African and African American Studies, Certificate
Analyze race, power and institutional racism, then apply that knowledge in careers and communities that advance equity and social justice. Earn a focused, interdisciplinary credential that complements many majors and builds expertise in African and African American experiences.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
African and African American Studies certificate description
In the certificate program in African and African American studies, you examine the culture, arts, history, politics, economics and current status of Africans, African Americans and the larger African diaspora, especially in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
The goal is to prepare you for lifelong learning, advanced study in a variety of fields, successful careers and productive public service in an increasingly diverse society.
Why earn an African and African American studies undergraduate certificate at ASU?
Study within the School of Social Transformation, where a strong social justice mission links you to programs in women's and gender studies, justice and social inquiry, American studies, Asian Pacific American studies and other related fields. With a breadth of offerings across ASU, including the African and African American studies Bachelor of Arts, minors and other interdisciplinary programs, you can stack credentials and customize your academic experience.
Additional details
Because many students complete this certificate online, you can connect through virtual classrooms, school-sponsored online events and university-wide online student communities. On the Tempe campus, related student organizations and events center Black student life, African and African American culture and social justice.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 15 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in African and African American studies requires 15 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be upper division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be completed through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00) or better may be applied toward the certificate requirements. |
||
|
AFR 200 Introduction to Africana Studies
(GCSI)
or
AFR 210 Introduction to African American Studies
(CIVI)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
AFR 350
/
APA 350
/
CDE 350
/
SOC 350
/
TCL 360
/
JUS 365 Inequality and Diversity in Education
(SOBE)
AFR 353
/
AMS 353
/
ENG 353
/
ETH 353 African American Literature: Beginnings through the Harlem Renaissance
(HUAD)
9 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 9 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Conduct independent research exploring critical issues in and to the African diaspora.
- Analyze the ways in which race intersects with other social locations in shaping ideology, as well as social, political and cultural institutions.
Conduct independent research exploring critical issues in and to the African diaspora.Enrollment requirements
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this African and African American studies undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Students can advance their career options with an undergraduate certificate. By adding this specialization in African and African American studies as a complement to their major program of study, students become more marketable hires. Graduates who have completed this undergraduate certificate often pursue employment in education, law, public service, and human welfare and social work. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Social Transformation
|
WLSN 5th floor
SSTadvising@asu.edu
480-965-7682
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
