Career Opportunities for Majors in Africana Studies

Introduction

Africana Studies involves the study of the history, culture and art of Africa and the African Diaspora. The program seeks to provide students with a thorough and accurate understanding of the African Diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean. It looks at the development of culture in the United States for the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora by focusing on the economic, social and political forces shaping life in the States. The study of the people of the African continent includes the origin and rise of different cultures and religious practices, as well as the emergence of the northern and southern national groups, colonialism and political movements of the twentieth century.

Courses include but are not limited to the study of language, literature, politics, psychology, history, law and religion as they relate to the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora. This interdisciplinary major promotes academic and social growth while emphasizing research and community service.

Africana Studies offers many career pathways based on your areas of interest. There are opportunities in the areas of business, communications, research, law, politics, teaching, and counseling, to mention a few. Africana Studies as a major is versatile and helps develop skills useful anywhere. Your major is only one of many variables to be considered when developing career plans. Many careers do not require a specific major, but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities.


A Sample of Possible Occupations

Admissions Counselor
Editor/Writer
Market Research Specialist
Advertising Account Exec.
Educational Consultant
Multicultural Educator
Anthropologist
Employee Relations Specialist
Museum Curator
Archivist
FBI/CIA Agent
Non-profit Administrator
Attorney
Foreign Service Officer
Peace Corps Worker
Business Manager
Foreign Student Advisor
Politician
Claims Representative
Government Agency Admin.
Professor/Educator
Clergy Member
Historic Preservation Specialist
Psychologist
Community Action Specialist
Historic Site Administrator
Public Administrator
Community Affairs Specialist
Human Resources Specialist
Public Information Officer
Conflict Resolution Specialist
Import/Export Specialist
Public Policy Specialist
Consultant
International Banker
Public Relations Specialist
Consumer Advocate
International Consultant
Publications Specialist
Copy Writer
Int'l. Relations Specialist
Research Assistant
Corporate Trainer
International Trade Specialist
Sales Representative
Counselor
Interpreter
Teacher/Professor
Cultural Affairs Officer
Int'l. Conference Planner
Translator
Customer Relations Rep.
Journalist
Travel Consultant
Customs/Immigration Officer
Lawyer
Volunteer Coordinator
  Lobbyist
Writer/Author

Types of Employers
 
 
Private and Non-profit Organizations
Advertising Agencies Consumer Organizations Professional Associations
Airlines/Airports Cultural Organizations Project Hope
American Friends Service Entertainment Firms Public Interest Groups
American Schools Abroad Foundations Public Relations Firms
Amnesty International Historic Sites / Historical Societies Red Cross International
Archives Hospitals/Clinics Retail Stores
Banks Hotels/Restaurants/Resorts School Systems
Book Publishers Int'l. Exchange Programs Social Service Agencies
CARE, Inc Law Firms Television/Radio Stations
Civic Organizations Libraries Travel Agencies
Clinics Museums United Nations
Colleges & Universities Newspapers/Magazines World Health Organization
Consulting Firms Pan American Health Org. YMCA/YWCA

 
 
Government Agencies
Agency for Int'l. Development Immigration & Naturalization Service Office of Int'l. Policy & Programs
Bureau of Export Admin. International Trade Admin. Office of Int'l. Affairs
Bureau of Intelligence & Research Library of Congress Office of Int'l. Coop. & Development
Bureau of Int'l. Labor Affairs National Endowment for the Humanities Peace Corps/AmeriCorps
CIA/FBI National Security Agency Smithsonian Institution
Civil Rights Commission NJ Governor's Commission on International Trade Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Consumer Affairs Office NJ Int'l. Trade Division US Customs Service
Department of Commerce NJ Travel & Tourism Division US Department of State
Foreign Commercial Service Office of International Education US Information Agency
 

Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Administrative Assistant, Rutgers University
Analyst, JP Morgan Chase
Claims Representative, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co.
Community Program Specialist, Juvenile Justice Comm.
Counselor, Somerset Home
Customer Service Representative, Cuisinart
Customer Service Representative, NatWest Bank
Legal Assistant, Wachovia Bank
Records Management Assistant, Division of Criminal Justice
Substitute Teacher, New Brunswick Board of Education
 
 
 
Jobs of Experienced Alumni (information is not available for most alumni)
Assistant Fashion Manager, Kmart Apparel Corp.
Attorney, Legal Services of New Jersey (JD)
Director of Human Resources, Baan Company
Disability Claims Adjudicator, NJ Dept. of Labor
Head Teacher, Newark Pre-School Council
Income Maintenance Supvr., Middlesex Cty. Social Service
Lecturer, Dept. of History, Northwestern University (PhD)
Paralegal, White and Williams
Probation Officer, Morris County
Research Assistant, Newark Urban Coalition
Outreach Counselor, Mercer County Community College
Senior Sales Rep., Agilent Technologies
Supervising Case Manager, Big Brother/Big Sister
Work Readiness Instructor, The Kintock Group

 

Graduate Schools Attended
Cornell, Ph.D., Africana Studies
UMDNJ, MD, Medicine


 


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Created by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff

 

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Updated 3/27/06

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