African American Studies

Undergraduate Program

Introduction to the Major

African American Studies(link is external) exposes students to the social, political, and cultural history of African-descended people in the modern world. While its primary focus is on the United States, the program places African Americans within a broader global dialogue about the evolving function of race.

The Department of African American Studies offers a major and minor in African American Studies, as well as a joint minor in Race and the Law(link is external) with the Department of Ethnic Studies.

The Major Curriculum 

Along with three lower division courses, students in the African American Studies major will complete eight courses focused on black intellectual thought, colonialism and slavery, and research. Additionally, each student will work with their advisor to choose a concentration area. Students will also complete a senior capstone course that guides majors in the process of consolidating their intellectual experience as they work toward carving out the next stage of their professional lives.

Amplify Your Major

I initially sought out this major in an attempt to learn more about myself. In turn, I actually found myself, I found knowledge, I found the world, and I found peace.
Kristin Therese Jones, African American Studies & Rhetoric major

Four-Year Student Timeline

What Can I Do With My Major?

With its interdisciplinary strengths in history, culture, and social and political institutions, the African American Studies major provides students with skills in research, criticism, and writing that our graduates have taken to a variety of professional paths, including teaching, government and policy work, employment in mass media, professional schools (law, medicine, business), and graduate study in multiple fields.

Jobs and Employers

  • Art History Lecturer, UC Berkeley
  • Assoc. Professor, Florida State University
  • Career Development Coord., Unitek College
  • Executive Consultant, Self-Care Consulting
  • Founder, Infinite Potential Africa
  • Independence Facilitator, Aspire Public Schools
  • Interim Campus Director, Flatiron School 
  • Public Health Nurse, County of San Mateo
  • Recruiting Coordinator, Segment
  • Obama Admin/Special Asst. and Personal Aide to the First Lady
  • Technical Sourcer, Allstate

Graduate Programs

  • African-American/Black Studies, Masters/PhD
  • African Diaspora Studies, PhD
  • American Culture Studies, PhD
  • Curriculum and Instruction, Masters
  • Sociology, Masters/PhD

Examples gathered from LinkedIn and the First Destination Survey(link is external) of recent Berkeley graduates.

Learn More

Connect With Us

Cal Day

Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House(link is external) in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.

Golden Bear Orientation

Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation(link is external) program for all new students and AAS department workshops for majors.

Events

Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit africam.berkeley.edu(link is external) for news and updates.

Advising

Students can schedule appointments and send general advising questions to Althea Grannum-Cummings at cummings@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)

Advising Drop-In Hours

Tuesday & Thursday, 10am-12pm, 1-4pm (in-person)

Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am-12pm (Zoom)

How to Use this Map

Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.