Mission
AAAS’ mission is to promote critical thinking and challenge students to attain the highest levels of intellectual achievement and personal development through the study of ideas, practices, theories and experiences of Africans, African Americans, and other diasporic communities. To fulfill our mission, AAAS is comprised of a visionary and diverse faculty whose work commands a range of expertise and focuses on history, ethnicity, and gender, social, cultural, political, religious and literary studies. Our faculty’s commitment to excellence supports AAAS’ vision to always foster an intellectually challenging and stimulating environment for our students. In addition, we are committed to addressing social injustices and promoting community engagement.
Towards these ends, our department offers a B.A. with a concentration in African and African American Studies as well as a minor. Since its inception, AAAS has taken innovative steps to ensure that our students’ academic and civic goals and needs are met. This entails organizing and sponsoring events that involve the participation of surrounding communities. Furthermore, we are tirelessly working to recruit the brightest and the best from our communities and to secure more funds for student scholarships.
Major Where You Matter
You matter to us in the Department of African & African American Studies. We firmly believe that students should choose a major that fits with their personal, academic, and career goals and where they feel a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, not everyone recognizes diversity, equity, and inclusion as important values nor do some people appreciate all that the people of Africa and the African Diaspora have contributed historically and in contemporary times. We promote critical thinking and challenge students to attain the highest levels of intellectual achievement and personal development through the study of ideas, practices, theories, and experiences of Africans, African Americans, and other diasporic communities. We are invested in your success inside and outside of the classroom. The mentoring relationships that we develop with our students during their academic careers at LSU do not end on graduation day. We are here to support you in becoming your best self and change agent.
We encourage you to continue viewing the department's website for more detailed information. Thanks for your interest in AAAS and LSU.