African American & African Diaspora Studies/English

About

The Departments of African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) and English offer an interdepartmental major that allow you to pursue the multidisciplinary study of historical and contemporary connections among Africans, African Americans, and other New World Black communities.

This major examines the experiences of people of African descent in the United States and throughout the world, with a focus on written source materials and diverse genres.

Liberal arts skills stressed in AAADS and English include critical thinking and experiential learning skills, creative writing, reflective critical reading and writing, ethical and moral reasoning, service learning, community service, intercultural competence and social justice as civic duties of value, scholarship of engagement, and interdisciplinary analysis.

This interdisciplinary major teaches you transferable skills like writing, interpretation, critical thinking, and cultural literacy. You will study the facets of race through fiction, nonfiction, prose, poetry, and political writing. Faculty in both departments represent a wide variety of interests and disciplines and encourage majors to customize their experience through course electives, overseas study, and individualized research and writing.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to pursue further education or careers in a wide variety of fields, including academics, theatre and drama, music composition, information technology, law, engineering, education, journalism, criminal justice, creative writing, fundraising, politics, social work, business, community organizing, nonprofits, health care, the legal profession, banking, and technology industries.

Interdepartmental major options

You can also earn one of our other interdepartmental majors:

• African American and African Diaspora Studies and Religious Studies is offered in association with the Department of Religious Studies. Read the major guide.
• African American and African Diaspora Studies and History is offered in association with the Department of History. Read the major guide.
• African American and African Diaspora Studies and Sociology is offered in association with the Department of Sociology. Read the major guide.

Offered at IU Bloomington by College of Arts and Sciences