Mission and Facts| AAS Future |Contact Info

Mission of the
Department of African American Studies

The mission of the Department of African American Studies is to provide an intellectual arena in which students learn to critically examine, analyze, interpret and affect the experiences, traditions, and dynamics of people of African descent and by extension, develop a fuller understanding of humankind. The Department's guiding philosophy is African-centered in that we believe that an understanding of the specific cultural and historical experiences of a people must guide and inform any productive analysis and interpretation of that people's past and present, and must guide any viable directives that are offered for their future.

 

Give to African American Studies

 

Gifts to the African American Studies Department are devoted to assisting Graduate and Undergraduate students with funding awards for academic excellence and financial duress.

Ways to Give

Give Online

Make your gift online today! When making your online gift, be sure to select College of Liberal Arts from the first drop-down menu. From there, you can select the African American Studies Department, simply type our department name in the "Other" field.

Give by Mail

Download our form and mail it to the address below. Please be sure to designate the College of Liberal Arts and the African American Studies Department!

Temple University
Institutional Advancement
P.O. Box 827651
Philadelphia, PA 19182-7651

CLA Gift Form

Give by Phone

Please call the CLA Development office at (215) 204-9513, where we will be happy to assist you.

 

Facts about the Department

• The first Ph.D. granting Department of African-American Studies in the world.
• Temple University's Department of African-American Studies offers all three degree programs (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.).
• Its core curriculum model was conceived in collaboration with the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), the recognized accreditation association in the discipline.
• Since 1988, Temple has graduated more than 150 Ph.D.'s who hold various academic and professional appointments, including Presidential appointments at many major universities.
• Departmental faculty have won numerous awards for both the quality and amount of published scholarship that consistently advances African centered normative theories, work for which Temple's DAAS is recognized internationally as the site of authority in Africana Studies.
• The Department continues to be ranked consistently as first in the discipline by scholars in the field with regard to scholarship, graduate student training and service.
• There are more than 60 undergraduate majors and minors. More than 1800 students are enrolled each semester in our extensive course offerings.
• Each year, the Department of African American Studies hosts annual events including African American History Month, Africana Women's History Month, Graduate Student's Conference, Undergraduate Research Forum, visitations to correctional facilities, community centers, PAL centers, and public and private schools.

What can I do with a degree in African American Studies?

This is a typical question that many prospective students ask. Surprisingly, the answer is quite simple. Training in African American Studies provides the foundation and tools needed not only to guide your personal and professional aspirations, but to ensure success in an increasingly cross-cultural and inter-dependent world. Various career opportunities are available in law, social services, communication, criminal justice, education, local, state and federal government, policy studies, and international relations and diplomatic service. In addition, students are provided skills to seek employment with non-profit organizations and public agencies.

Sample of Possible Occupations for Africana Studies Majors:

College Admissions Officer	Educational Consultant	Lobbyist
Advertising Executive	Employee Relations Specialist	Market Research Specialist
Anthropologist	FBI/CIA Agent	Multicultural Educator
Archivist/Librarian	Foreign Service Officer	Museum Curator
Attorney	Government Agency Administrator	Non-Profit Administrator
Clergy	Historic Preservation Specialist	Peace Corps Worker
Community Advocate/Action Specialist	Historic Site Administrator	Politician
Conflict Management Specialist	Human Resources Specialist	Professor
Consumer Advocate	Human Relations Officer	Psychologist
Corporate Trainer	International Relations Specialist	Public Administrator
Counselor	International Consultant	Public Information Officer
Cultural Affairs Officer	International Trade Specialist	Public Policy Specialist
Customer Relations Manager	Interpreter	Public Relations Specialist
Customs/Immigration Officer	International Conference Planner	Teacher
Editor/Writer/Copy Writer	Journalist-Foreign Bureau	Travel Consultant