African American Studies
Gain in-depth understanding of Africa and the African Diaspora — U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America — and insight into contemporary global issues facing Africana people when you choose one of the concentrations in this major.
Career Potential
- Government service
- Political engagement at the national, state and local levels
- Teaching and Research
- Journalism
- Community Development
- International Affairs and Development
- Family and Discrimination Law
What Will I Learn?
You’ll engage in a rigorous intellectual, socio-political, historical and cultural curriculum that emphasizes:
- Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills to effectively tackle contemporary societal problems to serve the Africana world in particular and humanity in general
- Multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary courses that expose you to a wide array of contrasting thought
- Debate on important contrasting controversies in the discipline
The employment opportunities in this feed are a sample from Career Services’ Handshake portal. Some positions may require additional certifications. Handshake is available to current SUNY Cortland students and alumni.
Concentration Options
Get the knowledge and background you’ll need to be a community builder and activist or for graduate work.
Prepare for a variety of career options such as government service, nonprofit organization, journalism, international affairs and others.
Special Features
- Credit-bearing internships
- Study abroad in Africa
- Nationally and internationally recognized faculty
- Kente Cloth Ceremony at graduation
Get Involved
Independent research with a faculty mentor is a central part of your academic experience. You will have opportunities to present your research at national conferences or to co-author a scholarly paper with your professor. You also can gain first-hand knowledge of Africa through study abroad programs in Ghana and Kenya.