African American and African Diaspora Studies, B.A., Indian Ocean Studies Concentration

The Indian Ocean Studies concentration is for students interested in developing their knowledge of the African Diaspora outside of the Atlantic world. Students who pursue this concentration will enhance their understanding of the global and geographically diverse nature of the African Diaspora from historical, socio-economic, political and cultural perspectives.

Students explore the profound contributions of people of African descent to this world region through coursework, with opportunities for study abroad and other programmatic activities supplementing this concentration.

African American and African Diaspora Program Distinctions

• Located in a city with a history of Black socio-political movements, UNC Greensboro’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 “The Year of the Black Woman” (2021).

The Student Experience in Indian Ocean Studies

• 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.
• Students in this concentration can choose from interesting elective classes such as Post-Colonial Literatures, Religion in South Asia: Selected Topics, and The Civilizations of Asia.
• Internal and external internship opportunities provide real-world experience.
• 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.

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.

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