An interdisciplinary approach to education.
Study Black political theory, literature, art history, theatre, education, Black history, and sociology to develop skills in multicultural humility, research, cultural literacy, and critical inquiry.
Think critically and embolden communities.
Conduct public humanities research to engage deeply in social collaboration and activism. Learn to think critically and embolden communities.
Collaboration in community.
Recognize the collective power of partnerships in organizing to actively seek growth and deliberate change within societies.
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.
Student Symposium
Hosted every February, the African American Studies symposium is open to undergraduates and graduates students from any discipline whose work centers or intersects with Black studies and Black people.
The SoulFolk Collective
Housed within the Department of African American Studies, this multidisciplinary research lab prioritizes Black-affirming methodologies that amplify the voices, stories, and lived realities of Black communities.
Essence Learning Community
Essence, a mixed co-ed residence floor in Witte, welcomes all students interested in learning about the Black diaspora and impacted peoples through events, dialogue, and community-building.
The Black Cultural Center
The BCC welcomes all students interested in understanding and supporting the experiences, and dynamic lives of Black undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The BCC connects communities to the larger Wisconsin Experience to foster a sense of belonging.
Events
News
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Alumni Update: Rayna Cunningham
The Department of African American Studies is pleased to share that Rayna Cunningham (African American Studies certificate graduate and 2025 Tom Shick Award recipient) has committed to attending the University of Illinois…
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We’re hiring: Student Administrative and Events Assistant
The Department of African American Studies is currently seeking a Student Administrative and Events Assistant to join our team. The ideal candidate will have: —Strong oral and written communication skills—Organizational and time‑management…
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Dr. Clark-Pujara will open the PBS Wisconsin America at 250 Education Summit
Professor Christy Clark-Pujara will open the PBS Wisconsin America at 250 Education Summit to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. She will explore the complexity of…
1969 Black Student Strike
Black students at UW–Madison called for a campus-wide student strike in the spring of 1969. The strike was a culmination of three years of meetings, negotiations, protests, and frustrations with the administration for their negligible response to the need to engage in anti-racist developments on campus.
Students held rallies to educate the community about racial inequities, boycotted classes, marched to the state Capitol, took over lecture halls, and blocked building entrances. They gave a list of 13 demands, the first of which was the creation an autonomous Black studies department that was controlled and organized by Black students and faculty. This was a non-negotiable term.
FACULTY
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.
est. 1970
History
The Department of African American Studies offered its first classes during the fall of 1970, one year after the Black Student Strike of 1969.
SCHOLARSHIPS, news, and events
Resources
We collaborate closely with other departments and programs on campus to bring students an integrative education.
Programs
Education
We offer a certificate, B.A., B.S., M.A., a Ph.D. minor, and opportunities to engage in public humanities research.
INTERDISCIPLINARY TOPICS
Courses
An interdisciplinary study of African American, African diaspora and African history, society, and culture.
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We promote collaboration, dialogue, and community through our scholarship and advocacy in Black studies.