Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies

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.

Students in the major will complete 27 hours of common requirements, including two introductory courses, research methods, foreign language, Senior Seminar, and study abroad, internship, or directed applied research. In addition, students take a minimum of two courses in each of the three concentrations: Arts and Literature; History; and Social Sciences.

For more information on specific classes, see our Black Studies degree information in the KSU Undergraduate Catalog.

View the Spring 2024 Course List and Course Descriptions for information on upcoming classes.