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Academics Indiana University
Degrees & Majors

African American & African Diaspora Studies/History

Bachelor of Arts

Offered at IU Bloomington by College of Arts and Sciences

About

The departments of African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) and History offer an interdepartmental major that allows you to pursue the multidisciplinary study of historical and contemporary connections among Africans, African Americans, and other New World Black communities.

Using the skills of a historian to retrieve and interpret the past, students in this major study the African diaspora community's history, culture, social institutions, movements, and identities. The combined program also offers students the opportunity to learn about the community's unique contributions to fine and performing arts.

Liberal arts skills stressed in AAADS and History include critical thinking and experiential learning skills, creative writing, reflective critical reading and writing, ethical and moral reasoning, service learning, community service, intercultural competence and social justice as civic duties of value, scholarship of engagement, and interdisciplinary analysis.

Majors are trained to examine and interpret critical sources and documents relevant to the African diaspora population and to develop the necessary research methodology and critical-thinking skills essential for success in a wide variety of careers. Faculty in both departments represent a wide variety of interests and disciplines and encourage majors to customize their experience through course electives, overseas study, and individualized research and writing.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to pursue further education or careers in academic research and higher education, law, teaching, business, journalism, social work, nonprofits, the arts, and many other professions.

Interdepartmental major options

You can also earn one of our interdepartmental majors:

  • African American and African Diaspora Studies and Religious Studies is offered in association with the Department of Religious Studies.
  • African American and African Diaspora Studies and English is offered in association with the Department of English.
  • African American and African Diaspora Studies and Sociology is offered in association with the Department of Sociology.

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