Committed to bringing academic research to the broadest possible audience, the Department of African American Studies at UW–Madison believes the deepest understanding of the complex reality of race in America requires a truly interdisciplinary approach. Within and beyond the walls of the university, our studies draw on history, literature, the social sciences, and the arts.
Approved by the Board of Regents in 1970, the Department of African American Studies (formerly Afro-American Studies) is an outgrowth of the student concern for relevance in higher education which was so dramatically evidenced on many college campuses during the late 1960s. Today, the department offers a wide variety of courses leading to both undergraduate and graduate degrees and is one of the most successful programs in the country.
Events
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Feb18
Black History Education, 1950-1959 — In Dialogue with Ziyen Curtis @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Helen C. White #4207
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Feb27
2026 Student Symposium @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Memorial Union https://africanamericanstudies.wisc.edu/2026-student-symposium/
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Mar04
In Dialogue with Tony DelaRosa — Du Boisian Black-Asian Relationality & Racialization: A Critical Discourse Analysis @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Helen C. White #4207
Department Newsletter
Read interviews with alumni, learn more about student research, receive media recommendations, and more.
News
Dr. Mosi Adesina Ifatunji named Honored Instructor for Fall 2025 semester
Congratulations to Dr. Mosi Adesina Ifatunji, professor of African American Studies and Sociology, who has been named an Honored Instructor for the Fall 2025 semester through UW Housing. This marks Dr. Ifatunji’s third Honored Instructor …
Dr. Brittney Edmonds joins editorial board at The Black Scholar
Dr. Brittney Edmonds has joined the editorial board for the oldest continuously published journal in Black studies, The Black Scholar, as their Associate Editor. “Founded on the premise that Black writers, scholars, activists and artists …
Professor Shashko named Honored Instructor for the Fall 2025 semester
Professor Alexander Shashko has been named an Honored Instructor for the Fall 2025 semester through UW Housing, a completely student-led award initiative. Each semester, University Housing requests nominations from students on educators who have inspired …
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People
Our award-winning faculty and staff have a breadth of expertise in the arts, humanities, and the social sciences that make their approach to research and education dynamic.
Department History
The Department of African American Studies offered its first classes during the fall of 1970. Since then, the Department has educated thousands of students about the history, culture and literature of Black people in America.
Resources
Our department believes the deepest understanding of race in America requires an interdisciplinary approach to research; we collaborate closely with other departments on campus to bring students an integrative education.
Programs
We offer B.A., B.S., and M.A. programs, a Ph.D. minor, an African American Studies Certificate, and opportunities to engage in community work and public humanities research.
Courses
Our department offers courses in the interdisciplinary study of African American, African diaspora and African history, society, and culture. Learn which courses are currently being offered here.
Donate
The department expresses immense gratitude to those who support and aid fundraising efforts.
The Department of African American Studies’ first undergraduate and graduate lab, The SoulFolk Collective, engages in multidisciplinary research that prioritizes Black-affirming methodologies that amplify the voices, stories, and lived realities of Black communities.
SoCo is committed to rigorous, disciplined study, ensuring high standards of intellectual and personal integrity while communicating our findings accessibly. This dual mission ensures that the knowledge generated is meaningful and impactful, especially for the communities they serve. Central to their research practice is thick description (Ryle, 1971)—providing rich, nuanced accounts that give color and depth to the lives, struggles, and joys of those with whom we co-create knowledge. SoCo hopes to destablize estabished racial categories, and reimagine new ways of being and connecting.