African and African American Studies Concentration

Through coursework in disciplines like philosophy, history, religion, literature, art and more, the African and African American Studies program aims to vitalize the landscape of historical thinking. It encourages students to critically examine and better appreciate the global struggle for justice.

The AAAS Experience

African and African American Studies program (AAAS) is not simply an academic program. There are the pedagogical and administrative components, which make AAAS unique. Pedagogically, we are committed to the pursuit of knowledge, research, and reform. Founded in 1991 by former associate provost of education, Dr. Marilyn Mobley, this minor degree program is interdisciplinary for the benefit of George Mason University students. Comprehensively, this program allows students to experience the many people of African descent from subjects, such disciplines as history, literature, political science, women and gender studies, sociology, psychology, philosophy, music, dance, and art. Courses and faculty are drawn from the program as well as from other units of the university.

Administratively, AAAS works closely with diverse members across the Mason community. Whether it be student groups, academic departments, comparable minor degree programs, or individual faculty members, we are committed to collaborative efforts. AAAS is progressive in not limiting students' opportunities to interact with scholars and social activists who research the past and present experiences of people of African descent in Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora.

Throughout the year, AAAS sponsors numerous colloquia, conferences, lectures (including the annual W. E. B. Dubois Lecture and the Sojourner Truth Lecture), Black History Month events and artistic performances that are open to the Mason community and metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. Ultimately, this program prepares students not only for understanding the Black experience, but also enables them to critically examine, and better appreciate, national and international events as well as the global struggle for social justice.

Learn more about the required and elective courses we offer with the videos below:

INTS 437: Critical Race Studies - taught by Professor Wendi Manuel-Scott
INTS 439: Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought - taught by Professor Wendi Manuel-Scott

Major Map

	First Year	Middle Years	Last Year
Academics	Take required courses. Make a connection with a professor. Meet with your academic advisor at least once each semester your first year. Small classroom learning in this major Find scholarships.	Meet with your advisor to choose courses and stay on track with meeting degree requirements. Declare/consider declaring your concentration. Consider a double major or a minor. Is a Bachelor to Accelerated Master's (BAM) program right for you? Apply as early as 60 credits! Reach out to faculty for research mentorship.	Work closely with your advisor to verify you are meeting your graduation requirements.  Apply for graduation. Take INTS 491 Senior Capstone (Mason Core). Consider submitting your research to CHSS Research Symposium.
Career and Professional Prep	See what students and alumni say about this major. Visit the Career Services Center to start research on the types of jobs or industries you may find interesting (ex. Human Services, Nonprofit, Work Abroad, and more). Build a resume and LinkedIn profile to continue career exploration and develop your professional persona. Activate your Handshake profile to explore and opt-in to industry email lists. Start talking to professionals and faculty members via informational interviews to gain insight on their path through their career.	Enroll in INTS 420: College to Career Skills. Look for internship opportunities using University Career Services and Handshake. Have an internship? Enroll in INTS 490: Internship to receive credit for internship. Discuss with multiple faculty and current professionals in the work force whether graduate school might be the right path for you. Consider graduate or professional schools in the United States or abroad. Prepare standardized admission tests for graduate or professional schools, if necessary. Apply for scholarships and fellowships. Create your own Career Advisory Board (pdf) Join student organizations related to your career field. Talk to your professors about your goals, and ask them about job or internship opportunities. Connect with Mason alumni who share your career interests and have a career conversation (docx) with them. Use job search sites specific to your career field. Attend career fairs and employer events where you can meet multiple representatives. International Students: Be informed of the latest immigration compliance rules and regulations for on-campus and off-campus work authorization. Contact the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) for more information.	Specify prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least nine months before graduation. Finalize materials for post-graduation employment (such as your LinkedIn page, a portfolio, etc). For graduate school applications, prepare statement of purpose/goals statement, resume and/or CV, and notify the writers of your letters of recommendation before application deadlines.
Experiences	Attend a meeting of (department-sponsored student club) to meet fellow majors and get involved in LinkedIn and Mason 360. Consider joining at least one Mason student org. Check them all out on Mason 360. Look ahead to planning a student abroad program through the Global Education Office. In the meantime, see what Northern Virginia and Washington DC have to offer!	Meet people and become involved in the life of the college. Events and news for your major. Strengthen your leadership competency. Become a CHSS Ambassador. Become a CHSS Undergraduate Learning Assistant.	Attend a regional or national research conference (Search for student discounts or complimentary for conference registration). Join professional associations (student discount membership may be available).

First Year

Middle Years

Last Year

Academics

Take required courses.

Make a connection with a professor.

Meet with your academic advisor at least once each semester your first year.

Small classroom learning in this major

Find scholarships.

Meet with your advisor to choose courses and stay on track with meeting degree requirements.

Declare/consider declaring your concentration.

Consider a double major or a minor.

Is a Bachelor to Accelerated Master's (BAM) program right for you? Apply as early as 60 credits!

Reach out to faculty for research mentorship.

Work closely with your advisor to verify you are meeting your graduation requirements. 

Apply for graduation.

Take INTS 491 Senior Capstone (Mason Core).

Consider submitting your research to CHSS Research Symposium.

Career and Professional Prep

See what students and alumni say about this major.

Visit the Career Services Center to start research on the types of jobs or industries you may find interesting (ex. Human Services, Nonprofit, Work Abroad, and more).

Build a resume and LinkedIn profile to continue career exploration and develop your professional persona.

Activate your Handshake profile to explore and opt-in to industry email lists.

Start talking to professionals and faculty members via informational interviews to gain insight on their path through their career.

Enroll in INTS 420: College to Career Skills.

Look for internship opportunities using University Career Services and Handshake.

Have an internship? Enroll in INTS 490: Internship to receive credit for internship.

Discuss with multiple faculty and current professionals in the work force whether graduate school might be the right path for you.

Consider graduate or professional schools in the United States or abroad.

Prepare standardized admission tests for graduate or professional schools, if necessary.

Apply for scholarships and fellowships.

Create your own Career Advisory Board (pdf)

Join student organizations related to your career field.

Talk to your professors about your goals, and ask them about job or internship opportunities.

Connect with Mason alumni who share your career interests and have a career conversation (docx) with them.

Use job search sites specific to your career field.

Attend career fairs and employer events where you can meet multiple representatives.

International Students: Be informed of the latest immigration compliance rules and regulations for on-campus and off-campus work authorization. Contact the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) for more information.

Specify prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least nine months before graduation.

Finalize materials for post-graduation employment (such as your LinkedIn page, a portfolio, etc).

For graduate school applications, prepare statement of purpose/goals statement, resume and/or CV, and notify the writers of your letters of recommendation before application deadlines.

Experiences

Attend a meeting of (department-sponsored student club) to meet fellow majors and get involved in LinkedIn and Mason 360.

Consider joining at least one Mason student org. Check them all out on Mason 360.

Look ahead to planning a student abroad program through the Global Education Office.

In the meantime, see what Northern Virginia and Washington DC have to offer!

Meet people and become involved in the life of the college. Events and news for your major.

Strengthen your leadership competency.

Become a CHSS Ambassador.

Become a CHSS Undergraduate Learning Assistant.

Attend a regional or national research conference (Search for student discounts or complimentary for conference registration).

Join professional associations (student discount membership may be available).

Other Concentrations

Major Map