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.
Events
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Oct 5
News
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2026 Tom Shick Award Recipients
Congratulations to our 2026 Tom Shick Award recipients: Noah Davis (B.A. African American Studies), Keiana James (B.S. Comm. & Organizational Development), Sophia Grigsby (B.A. African American Studies, Spanish), and Ziyen Curtis (M.A.…
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Micah Sagers awarded the Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowship
Undergraduate Micah Sagers has been awarded the Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowship for her project, “Freedom is Wellness: Health in A Freedom School Model”. Sagers, a Biology major, is pursuing a certificate in African American…
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Dr. Stovall co-authors piece for “Race Ethnicity and Education”
Dr. Jessica Lee Stovall has published “Worlding Black freedom: unsettling the predicament of domination through fugitive and abolitionist pedagogies” in the Race Ethnicity and Education (Volume 29, Issue 2 (2026)) journal. Co-authored…
The SoulFolk Collective
Housed within the Department of African American Studies, this multidisciplinary research research that 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.
Student Symposium
Open to undergraduates and graduates students from any discipline whose work centers or intersects with Black studies and Black people, each February, the Department of African American Studies hosts a student symposium.
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. Existing to acknowledge the specific realities of Black communities at UW-Madison, the BCC connects communities to the larger Wisconsin Experience to foster a sense of belonging.
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, one year after the Black Student Strike of 1969.
Resources
We collaborate closely with other departments and programs on campus to bring students an integrative education.
Programs
We offer a Certificate, B.A., B.S., M.A., a Ph.D. minor, and opportunities to engage in public humanities research.
Courses
An interdisciplinary study of African American, African diaspora and African history, society, and culture.
Donate
We express immense gratitude to those who support and aid in our fundraising efforts.