Program Overview

---

Africana Studies

The concentration in Africana Studies critically examines the artistic, historical, literary, and theoretical expressions of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora.

Degree Type

A.B.

Department

Department of Africana Studies

CIP Code

05.0101

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) was developed by the U.S. Department of Education to categorize educational programs in the U.S. for a variety of reporting purposes. Each program at Brown is assigned a CIP code that best matches its academic curriculum.

Related Academic Areas

• American Studies
• English
• History
• Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Modern Culture and Media
• Portuguese and Brazilian Studies
• Religious Studies
• Theatre Arts and Performance Studies

Program Description

Central to the work of students and faculty in the concentration is the close collaboration of artists, scholars, and writers in examining relationships between academic and artistic knowledge about the world and human experience. Concentrators work closely with faculty members in developing new knowledge about the world and human existence through the critical and comprehensive study of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora. Concentrators are encouraged to study abroad in Africa, the Caribbean, and/or Latin America and to acquire language competency in a language other than English spoken in Africa and the diaspora.

Concentration Requirements

• List of requirements
• Honors website

Student Goals

Students in this concentration will:

• Understand the evolution of artistic, cultural, intellectual, and political traditions of the peoples and cultures in Africa and the African diaspora
• Gain a deeper understanding of how and in what ways slavery, colonialism, and conceptions of race and practices of racism have shaped the modern world
• Acquire competency in the theories and methodologies of Africana Studies and interdisciplinary scholarship
• Be prepared to assume roles as skilled and informed scholars and career professionals informed by critical thinking and global perspectives

Department Undergraduate Group (DUG)

Student Leaders: Marco Lima, Ariel Nash, Rachel Wilson

Graduating Class

Class Year	Total Students	Honors Graduates
2021	9	0
2022	20	4
2023	17	3
2024	9	1
2025	13	0

Alumni Pathways

Brown alumni with a degree in Africana Studies have gone on to careers in community organizing, consulting, economic development, education, finance, law, marketing, medicine, politics, public health, and public policy.

Career Outcomes

Africana Studies concentrators have pursued various careers, including:

• Community organizing
• Consulting
• Economic development
• Education
• Finance
• Law
• Marketing
• Medicine
• Politics
• Public health
• Public policy

Advisors

• Mayowa Ajibade
• Lisa Biggs
• Keisha Blain
• Barrymore Bogues
• Kim Gallon
• Matthew Guterl
• Francoise Hamlin
• Ainsley LeSure
• Patsy Lewis
• Brian Meeks
• Noliwe Rooks
• Tricia Rose