About
William & Mary ushers in a new Africana Studies (AFST) major in the 2009-10 academic year. It combines and supplants the former concentration in African Studies and the former major in Black Studies. For details, see the relevant sections in this website and in the Africana Studies portion of the current Undergraduate Catalog.
Disciplines Studied
Anthropology, Art and Art History, Economics, English, Government, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Sociology, Theatre, Speech, and Dance.
Distinguishing Features
- Core and capstone
- Globally comparative
- Internships
Student Activities and Research
Students are supported by over thirty affiliated faculty. Majors are expected to engage in research in various forms, including independent study, Honors, and structured internships. Majors and Minors are encouraged to combine their scholarly study with service learning, study away in the U.S., and study abroad, especially in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The Program is a lead sponsor of the W&M summer program in Cape Town, South Africa. In the near future, we hope to add summer programs in the Caribbean and Brazil. The student-run African Cultural Society, Black Studies Club, and Africana House are open to all members of the William and Mary community.
Careers and Graduate Study
Students with a major in Africana Studies (or its predecessors, African Studies and Black Studies) have attended graduate programs in various disciplines and professions. Several alumni have joined the public sector at all levels, while others work for a variety of private employers. Many served as Peace Corps volunteers or joined a variety of non-profit organizations in the U.S. The analytical skills and broad perspectives acquired in this program permit graduates to engage in life-long learning or to prepare for myriad occupational opportunities.
