Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Black Studies prepares students for careers in a broad range of professions requiring cultural literacy, emotional intelligence, and evidence-based advocacy. Graduates with degrees in Black Studies have found rewarding careers in schools and universities; as counselors in family services and juvenile justice agencies; as diversity consultants; as entrepreneurs; as community organizers, diplomats and ambassadors in the foreign service; as cultural and content specialists in non-governmental organizations; and numerous specialized positions in the private sector. 

The interdisciplinary degree program fosters an understanding of the global experiences of African, African American, and African-descended peoples with a range of intellectual tools and practical strategies for engaging race, gender, class, and culture. Students will gain an appreciation for the diverse character of humanity through the lens of the Black experience, explore the complex historical and cultural relations between Africans on the continent and African-descended peoples in the Diaspora, and engage in a comparative study of contemporary issues. In consultation with an advisor, students will discuss a specialized degree program that complements core areas of cultural production, social and structural analysis, historical investigation, and community engagement with hands-on experiential and applied learning.  Students will apply course concepts in study abroad and/or virtual exchange, internships and/or co-op programs, or entrepreneurship and/or community engagement projects.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

1. Apply intercultural competence to a variety of social issues and group formations. 
2. Examine intersecting structures of power and their effects on policy, positionality, and other aspects of life for peoples of African descent in the Diaspora.
3. Explain historical and contemporary intellectual currents in Africa, African America, and the African Diaspora. 
4. Apply theoretical, research-based, interdisciplinary, and/or practical approaches to challenges facing Black communities locally and globally, including in the workplace and in policy development.   
5. Evaluate various forms of cultural expression (art, music, literature, film, among others) of the Black experience across the Diaspora.  
6. Examine issues in African and African Diaspora Studies using interdisciplinary and/or multidisciplinary approaches. 
7. Communicate effectively about Africa and/or the African Diaspora.

This program is a part of the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences .

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Admissions, Enrollment, and Graduation Criteria

Admissions Criteria

Admission to this program is open to all students who meet Kennesaw State University’s general admission standards. Visit the Admissions  section of the Catalog for more details.

Enrollment Criteria

This program does not have specific enrollment requirements. 

Graduation Criteria

Each student is expected to meet the requirements outlined in Academic Policy 5.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & GRADUATION .

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Program Course Requirements