African-American Studies, Africana Women’s Studies, and History
McPheeters-Dennis Hall, Suite 250
Telephone: (404) 880-8239
Overview
The Department offers the Master of Arts Degrees in African-American Studies, Africana Women’s Studies, and History. These degree programs began as separate graduate programs but were conceived in the spirit of W.E.B. Du Bois, who pioneered research in these areas at Atlanta University. The long tradition of African, African American and Africana Women’s Studies at Clark Atlanta University allows for integrative and interdisciplinary studies with many academic departments, particularly English, Foreign Languages, History, Political Science, and Sociology while permitting each area of study to maintain its own identity and to provide solid foundations for students in understanding and appreciating the history, culture, contributions and lifestyles of the black experience. With a strong commitment to advancing social justice, these programs strive to educate students stimulating intellectual growth and professionalism while fostering visionary, informed, culturally sensitive, and socially responsible scholarship.
The Department is committed to academic excellence and stresses the development of analytical skills and critical judgment. Curriculum emphasis in each of the degree programs is placed on acquiring academic research and writing skills along with an understanding of global issues, diverse cultures, and our shared humanity. As an extension of classroom instruction, students are encouraged to engage in practical applications of learning through service learning and community engagement, internships, and study abroad opportunities.
The graduate coursework leading to the Master of Arts Degrees in African-American Studies, Africana Women’s Studies, and History provide focus and breadth through a unique interdisciplinary studies approach by training students with opportunities for the systematic analysis of the convergence of gender, class, and racial bias as well as enhancing their historical and contemporary knowledge of scholars in other disciplines.
Mission
The mission of African American Studies is to offer students an interdisciplinary course of study that expands and imparts knowledge related to gender, cultures, and the history of the African Diaspora utilizing scholarly research, theoretical inquiry and policy analysis to prepare graduates for diverse professions which understand experiences of people of Africa descent and others as well as promote social justice within the global community.
The mission of Africana Women’s Studies is to provide a comprehensive plan of study which explores gender and its intersections with sexuality, race and ethnicity, nationality, disability and class.
The mission of the History Program is to prepare students in the major and in other disciplines with historical knowledge of human experience, past events and the understanding of global issues, diverse cultures, and our shared humanity.
Vision
The vision of the African-American Studies Program is to be a premier model of Africana Studies, through an integrated department to provide students with knowledge, values and skills necessary to enter the professional fields of education, research, government, and civic service nationally and globally.
The vision of the Africana Women’s Studies Programs is to provide a comprehensive plan of study in conjunction with in-depth leadership development that focuses on building and enhancing core competencies recognized as “fundamental musts” for those in leadership positions and have proven to be essential characteristics in enriching worker/job behaviors and achievements that are significant for job success.
The vision of the History Program is to serve as an innovative center of historical study for students to acquire knowledge of past events of the human experience, to respect and value cultural diversity, and to demonstrate scholarly achievement through assessment of social, political, and economic issues of significance throughout the world.