UNC Greensboro | Degrees & Programs | Bachelor's in African American and African Diaspora Studies - Black Popular Culture

Bachelor's in African American and African Diaspora Studies - Black Popular Culture

A student studying African American and African Diaspora culture holds a piece of woven fabric with a pattern of red, green, black, and white triangles

The Black Popular Culture concentration within UNC Greensboro’s Bachelor’s in African American and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) program is for students interested in African American performance, art, film, and music. This concentration deepens students’ understanding of the intersections between African American and African Diaspora cultures, history, politics, gender, and artistic expression.

African American and African Diaspora Program Distinctions

  • Located in Greensboro, N.C., a city with a history of Black socio-political movements, UNCG’s AADS program provides a forum to engage the complexities of Black life across African diasporas.
  • Students explore race, gender, sexuality, class, and religion as they intersect with topics including history, culture, politics, and social justice.
  • Award-winning and renowned faculty provide students with a robust, interdisciplinary perspective.
  • The program’s annual Conference on African-American and African Diasporic Cultures and Experience (CACE) draws presenters from across the nation around themes like “Race and Education” (2026).
  • Students may take courses in 11 different disciplines to complete their degree, including art, anthropology, dance, English, history, music, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS).
  • Internal and external internship opportunities provide real-world experience.
  • Exploration of individual interests is encouraged through faculty-guided independent study courses
  • Students are encouraged to present original research at national conferences and UNCG’s own conference, CACE.
  • Students may join the active African American and African Diaspora Studies Student Club that regularly hosts events.  
  • Small class sizes foster close faculty-student mentoring opportunities.
  • Study abroad opportunities are available through partnerships with universities in Botswana and South Africa.

In addition to the variety of core courses required for the AADS major, students can further hone their focus within the Black Popular Culture concentration. Special topic courses include:

  • ADS 200: African American Art History
  • ADS 310: The Portrayal of African Americans in Film
  • ADS 330: Black Music as Cultural History: 1960-1980
  • ADS 351: Race and Gender in Black Performance

Find a full listing of available AADS courses here.

After Graduating with your BA in African American and African Diaspora Studies

  • Many graduates pursue careers in medicine, law, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, teaching, activism, project management, and more.
  • Many graduates continue their studies at universities such as Duke University, Vanderbilt University, Rutgers University, and UC Berkeley.
  • The AADS program offers several resources to help students prepare for careers and graduate schools. Review the list here.

faqs about aads

African American and African Diaspora Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the experiences, history, and culture of people of African descent. The seven core fields typically include:  

  • Arts and Culture: A focus on visual arts, music, performance, and other cultural expressions within the African American and African Diaspora experience.  
  • Economics: The study of economic disparities, labor history, and economic development in Black communities.  
  • History: The study of African American and African Diaspora histories, including slavery, civil rights, and contemporary social, cultural, and political issues.  
  • Literature: Analysis of African American literary works, authors, and literary traditions.  
  • Philosophy and Religion: Exploring African and African American religious practices, ethical traditions, and philosophies, and how they shape Black culture and society. 
  • Political science: The exploration of African American political thought, activism, and policies affecting Black communities.  
  • Sociology: The examination of social structures, inequality, race relations, and African American communities.  

A degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies opens the door to a range of versatile career options. AADS graduates often pursue careers in education, public policy, social work, law, journalism, arts and culture, non-profit leadership, and community advocacy. The skills you’ll develop with AADS — including critical thinking, research, communication, and cultural competency — are in high demand in a wide range of fields. Many AADS students also go on to graduate or professional schools.

While general history and sociology cover broad topics, African American and African Diaspora Studies centers Black experiences, perspectives, and contributions. It incorporates interdisciplinary approaches that are often excluded or minimized in traditional academic narratives, offering a more complete understanding of American and global history through the lens of African-descended peoples. 

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Program Details

Degree Type: Bachelor's

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Program Type: Majors & Concentrations

Class Type: In Person

Catalog Name: African American and African Diaspora Studies, B.A. Black Popular Culture Concentration

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Dr. Noelle Morrissette
Director
African American and African Diaspora Studies
aads@uncg.edu

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