This multifaceted program focuses on the experience of African-descended people in the past and present. You’ll examine pre-colonial Africa, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and African migration in history-based courses. The program places a special emphasis on studying the African diaspora, or the communities of African-descended people around the world resulting from migration.
Courses in this program also explore the culture, art, histories and politics of communities across the African diaspora in the Americas, Caribbean, Europe and continental Africa. You’ll also delve into the impact of institutional racism around the world. In a critical race theory course, you’ll examine how race is used, constructed and contested in America. Elective courses focus on racism in fields such as medicine, criminal justice, politics and education.
The skills you’ll develop in this program
This program bridges the humanities, social sciences and arts, and you'll learn a wide range of skills from these disciplines. Your courses will teach you how to combine information from various fields to analyze and solve complex problems. You'll also develop strong research abilities, cultural communication skills and diversity awareness. These skills will prepare you to lead efforts to build more equitable workplaces and environments across society.
What can you do with an African and African American Studies degree?
The interdisciplinary nature of this program means you’ll gain valuable transferable skills that apply to many career opportunities. You’ll be well-equipped for jobs focused on communication, social policy or diversity awareness. Upon graduation, you may also pursue an advanced degree in a related field such as sociology, political science or law.
Examine African and African American history, culture, politics and art to learn how to lead the change for a more equitable society in this online Bachelor of Arts in African and African American Studies. You’ll study global issues that impact African-descended people such as racial formation, institutional racism, African migration, art, literature, religion and education.
Your courses will cover all aspects of the African American and African experience. Required courses examine the impact of various historical events and institutional racism. Elective courses delve deeper into these topics and also explore culture, art, literature and music across Africa and the African diaspora.
From Royal Society and American Academy fellows to Marshall and Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is home to prestigious students and faculty members. As a student in the African and African American Studies program, you’ll gain hands-on experience with faculty dedicated to social justice. Our faculty members have extensive expertise in the struggles and accomplishments of African-descended people throughout history and modern society.
- Fulbright American Scholars
- Guggenheim Fellows
- MacArthur Fellows
- Nobel laureates
The School of Social Transformation focuses on transformational knowledge across society. This includes creative research approaches to themes and questions embedded in broader historical, social and cultural contexts. We prepare our students to be informed members of the public. Our graduates are interdisciplinary, team-oriented, real-world problem-solvers that can thrive in any environment, career or pursuit.
student-to-faculty ratio
tenure and tenure-track faculty
first-generation students
of students are racially or ethnically diverse
of students are female
Pell Grant eligible students
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”