by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, African studies was the 889th most popular major nationwide with 213 degrees awarded. This 33 less than the prior year, a decrease of 15.5%.
Our 2023 Best African Studies Schools ranking analyzes 12 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for African studies students. Explore this or one of our many other custom African studies rankings further below.
When studying African Studies, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Talking to others to convey information effectively and teaching others how to do something are all required skills for careers related to this major.
African studies degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional African studies certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different African studies degree levels. African Studies programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest African studies degree you can get. The type of African studies degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to African studies, with approximately 60.5% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to African studies tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 61.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 31.5% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 4.0% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.3% |
| First Professional Degree | 1.1% |
64.5% of African studies workers have at least a doctorate. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in African studies have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which African studies career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your African studies degree? African Studies careers are expected to grow 10.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to African studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Professors | 12,700 | 10.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for African studies graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for African studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers African studies grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Professors | $85,450 |
With over 106 different African studies degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased African studies school rankings to help you with this.
One of 30 majors within the Area Studies area of study, African Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American U.S. Studies | 1,419 |
| Asian Studies | 925 |
| Area Studies, Other | 775 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 686 |
| Latin American Studies | 632 |
Image Credit: By Karl Udo Gerth under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
