What can you do with a African-American-Black Studies degree?

First, some facts. Of the African-American-Black Studies graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 60 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 48%, African-American-Black Studies graduates have a much lower likelihood (-19%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 41% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a African-American-Black Studies graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a African-American-Black Studies degree?
• What do African-American-Black Studies graduates do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a African-American-Black Studies degree? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a African-American-Black Studies degree?
• What are the best colleges for African-American-Black Studies?

View a random African-American-Black Studies graduate and our analysis:

Relevance score: 54% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2015 from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor's Degree in African-American-Black Studies. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Library Assistant Sunnyvale ISD Sep 2016 - Aug 2017 The Library Assistant position does not require knowledge or skills in African-American-Black Studies, focusing instead on library services and administrative tasks. Senior Sales Development Representative ProcurementIQ Sep 2017 - Jun 2018 As a Senior Sales Development Representative, the role does not utilize African-American-Black Studies knowledge, focusing instead on sales development and client interactions. Instructional Design Assistant Biola University Jan 2019 - Jun 2019 The Instructional Design Assistant position may somewhat benefit from a background in African-American-Black Studies, potentially contributing to culturally relevant course materials, but it is not directly aligned with core qualifications of the degree. Social Media Manager Goodsides Sep 2021 - Oct 2021 Being a Social Media Manager at Goodsides involves cultural messaging and promotion that could directly utilize knowledge from African-American-Black Studies, especially in engaging with diverse communities. Social Media Manager The Knowledge Stack Sep 2021 - Oct 2021 The role of Social Media Manager at The Knowledge Stack likely requires an understanding of cultural contexts and narratives, making it relevant to the skills developed in African-American-Black Studies. Social Media Director FAME Church LA May 2021 - May 2022 As a Social Media Director at FAME Church LA, the job could involve community engagement and messaging that is informed by principles from African-American-Black Studies, making it highly relevant. Social Media Director Monster Code Corporation / Glosdel Technologies Dec 2021 - Dec 2022 The position of Social Media Director at Monster Code Corporation / Glosdel Technologies likely includes the application of culturally aware communication strategies rooted in African-American-Black Studies, reflecting high relevance. Creative Director Change and Impact Sep 2021 - Dec 2023 As a Creative Director at Change and Impact, the role likely requires a deep understanding of cultural narratives and social impact, directly aligning with the skills from African-American-Black Studies. Founder/CEO Stretch Women Incorporated Oct 2019 - Present As the Founder/CEO at Stretch Women Incorporated, the job requires strategic and culturally aware leadership that utilizes knowledge from African-American-Black Studies, making it highly relevant. Owner Kimmie Price Feb 2016 - Present The position as Owner at Kimmie Price likely focuses on business operations that do not require skills specific to African-American-Black Studies, making it irrelevant. Next Steps Director & Women's Ministry Lead Oasis Church - Los Angeles Feb 2022 - Present The role of Next Steps Director & Women's Ministry Lead at Oasis Church - Los Angeles likely utilizes cultural knowledge and sensitivity informed by African-American-Black Studies, making it highly relevant. Creative Strategist Cauley & Associates, INC May 2024 - Present As a Creative Strategist at Cauley & Associates, INC, the position likely requires the application of cultural narratives and societal issues from African-American-Black Studies, indicating strong relevance. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Arts - MA Biola University 2018 - 2023 ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a African-American-Black Studies degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Teaching Artist
• Teacher
• Research Assistant
• Production Assistant
• Intern
• Legal Intern
• Career Counselor
• Student Teacher
• Senior Recruiter
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Intern

Analyzing the career paths of graduates with degrees in African-American-Black Studies reveals a diverse landscape of job roles that span various fields. Many of these roles are not directly related to the specific studies of race, culture, and history that the degree encompasses. Instead, graduates gravitate towards positions in education, community organization, customer service, and corporate settings, often finding work in environments that may prioritize general skills over specialized knowledge from their major. This suggests a trend where individuals educated in African-American-Black Studies are either not fully utilizing their training or are applying it in ways that don't directly reflect the core tenets of their studies.

Education appears to be one of the most relevant fields for many graduates, with numerous individuals taking on roles as teachers, educational coordinators, and counselors. These positions often involve applying culturally relevant pedagogy and addressing diverse student backgrounds, making them directly applicable to the themes of African-American-Black Studies. However, outside of education, several graduates find themselves in roles such as administrative assistants, customer service representatives, and other positions that may not demand knowledge of African-American culture or history. For example, being a Sales Associate or a Program Coordinator at a corporate entity generally focuses on operational skills rather than the specific insights learned in African-American-Black Studies.

Interestingly, there are also graduates who leverage their qualifications to work in social justice-focused roles, engage in community advocacy, or pursue positions within legal settings. These opportunities directly reflect the principles taught within African-American-Black Studies and highlight the potential for graduates to effect change in areas tied directly to the issues they studied. However, the reality is that not all positions align this closely with the degree's focus, leading to a portion of graduates in roles that, while perhaps rewarding, do not fully utilize the nuanced understanding of race, culture, and society that their education provided. Overall, the data suggests that while some graduates find ways to channel their degree into impactful careers, a significant number fall into roles that do not take full advantage of their training in African-American-Black Studies.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for African-American-Black Studies graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do African-American-Black Studies graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates with a degree in African-American-Black Studies, we see a pretty mixed bag of paths taken after graduation. Many individuals seem to secure positions that, while not directly related to their major, do have elements of service, community engagement, or education, which could reflect an underlying value centered on social justice and advocacy. For example, a graduate from Emory University is currently working as a College Coach, which is a role that reflects a commitment to helping others reach their educational goals. Another graduate from The University of the South climbed the education ladder quickly from a teaching residency to middle school coaching, showcasing a direct link to community-oriented professions.

However, when looking deeper, we find a significant number of graduates taking on jobs that don't really reflect the themes of African-American-Black Studies in any meaningful way. For instance, some graduates are working as office administrators or in customer service roles that seem quite far from the insights and discussions around race, culture, and identity that they studied. It's also noticeable that some jobs, like various teaching positions or roles within community organizations, align more closely with public service and advocacy but still don’t always connect directly back to their specific field of study. In the long term, the shift towards positions involving youth programs or community organizing seems promising, but for some individuals, the immediate post-graduation positions appear to lack a direct link to their studies or the progressive impact one might hope to see from such a degree.

In conclusion, while some graduates are successfully leveraging their African-American-Black Studies education into positive impact careers in education, community engagement, and advocacy, a lot are landing in jobs that seem either unrelated or lower in visibility concerning social justice issues. It's a mixed trajectory, with the potential for meaningful work in the community, but also a reality where many are navigating from their roots in academia to more traditional or unrelated job markets. So, while there's hope for a fulfilling career influenced by their studies for some, it's clear that the road could be challenging for many others looking to make a significant impact.

How hard is a African-American-Black Studies degree?

A Bachelor’s degree in African-American-Black Studies can be pretty manageable compared to some of the more technical fields out there, but that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. You’ll dive deep into history, culture, and social issues, which means a lot of reading, writing, and discussion. If you enjoy these topics and are willing to engage critically with them, you'll likely find it rewarding rather than super tough. But if you're not into reading essays or analyzing complex social dynamics, it might feel a bit challenging. Overall, it’s not necessarily easier or harder than average; it just depends on your interests and how much effort you're willing to put into it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in African-American-Black Studies.

Do African-American-Black Studies graduates tend to make good money?

Okay, let's break it down. Some of these folks seem to be really making strides in their careers and stashing away some decent cash, while others are still trying to find their footing. For example, the grad from Emory University has a mix of fellowships and coaching roles, which might not pay as much initially, but could lead to better opportunities down the road. On the flip side, someone from UCLA has been working at American Airlines since 2018—a solid company that likely pays decently, but customer service roles can sometimes come with their own challenges. The teaching roles seen in several graduates might be fulfilling but generally don’t pay as well as corporate jobs.

In short, if you look deeper, while many are on paths to potentially good salaries in areas like education, health care, or corporate roles, there’s still a good number who might be earning less now just starting out. It’s kind of a mixed bag regarding how much they’re making right now, but hopefully, they’re building skills and networks that will pay off big time in the future!

What buzzwords do African-American-Black Studies graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in African-American-Black Studies. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for African-American-Black Studies?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in African-American-Black Studies (ordered by the average relevance score of their African-American-Black Studies graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: