Bachelor of Arts in
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

African American Studiesis a new and growing discipline. LMU offers both a major and minor in African American studies. It is designed to enhance student understanding of the contributions of African Americans to the American experience and to the world as a whole. The mission of this department is to help students sharpen their critical thinking, analytical, reading and writing skills. It is an excellent preparation for graduate study, gaining entry into professional schools and entry into the job market upon graduation.

If you major in African American studies, you’ll be a part of the LMU's Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. The College is more fully described in other publications but here are a few essentials:

The Liberal Arts –Education that liberates your mind, nourishes your spirit, and cultivates your creativity for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

•Develop your ability to communicate
–Write dynamically
–Speak effectively
–Think clearly
–Build career skills
•Cultivate your critical and analytical thinking
–Dissect ideas
–Bring literature to life
–Critique social and economic problems
–Comprehend political systems and ideas
–Live the importance of social justice
–See the “bigger picture”
•Become aware of what influences you
–Explore the role of religion and values in society
–Seek a deeper understanding of faith
–Understand human behavior
–Discover multiple cultures and languages
–Examine the mosaic of American life
–Experience international education
•Energize your creativity
–Find innovative solutions
–Think “out of the box”
•Kindle your desire to serve
–Inspire others
–Know leadership as service

The College

FACULTY
Liberal Arts faculty – including those with worldwide reputations – are directly involved with students and their potential development. A majority of the faculty have terminal degrees from prestigious universities and are active in on-going scholarly investigations in their discipline. All are involved in undergraduate teaching and all academic counselors are drawn from their ranks.

MULTICULTURAL FOCUS
The College curriculum challenges students to explore ways to live more fully and to act more responsibly within our culturally diverse nation. While each department offers courses with a multicultural focus, African American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, and the Asian Pacific American concentration offer a greater depth of study in this area. Additionally the American Cultures core requirement enriches the curriculum with a strong comparative approach.

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
The College of Liberal Arts promotes an educational environment rich in contact with the issues facing our world today. It especially encourages language study as a basis for its international courses and for the various study abroad opportunities. The College recruits international students and a globally-sophisticated faculty.

THE “What can I do with…?” QUESTION
Graduates of the College of Liberal Arts have made their marks in a wide variety of careers – education, government, public health, social service, business, communications, science and the arts. Some pursue doctoral studies in their major or attend law schools, business schools or medical schools. Among our alumni are corporate managers, entrepreneurs, university professors, high school and elementary teachers and administrators, editors, elected and appointed federal, state and local officials, lawyers, clergy, and community leaders.
The answer to “What can I do with a liberal arts degree?” is one full of variety and opportunity. Its answer may be sought after the more important question: “What kind of person can I become?”

The African American Studies Major

African American Studies majors and minors are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary pathways from an African-centered world view. After completing required courses in African American Studies, they are encouraged to shape their individual academic programs to suit their individual needs and interests. Courses can be selected from ten focus areas including sociology, political science, philosophy and psychology. The LMU African American Studies faculty is well qualified to assist students in shaping their academic interests. This highly individualized approach creates an exploratory and intellectually stimulating climate for students.

Meet the Faculty

Antonio Brown
Assistant Professor
B.A., Loyola Marymount University, 1995; M.A., University of Michigan, 1998; Ph.D., 2001.

John A. Davis
Associate Professor and Chair
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1963; M.A., 1965; Ph.D., 1971.

Dianne D. Glave
Assistant Professor
B.A., University Center, Binghampton, 1985; M.A., University Center, Stony Brook, 1991; Ph.D., State University New York, Stony Brook, 1998.

John T. Reilly
Associate Professor
B.A., Harpur, 1968; M.F.A., Cornell, 1972; Ph.D., 1977.

Careers in African American Studies

African American Studies majors can go on to graduate study (M.A. or Ph.D.) in African American study as well as other graduate/professional schools. In short, AFAM majors enjoy the same career opportunities as majors in other liberal arts and humanities fields.

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For more information or to arrange a campus tour, call (310) 338-2750