Comprehensive in its approach to the humanities, and the world, the department offers something for everyone interested in studying the black experience. Moreover, past majors have become college and university professors, lawyers, and business executives. African-American and African Studies graduates find their marketable skills considerably enriched by their humanities education. All freshman applicants are considered within a competitive admission process for Summer, Autumn, and Winter quarters for the Columbus campus. The GEC is a body of courses designed to ensure that each student becomes acquainted with the basic areas of academic study.
Some majors also require completion of a foreign language requirement.
Students are able to approach their areas of study from a variety of perspectives as they select courses from a multidisciplinary curriculum. The department seeks to strengthen ties between the university and the Black community through its programs and activities. Major requirements include a prerequisite of African-American and African Studies 101, plus 40 hours of course work approved by the student's faculty adviser. Twenty hours of the total must be taken from the four core areas indicated, five hours in each area. Majors then must select another 20 elective hours from one of the four core areas.