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African American and African Diaspora Studies



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Major Related
Resources

Department of
African American
and African
Diaspora Studies

Memorial Hall East M39
Phone: 855-3874

Career Related
Resources

Career Resource Library
625 North Jordan Avenue
Phone: 855-0576
Career Development
Center Arts and Sciences
Career Services

625 North Jordan Avenue
Phone: 855-0576

IUB Libraries Career Resources
Liberal Arts Careers
10th Street & Jordan Avenue
Phone: 812-855-0100



Description of Major

African American and African Diaspora Studies is an interdisciplinary major that introduces students to a wide range of current research and scholarly teaching in history, culture and social issues; literature and the arts in the context of African American experiences; and African heritage. Students choose one of three concentration areas: 1) history, culture and social issues, 2) literature, 3) the arts.

Skills & Knowledge Developed in this Field of Study

Working with competing ideas; understanding society through history, culture studies, and the arts; incorporating interdisciplinary methods; efdsgsxamining relationships among historical, political, legal and economic forces; critical and conce ptual thinking; problem solving.

Minors and Second Majors that Expand Career Options with this Major

Business, criminal justice, economics, folklore, history, journalism, political science, public and environmental affairs, sociology, and telecommunications.

Career Options

Careers Specific to the Bachelor's Degree

Affirmative action officer, equal employment opportunity specialist, social change agent, training and development specialist, public relations worker, social work.

Other Career Possibilities with a Bachelor's Degree

Market researcher, travel agent, advertising copy writer, account manager, insurance agent or adjuster, probation officer, management trainee, administrative assistant.

Careers that Normally Require a Graduate Degree

College and university teaching requires a graduate degree, as does the practice of law. Some positions in social work may require a master's degree (M.S.W., psychology, sociology, etc.).

Employment Opportunities

Job Outlook

The Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook states that for most of the career fields related to the Afro-American studies major, employment is expected to increase faster than average for all occupations through the year 2005.

Salary Information

Average starting salaries for the various career fields related to the African-American and African Diaspora Studies major range from about $20,500 to $25,000.

Potential Career Growth

Varies throughout the possible career fields, but usually the potential is excellent. For example, in the federal government the average annual salary for equal opportunity compliance officials exceeds $49,000.

Placement Statistics for IU Graduates with this Major

Not available.

High School Preparation

Interested students will be prepared for academic success by following the undergraduate admission guidelines for Indiana University. Students may find it helpful to take additional advanced writing and social science courses.

Special Opportunities

Majors with a 3.3 cumulative grade point average overall as well as a 3.3 grade point average within the Department of African-American and African Diaspora Studies are eligible for the department's honors program. Honors students complete independent research, which may take the form of research projects, field research internships, or creative activities. Students can apply for the honors program in the fall semester of their junior year. An interdepartmental major program is also available. This is for students who would like to gain substantial knowledge of Afro-American culture and history to complement their major work in a second field. A minor in Afro-American studies is another choice for students wanting to combine Afro-American studies with another field. Students will find powerful resources in the Archives of African American Music and Culture and the Black Film Center/ Archive, as well as the library and programs of the African American Cultural Center and the African American Arts Institute. The campus also has very strong resources for the study of African history, languages, and culture, along with those of other African Diaspora sites?for example, the National Resource Center for Haitian Creole is located at IU. Students can also study for an academic year in Ghana as part of IU's overseas studies program.

Noted Alumni

Not Available
Majors and Careers Series Spring 2000

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URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~udiv/majors
Comments: explore@indiana.edu
Created by Brian Smith, Dawn Bourbina, Ben Tesnar, and Stephen Grogg
Copyright 2000, The Trustees of Indiana University