Most of the PAS courses satisfy general education requirements in areas other than Natural Sciences. The Libraries collection supports the curricula of the Pan-African Studies Department and supports and encourages faculty and graduate level research. The reference collection includes the major dictionaries, encyclopedias and biographical sources. Broad coverage of PAS undergraduate studies should be maintained and linked with course content and curriculum. Given the large number of areas covered in the discipline, selection should be carefully coordinated with teaching faculty.
Chronological coverage includes all periods.
Language of materials is primarily English with some French and Spanish also included. PAS courses focus on the traditional triangular area defined by the Atlantic slave trade. The curriculum and research of the department include studies of the diffusion of African people and cultures in Africa, North America, the Caribbean and South America with a special focus on the United States. For PAS, careful attention needs to be paid to studies published by small, lesser-known publishers and University presses. For example, the University of West Indies is currently publishing excellent materials.