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Arts and Sciences
Professor leading lecture
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Africana Studies

Established in 1970, Seton Hall’s interdisciplinary Africana Studies program is the first and oldest of its kind in New Jersey, providing rigorous intellectual inquiry and fostering a commitment to social change, racial justice and equality.

Students learn from multidisciplinary faculty who are thought leaders in a wide range of academic fields from political science, history, religion, literature and more. Through rigorous coursework and research, students analyze the historical and contemporary experience of people of African descent in the Americas, Europe, Africa and elsewhere.

Africana Studies engages a diverse community of scholars who are passionate about understanding and exploring the Black experience. Students can enhance their academic journey through experiential and extra-curricular activities such as guest lectures, internships, community activism, and more.

Graduates are well-prepared for careers in various fields, and ready to contribute to the work taking place in schools, government agencies, law firms, businesses, libraries, and museums. Equipped with the crucial ability to think critically, many alumni have also gone on to pursue graduate-level studies in their field of interest.

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College Facts

  • 2,801 Undergraduate Enrollment
  • 6:1 Student to Faculty Ratio
  • 81% Employment Rate
  • 98% Graduate School Acceptance Rate
ArtSci By the Numbers

Africana Studies at Seton Hall

Established in 1970, Seton Hall’s interdisciplinary Africana Studies program provides rigorous intellectual inquiry and fostering a commitment to social change, racial justice and equality.

Mikya O’Bannion

"It’s been really fulfilling to learn more about my own culture and how Africana studies plays a role, not just in Black culture, but also in American culture. I’m not only learning about history, but I’m learning about something that particularly affects me."

Mikya O’Bannion, Biology and Africana Studies Major 

Curriculum

Students complete 8 required courses (24 credits) including Introduction to African-American Studies, History of African Civilization, Africana Literature and African-American History.

Then, students select either a History, Literature, Social Science, or Culture/Art/Music Track in which they complete four elective courses (12 credits). Electives explore critical areas such as the History of the Civil Rights Movement, Modern African-American Literature, the Political Economy of Racism, African Diasporas in the United States, and others.

In each course, you'll find highly engaged faculty, fellow students, and small classes that foster deep discussion and forge lifelong bonds.

View the B.A. in Africana Studies curriculum »

Seton Hall also offers a five year, dual-degree B.A. in Africana Studies/Master of Public Administration, which offers students to  simultaneously pursue both degrees in these complementary fields of study. Learn more about the B.A. Africana Studies / Master of Public Administration »

Faculty Listing

Multidisciplinary faculty and their community-based expertise prepare students to become servant leaders by fostering a commitment to rigorous intellectual inquiry and the movement for racial justice and equality.