African Studies and the African Diaspora
African Studies and the African Diaspora taps a wide range of academic pursuits, intellectual methods and cultural traditions to give our majors and minors a broad perspective of African experiences—both historic, contemporary, local and global. Our students are informed and knowledgeable in dialogues concerning the socio-political, literary, cultural, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of how the African experience has influenced every aspect of the world we live in. This ranges from the history, politics and culture (among other aspects) of African countries, to the influence and lives of people in the African diaspora around the world, including black life in the United States. Numerous opportunities exist for our students to study abroad in Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean, further enabling them to expand their international and multicultural awareness of issues relative to globalization and social justice. Internships or service-learning programs that foster experiential learning are also available. The Black World Studies program was inaugurated in 1971 as Loyola's first interdisciplinary program. It uniquely advanced the university's transformative educational mission for over four decades. As agents of social change, our students strive to apply their knowledge of the global black experience in ways that help make our world a home for all. In keeping with changes in the various disciplines that study the African and diaspora experience, in 2013 the program evolved into the new African Studies and the African Diaspora program.