Bennekin Symposium Presentation
What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit Student Financial Services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

The typical pathway requires 60 semester hours — 42 hours in core curriculum and 18 hours in pathway courses.

Where will I take classes?
Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody, Newton, Online (some courses)

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

Fall Semester (starts in August) — Due by August 1
Spring Semester (starts in January) — Due by December 1
Summer Semester (starts in late May) — Due by May 1

African American Studies Pathway, Associate of Arts

Are you interested in becoming a lawyer, human rights advocate or educator? Perhaps you’re considering work in the healthcare field or as a public servant or filmmaker. Do you want your work to be of service to the African American community? Are you interested in transforming the world for the better? Then, pursuing a pathway in African American Studies from Georgia State University may be an ideal pathway for you.

The African American Studies Pathway Advantage

African American Studies offers an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach to the study of people of African descent through the lens of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality and social structure. Through scholarly research, theoretical inquiry and policy analysis, African American Studies seeks to reflect positive social change through the promotion of:

  • Social justice
  • Social responsibility
  • Community engagement

The African American Studies curriculum promotes critical thinking, research analysis and proficiency in oral and written communication to prepare students for diverse professions in various career fields.

On pathways: A pathway is an advising guide to help students prepare for their intended bachelor’s degree major. By following the course of study outlined in the appropriate Associate of Arts or Associate of Science pathway, students will have the necessary prerequisite courses to continue in their chosen disciplines. A pathway is not a major and will not be represented on the diploma.

Students should consult with advisers to confirm availability of online courses and requirements or additional costs that may be associated with courses. Students should check with advisers about which campuses offer the courses they need. Typically, core courses required for pathways can be taken at most locations and online, while pathway-specific courses may require attendance at a particular location.

Why Our Pathway in African American Studies Works

Mission-Driven Focus

  • The African American Studies discipline was conceived as a movement away from individualistic careerism and toward social commitment.
  • African American Studies not only encompasses Black history, but also theology, psychology, political science, economics, sociology and the arts.
  • A degree in African American Studies prepares students for professional life and social responsibility.

Enlightening + Engaging Classes

Seamless Transfer to
Atlanta Campus

Students pursuing the African American Studies pathway at Perimeter College can transfer seamlessly to Georgia State University’s Atlanta Campus where they can earn a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies. Here, students remain on their path of intellectual and scholarly interests in the social, cultural, historical and psychological experiences of the peoples of the diaspora, including Africa, Europe and the Americas, while learning from renowned professors. Georgia State Africana Studies alumni have successfully pursued careers in law, education, urban planning and social work, among other fields.

Your Success Matters

You will work with the University Advisement Center throughout your time at Perimeter College to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses.

Because earning an associate degree also requires general education classes, you will find yourself speaking more clearly and effectively, and critically evaluating the materials you read by the time you graduate.

Careers Connected to African American Studies

Career Fields

  • Law
  • Education
  • Public Health
  • Social Work
  • Mental Health
  • Human Rights Advocacy

What Does It Pay?

The African American Studies pathway is designed to give students a unique framework for working in various sectors that serve individuals of African descent, particularly those living in the United States. African American Studies prepares individuals for careers in teaching, the legal field, healthcare, film and nonprofit management, among others.

  • Median Pay for High School Teacher: $61,820 per year
  • Median Pay for Lawyers: $127,990 per year

Did You Know?

A number of accomplished and well-known individuals earned degrees in African American Studies. Attorney and former First Lady Michelle Obama, Pulitzer Prize-winner and investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and filmmaker Ava DuVernay all pursued African American Studies at their respective colleges.

Other African American Studies graduates include award-winning author and college professor Dr. Daniel Black, cartoonist Aaron McGruder, physician and NASA astronaut Mae Jemison and Do Kim, a civil rights attorney and founder of the Korean American Youth Leadership Program.

Police officers working on campus

Program Details

Admission to Perimeter College

The African American Studies pathway leads to an Associate of Arts degree. Completion requires 42 credit hours in Areas A-E of the core curriculum and 18 hours of Area F courses appropriate to the pathway. The Area F selections should include required classes and courses chosen from approved options.

View the specific curriculum requirements in the catalog.

Goals & Outcomes

As part of Georgia State University, Perimeter College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) to award associate degrees. Successful completion of a pathway at Perimeter College leads to an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Georgia State University.

Contacts

Perimeter College Admissions
Take the Next Step

Interim Associate Chair Social Sciences
William Simson
[email protected]
770-274-5714

Administrative Assistant
Nancy Hallowell
[email protected]
770-274-5748

Associate Chair of History, Political Science & African American Studies
Crystal Garrett
[email protected]
770-274-5410

Administrative Assistant
Ortilia Perez-Harris
[email protected]
770-274-5409

Assistant Chair Cultural and Behavioral Sciences
Amanda Damarin
[email protected]
770-274-5372