IntroductionAfricana 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 Related Occupations| Admissions Counselor | Educational Consultant | Multicultural Educator |
| Advertising Account Exec. | Employee Relations Specialist | Museum Curator |
| Anthropologist | FBI/CIA Agent | Nonprofit Administrator |
| Archivist | Foreign Service Officer | Peace Corps Worker |
| Attorney | Foreign Student Advisor | Politician |
| Business Mngr. | Government Agency Admin. | Professor/Educator |
| Claims Representative | Historic Preservation Specialist | Psychologist |
| Clergy Member | Historic Site Administrator | Public Administrator |
| Community Action Specialist | Human Resources Specialist | Public Information Officer |
| Community Affairs Specialist | Import/Export Specialist | Public Policy Specialist |
| Conflict Resolution Specialist | Int'l. Banker | Public Relations Specialist |
| Consultant | Int'l. Consultant | Publications Specialist |
| Consumer Advocate | Int'l. Relations Specialist | Research Asst. |
| Copy Writer | Int'l. Trade Specialist | Sales Representative |
| Corporate Trainer | Interpreter | Teacher/Professor |
| Counselor | Int'l. Conference Planner | Translator |
| Cultural Affairs Officer | Journalist | Travel Consultant |
| Customer Relations Rep. | Lawyer | Volunteer Coordinator |
| Customs/Immigration Officer | Lobbyist | Writer/Author |
| Editor/Writer | Market Research Specialist | |
Types of Employers| Private & Nonprofit 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 Int'l. | Historic Sites/Historical Societies | Red Cross Int'l. |
| 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. | Int'l. 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 Int'l. 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 Int'l. Education | US Information Agency |
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates| First Jobs of Recent Graduates |
| Administrative Asst., Rutgers University | Customer Service Representative, Cuisinart |
| Analyst, JP Morgan Chase | Customer Service Representative, NatWest Bank |
| Claims Representative, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. | Legal Asst., Wachovia Bank |
| Community Program Specialist, Juvenile Justice Comm. | Records Management Asst., Division of Criminal Justice |
| Counselor, Somerset Home | Substitute Teacher, New Brunswick Board of Education |
| Jobs of Experienced Alumni (information is not available for most alumni) |
| Asst. Fashion Mngr., Kmart Apparel Corp. | Paralegal, White and Williams |
| Attorney, Legal Services of New Jersey (JD) | Probation Officer, Morris County |
| Director of Human Resources, Baan Company | Research Asst., Newark Urban Coalition |
| Disability Claims Adjudicator, NJ Dept. of Labor | Outreach Counselor, Mercer County Community College |
| Head Teacher, Newark Pre-School Council | Senior Sales Rep., Agilent Technologies |
| Income Maintenance Supvr., Middlesex Cty. Social Service | Supervising Case Mngr., Big Brother/Big Sister |
| Lecturer, Dept. of History, Northwestern University (PhD) | Work Readiness Instructor, The Kintock Group |
Graduate Schools Attended| Cornell, Ph.D., Africana Studies |
| UMDNJ, MD, Medicine |
Additionally, you may:
