Start a Great Career with an Education in African American/Black American Studies

African American Studies, also referred to as Black American, Black, or African Diaspora Studies, is designed to help students understand the multicultural dimensions of society. Students who have a passion for the social sciences and students who wish to pursue careers that serve mixed ethnic communities will find a degree in African American Studies particularly appealing.

Students will gain knowledge through a wide variety of courses including those in:

Anthropology
History
Humanities
Popular culture
Politics
Art
Women’s Studies

Earning a degree in African American Studies can be found as an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral program. Graduate certificates and undergraduate certificates can also be found, although less common, yet are a wonderful educational asset to attain.

Certificate Programs in African American Studies

An undergraduate certificate in African American Studies can be a great introductory program to this field of study. Students can earn an undergraduate certificate as a standalone program or in conjunction with an Associate or Bachelor’s degree.

A graduate certificate in African American Studies is designed for students already possessing most or all of their baccalaureate credits, to enhance or diversify their studies. Graduate certificates are popular with professionals already working in a related field that serves a multicultural population. A graduate certificate can enhance career advancement and salary prospects. A graduate certificate in African American Studies is also an excellent asset for those seeking to embark on a new career.

Jobs with a Certificate in African American Studies:

Human Service Assistants- Provide services for clients, and specific populations of clients, in a variety of social service fields. Human Service Assistants may work for nonprofit organizations, for-profit social service agencies, and state and local governments. Median Annual Salary: $35,000.
Home Health Aide- Monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities. May work at a variety of locations including a long-term care facility, senior living community, or in client homes. May specialize in specific client populations given area(s) of expertise. Median Annual Salary: $37,000.

Ready to start your Certificate in African American Studies? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:

Michigan State University- Offers a PhD Graduate Certificate in African Studies. Michigan State participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Associate Degree in African American Studies

An Associate Degree in African American Studies is a great opportunity for students that are thinking about a career in fields such as:

Law
Education
Social Work
Journalism
Politics
Law Enforcement

African American Studies degrees are excellent interdisciplinary programs to prepare students for careers and further educational success.

Jobs with an Associate Degree in African American Studies:

Teacher Assistant- Work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction. May specialize in specific student populations given area(s) of expertise. Median Annual Salary: $29,000.
Legal Assistant- Perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers. Median Annual Salary: $52,000.
Law Enforcement- Police officers protect lives and property. Median Annual Salary: $67,000.

Ready to start your Associate Degree in African American Studies? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:

Contra Costa College- Offers an Associate of Arts in African American Studies. Contra Costa College does not participate in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Bachelor's Degree in African American Studies

An undergraduate degree in African American Studies will explore a wide range of topics including:

The varieties and histories of racial and cultural subgroups of African Americans
Construction (and reconstruction) of African American identities over time
Theoretical lessons from comparisons among and between groups of African American populations and non-African American populations
General principles that influence racial and ethnic relations
Leadership and relationships within and between diverse communities

Upon graduation, students can choose to enter the workforce and/or pursue further education by earning a graduate degree.

Jobs with a Bachelor’s Degree in African American Studies:

Legislator- An elected position responsible for development, introduction, and/or enactment of laws and statutes at the local, state, or federal level. Median Annual Salary: $30,000.
News Correspondent– Work for newspaper, website, or periodical publishers or in television or radio broadcasting and inform the public about news and events. Specifically, as it relates to and/or impacts the African American population. Median Annual Salary: $46,000.
Community Health Worker- Collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities. Median Annual Salary: $47,000.

Ready to start your Bachelor’s Degree in African American Studies? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:

American University- Offers a Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies. American University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Michigan State University– Offers a Bachelor of Arts in Global and Area Studies-Africa Track. Michigan State participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Syracuse University- Offers a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies. Syracuse University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Master's Degree in African American Studies

A Master’s Degree in African American Studies is a popular choice for those seeking to become an expert in their chosen fields such as social sciences and public policy. A graduate degree in African American Studies is also a great choice for those choosing career paths such as research or teaching.

In comprehensive graduate programs, students will look to the past to gain a deeper knowledge of the histories of African Americans and all sub-cultural identities. A comprehensive graduate program will also look to the future and address the many aspects of life that are of significance to the African American populations including cultural, social, and political.

Jobs with a Master’s Degree in African American Studies:

Postsecondary Teacher– Instruct students in African American Studies courses beyond the high school level. Median Annual Salary: $80,000.
Top Executive- Plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. Median Annual Salary: $105,000.

Ready to start your Master’s Degree in African American Studies? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:

Michigan State University- Offers a Master of Arts in African American and African Studies and an MA with a Concentration in African Studies. Michigan State participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Syracuse University- Offers a Master of Arts in Pan African Studies. Syracuse University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Doctorate in African American studies

Earning a doctoral degree in African American Studies will help bring students to the apex of their educational career. Students can earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in African American Studies. A doctoral degree offers students the opportunity to become well-respected experts in their field with many PhD graduates sharing their wealth of knowledge via careers in writing, research, and teaching.

Jobs with a Doctoral Degree in African American Studies:

Policy Analyst (Federal)- Analyze policy at the federal level, requiring significant expertise and experience. GS-15 Median Annual Salary: $80,000.
Author- Develop written content for various types of media on the topic of African American Studies. Median Annual Salary: $122,000.

Ready to start your Doctorate in African American Studies? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:

Michigan State University- Offers a PhD in African American and African Studies (AAAS). Michigan State participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.