Overview

The field has developed exciting insights as well as firm intellectual and empirical foundations for the systematic study of the experience of communities of African descent in the United States and elsewhere and, through such study, for a greater understanding of local, national, transnational, diasporic, and global dynamics, their histories and intersections.

From its beginnings, the field has been strongly interdisciplinary, bringing the perspectives of different disciplines to bear on understanding black life especially in the United States. The Department of African American Studies exemplifies these traditions and strengths and, through its courses, provides opportunities to explore the richness and diversity of the black experience in a meaningful and coherent way.

The African American Studies Department at Northwestern University offers courses comparing the black experience in various parts of the world, allowing students to learn to analyze identity, race, and racism as formations that change over time and space. This broad study of the black experience is one of the key features of the Department, distinguishing it from similar departments at other institutions.

Major themes in the curriculum include:

the nature of colonization and its impact on the colonizer and the colonized
the advent, implications, and legacies of trans-Atlantic slavery
racism and its effects on society as well as on scholarship
the makings and conceptualizations of the black diaspora
the importance of oral language, history, and tradition in the black experience
the roots and development of black music, literature, and religious styles
black politics and social movements, and black radicalism
the analysis of key institutions and topics such as the family, gender and class relations, and sexuality.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Race, Class and Gender

Hip-Hop Music and Film: The Golden Age

Unsettling Whiteness

Topics: "Feeling Black/Black Feeling"

Black Historiography
Black Diaspora and Transnationality

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-02 00:00:00

More details

QuestBridge Applicant: September 26
Early Decision Applicant: November 1
Regular Decision Applicant: January 2
Transfer Applicant: March 15

Language

English

Credits

45 alternative credits

units of credit

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Evanston, United States

Disciplines

American and Australasian studies African studies View 256 other Bachelors in African studies in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Common Application or Coalition Application

Official secondary school transcript and school report

Counselor recommendation

At least one teacher recommendation

SAT or ACT scores

While there is no minimum score required by Northwestern, competitive applicants demonstrate a high level of English proficiency and typically score in the high range on all sections of the exams we accept.

Early Decision Agreement (ONLY Early Decision applicants)

Midyear transcript

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

69375 USD / year

≈ 69375 USD / year
Out-of-State

69375 USD / year

≈ 69375 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

69375 USD / year

≈ 69375 USD / year

Living costs

Evanston

United States

1100 - 1500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for African American Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Overview

Major themes in the curriculum include:

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Evanston

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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