BA African & African American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis

Programme overview

No more than 3 credits of independent study can count toward the major; this includes internships, research assistantships, undergraduate teaching assistant positions, and directed research. Students are required to complete at least one semester of a foreign language.

Faculty: Arts & Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: St. Louis, MO, United States

What you will study

Major requires 31 units. Required courses include AFAS 1002 Foundations in African & African-American Studies; AFAS 2550 Introduction to Africana Studies; AFAS 4018 Approaches, Debates and Practices in Black Studies; AFAS 1107 Freshman Seminar: Self & Identity in African American Literature; AFAS 1108 Introduction to African Literature; AFAS 1240 Beats, Rhymes & Life: A Cultural History of Hip-Hop.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

No programme-specific admission requirements are listed for this major; admission is to Washington University through the Arts & Sciences (university-level application via admissions.washu.edu).

USD 71,310 a year (2026-27). Full-time undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 ($35,655 per semester) for the College of Arts & Sciences, Sam Fox School, Olin Business School and McKelvey School of Engineering; one rate for all students. Excludes the student activities fee, health and well Source

Entry term: Fall semester (applications for fall 2027 entry); spring transfer entry is also offered.

Spring Transfer and Fall Transfer applicants are admitted for the spring and fall semesters respectively.

First-year deadlines: Early Decision I and Early Action November 2 (Early Decision notification by December 15, Early Action by December 23); Early Decision II and Regular Decision January 4 (notification by February 14 and April 1 respectively). Transfer deadlines: Spring Transfer October 15; Fall Transfer March 1.

Applications are submitted through the Common Application or Coalition Application; the application fee is $75 (automatically waived for students applying for financial aid). SAT/ACT is optional (test-optional policy for fall 2027 entry).

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.washu.edu/

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