Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) Snapshot
Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) Snapshot
The Ohio State University Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) creates and disseminates knowledge and understanding about the peoples of Africa: their artistic productions and economic contribution; their shared and diverse histories, cultures, and languages; and, the impact of race, ethnicity, and gender in the construction of their identities within the United States, Africa and its Diaspora, and globally.
By the Numbers
Founded in 1969; AAAS is one of the first black studies departments in the nation
18 tenure track faculty
70 undergraduate students (majors and minors)
7 MA students
2 new minors launching in fall 2012, Swahili language/culture and Somali language/culture
Degree Programs
Undergraduate
BA, African American & African Studies
Graduate
Master of Arts, African American & African Studies
PhD, African American and African Studies with three concentrations:
- African American Studies
- Comparative African
Diaspora Studies - African Studies
The Community Extension Center
AAAS is the only department of black studies in the nation with a free standing extension center.
Located in the historic Mount Vernon area in near east Columbus, the Community Extension Center provides community outreach and education programs designed to enhance the educational opportunities of students and improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the neighborhoods near and around the center and Columbus’s urban communities.
AAAS Community Extension Center Offers
After School Science and Math Program
The extension center partners with OSU Medical Center (OSU East) to offer an after school program in math and science for students in grades 4-12. The program helps students develop competency in math and science, and strives to increase the applicant pool of students of color in math and science related careers
Summer Enrichment Program
Designed to provide rising high school freshman and sophomore students an appreciation for African American cultural and historical study, as well as computer instruction
Senior Matinee
Nearby churches and senior centers transport senior citizens to the center for lunch, a speaker, and a film
Annual Veteran’s Day Celebration
The governor’s appointed Commission on African American Males is housed at the center
Unique Points About the Department
The department publishes two academic journals:
Research in African Literatures
Spectrum, a new journal about black men
AAAS multidisciplinary curriculum includes the most extensive offering of African languages (Swahili, Zulu, Twi, Somali and Yoruba) found at any university in the U.S.
The department conducts two study abroad programs—one in Ghana and one in South Africa. It is also planning a new study abroad program to England to explore the Black British community there.
1.2012
