov-2006 10:26:02 EST