African and African-American Studies (AAAS)
at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

We have many professors who study, do research, and teach courses on various aspects of African, African-American, and African Diaspora Studies. The professors are mostly in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. These professors offer a wide variety of courses on African and African-American Studies in their various departments. The AAAS Program integrates all such courses and gives them a unifying platform and focus. This is therefore a cross-disciplinary Program that provides a rigorous engagement with the various cultures, politics, religious traditions, literatures, music, visual arts, histories, and contemporary conditions of Africa, the African-American society, and other regions of the African diaspora.

Intellectual and Social Relevance of AAAS Courses

Through our courses, the AAAS Program (a) enables students to cultivate an informed perspective of (i) Africa, its peoples, their histories, cultures and contemporary conditions, and (ii) the black experience in the United States; (b) provides a basic background to the African diaspora; (c) broadens the international component of the studies of its students; and (d) fosters debate and awareness of African/African-American issues on the campus, thereby enhancing the visibility and significance of issues of ethnicity, race and cultural diversity as well as cultural similarities.

Job Utility of AAAS

Our curriculum helps prepare students for a wide range of careers (for example, teaching, advocacy, diplomatic service, and nongovernmental overseas operations). Like any other liberal arts discipline, AAAS provides a strong preparation for professions such as law. It is also useful for students who intend to do graduate studies in AAAS.

 Additional Information

For more information, please contact the Director, Mwalim (MJ Peters) at Liberal Arts Building, Room 303 (phone: 508- 999-8304, MPeters).