A degree in AFAM studies

Students earning a degree in African American (AFAM) studies will receive a foundation of critical thinking, research, writing and analytical skills. Career options are limitless with a liberal arts foundation, and many AFAM majors continue on to graduate studies in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, law, medicine, business and journalism.

Why study African American studies?

Career Outlook

See an Advisor

Experience Campus

Another Chance Program

Advisor Spotlight: Meet comm sci/African American studies/urban studies advisor Faith Doyle

Advisor Faith Doyle overlooks two departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Doyle has a B.A. in Education and says that her major taught her skills that she needed to connect with students and to help guide them through their academic career.

Melba Boyd: A thought leader in African American literature and cinema

Melba Joyce Boyd, distinguished professor in African American studies, is an award-winning author of 13 books, nine of which are poetry. Boyd's poetry, essays, and creative nonfiction have appeared in anthologies, academic journals, cultural periodicals and newspapers in the United States and Europe.

Student Spotlight: Sydney Carroll

Honors senior Sydney Carroll works with Professor and Department Chair Ollie Johnson on compiling a history of the Department of African American Studies since its inception 35 years ago via a student-led protest and study-in.

Meet AFS major Lloyd Simpson

Simpson became an AFS major because of his interest in black studies and desire to create change and gain experience. He is most interested in protest, leftist and Marxism movements, such as the Black Panther Party, League of Revolutionary and Old Left.

Meet AFS major Ayanna Johnson

I plan to utilize my African American studies degree by applying my understanding of the world from an inclusive perspective to all of my interests. I plan to learn the languages of Africans around the world and gather global evidence of our interconnectedness.

More spotlights

News

Wayne State University honors creation of African American studies department and student protests that birthed it 35 years ago

Department of African American Studies to celebrate 35th anniversary of student protest that led to department’s creation

Detroit abounds in the work of a local poet who became world famous

Reclaiming space, writing their own history

More news

Crockett-Lumumba Scholars program