The Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies covers a broad spectrum of the global African experience, which allows students to investigate African connections and influences among and with other ethnic groups in the United States and other parts of the Americas and the world.
The Africana Studies major comprises the following concentrations:
The Community Activism, Strategy and Development concentration focuses on both historical and contemporary efforts to effect change in communities of color. It examines ways in which diasporic communities and individuals have coordinated political and social strategies for survival and development in spite of racism and socio-economic challenges. The concentration prepares students to work in areas such as education, law, public service, social work, research, business, grant-writing and community organizing and development. It also provides a good foundation for those interested in graduate studies.
The Global and Government Systems concentration focuses on historical and contemporary culture and politics of people of African descent in Africa and throughout the world. Using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, this concentration prepares students to function in a diverse, global and multicultural environment, working in areas such as education, law, research, public health, international studies, political science, justice studies, foreign service and business.
The Race, Gender and Sexuality concentration focuses on the intersection of race, sex and/or gender primarily, though not exclusively, from the perspective of people of color. It examines issues of identity for both the individual and community. This concentration prepares students to work in areas such as education, advocacy, social work, counseling, multicultural programming and student support services; it is also a good foundation for graduate study.
The Arts in Culture and Society concentration focuses on the study of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East through the study of literature, arts and culture, with some emphasis on popular as well as non-literary cultural expressions. This concentration provides insights into the challenges black communities face as well as their creativity. Career opportunities include such areas as the arts, museums, writing, multicultural programming and administration and theatre work. This concentration also provides a good foundation for those interested in continuing to graduate school in ethnic studies, art, education, comparative literature and global and world studies.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Understand at the advanced level of the core, the historical experiences of people of African descent.
Interact with diverse communities and be informed and engaged global citizens.
Relate current political and social issues facing the Africana world to global historical events.
Read, analyze and critically articulate the contemporary socio-economic, political and cultural issues facing people of African descent.
September 2025
Kent State University
800 E. Summit Street,
KENT,
Ohio,
44240, United States
New first-year applicants must finish secondary school in their home country by the time of enrollment to be eligible for university (comparable to the completion of senior high school in the U.S.). A student who has previously enrolled in a post-secondary (higher education) institution is required to apply as a transfer student.
All international undergraduate applicants must submit an English language proficiency test score to be considered for a Kent State program unless they meet specific exceptions or apply for conditional admissions.
All undergraduate applicants must obtain one of the following:
TOEFL iBT: 71; Home Edition iBT: 71
Revised PBT: 18 (average score)
IELTS Academic and IELTS indicator: 6.0
Duolingo:100
PTE Academic: 48
Completion of the Kent State University ESL Center Level 8 Intensive English program with a minimum of 3.75 out of 4.0 GPA
ELS Level 112 Intensive English Program completion
SAT: a minimum of 510 evidence-based reading and writing
ACT: a minimum of 21 in English
Application Deadlines: October 1 for Spring Semester; June 1 for Fall Semester.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.