African American Studies, B.A.
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Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies
The African American Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. and minor 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.
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. A deeper understanding of the African American experience prepares students to become both engaged citizens and competitive members of an increasingly global economy.
Our African American Studies majors are employed in a variety of fields including business, law, non-profits, government, marketing, education, legislative research, and more!
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.A. in African American Studies
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements from the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.A. degree have a common set of 48-50 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Modern or Ancient Language
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
Students in the B.A. in African American Studies complete 10 courses (30 credit hours) of African American Studies. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses applied toward the African American studies major. They also complete a minor field of study (or double major).
- AAS 201: African American Experience I
- AAS 202: African American Experience II
- 7 courses (21 credit hours) of AAS electives
- AAS 480: African American Studies Senior Seminar
The minor in African American studies consists of 6 courses (18 credit hours) of African American Studies.
- AAS 201: African American Experience I
- AAS 202: African American Experience II
- 4 courses (12 credit hours) of AAS electives
Department Opportunities
What is African American Studies?
Watch the video below to learn more about the African American Studies program from our faculty and students.
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
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