Department of African American Studies

College of Letters & Science

 

 

From left to right: Kweku Andrews, William L. Van Deburg, Freida High, Alex Haley, and Tom Shick photographed together in the mid-1970s.

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.

what does SoulFolk stand for? Launching on Madison's South Side in the 2026-2027 school year, The SoulFolk Saturday School will be a culturally grounded Saturday school for Black high school students in Madison, Wisconsin. Run by The SoulFolk Collective, a research lab in the Department of African American Studies at UW–Madison, creators radically imagine a space that prioritizes: Education: lessons where Black history, literature, and art aren't the additive, but the foundation. Rapport: Students are free to express all facets and dynamisms of Black identity. Free food: Families and community members are fed in abundance. Health: All students have access to free mental and physical wellness services. Organizing within the community: Teachers and students alike strategize and research for social action and change.

The Department of African American Studies at UW-Madison invites you to save the date for our annual fundraising event, Day of the Badger, which will take place on April 14th and 15th. This year, the department will be raising funds for the forthcoming SoulFolk Saturday School.

Day of the Badger is a day for all alumni, students, and friends throughout Badger nation to make a far-reaching impact in a short amount of time. This is a party to pay it forward by celebrating and supporting the UW.

Support our work.

Polly Heidelberg during Mississippi Freedom Summer 1964 by Mark Levy

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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.

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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. 

Learn more about our research lab.