African American Studies, B.A.
Excavate hidden stories, celebrate great achievements, and educate to transform communities.
Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies
The Department of African American Studies in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in African American Studies. It provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of African American history, culture, politics, and society. This curriculum integrates the methods and theories of the various social science, humanities, and arts disciplines into a comprehensive analysis of the life, issues, culture, and history of African Americans.
Students take courses in
- African and African American history,
- African and African American political institutions, and
- African and African American culture.
The Value of a Degree in African American Studies
As the only African American Studies major in Mississippi, professors at UM are committed to helping students gain a broad understanding of the African American experience as well as skills in social science methodology, research, analysis, writing, and public speaking—all skills highly desired by employers.
Our African American Studies majors are employed in a variety of fields including
- business,
- law,
- government,
- marketing,
- education,
- historical preservation,
- archives management,
- non-profits, and
- legislative research.
A deeper understanding of the African American experience prepares students to become both engaged citizens and competitive members of an increasingly global economy.
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Major
Minor
Area of Study
Interdisciplinary Programs
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree
B.A. in African American Studies
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
120
What is African American Studies?
Want to learn more about being an African American Studies major? Ask me!
Frederick Williams
Why did you choose to attend UM?
See Frederick’s Answer
Alumna Amaya Franklin
I think that this department is a really special place because of the professors, who are just such incredibly talented and deeply empathetic people. I think that it really matters to have people who can create community around students and lift them up in a way that stays with them past life after academia (or this particular academic setting). Professors like this create space for lifelong learning, and the space that they cultivate really opens up the opportunity for nurturing lifelong learners and kind, good people.
Amya Franklin
(BA in African American Studies and Classics '24)
What can I do with a degree in African American Studies?
- Senior Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church
- Project Manager at New America
- Manager at Batesville Head Start
- Center Consultant at FedEx
- Marketing Manager at Landmark Properties
- Early Childhood Faculty at University of Texas
- Teacher at Lowery Elementary School
- Corps Member at Teach for America
- Consultant at AT&T
- School Programs Coord. at Milwaukee Film
- Operations Assistant at UpRise Nashville
- Project Manager at University of Kentucky Inst. of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?