About Us
Since 1973, Kentucky’s only comprehensive Black Studies department has prepared students to understand Black life, history and culture across Africa and its diaspora – and to lead.
Explore Comprehensive Programs
Pan-African Studies offers a BA and a BS; minors in Pan-African Studies, Black Performance Studies and Race/Gender Studies; and graduate study through the MA, the PhD and a graduate certificate. Every path builds the critical thinking, research, writing and public engagement skills that careers in law, education, public service, health and the arts demand.
Connect With Us
History & Mission
Pan-African Studies traces its origins to the campus unrest of the late 1960s. The first Black Studies courses at the University of Louisville were offered in the summer of 1969, in response to the demands of African American students and their community allies. After hiring a small complement of faculty, the department was formally established in 1973.
Many Black Studies programs across the country soon disappeared, but Pan-African Studies endured through the 1970s and 1980s thanks to the dedication of its faculty, students and community supporters. In 1990–91, then-President Donald C. Swain approved a Plan to Enhance the Department of Pan-African Studies, opening the way for the department’s expansion.
More than 50 years after its founding, Pan-African Studies is the only Black Studies department in Kentucky with a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum, graduate programs and a strong commitment to research and service. Today the department offers a BA and a BS, three minors and graduate study through the MA, the PhD and a graduate certificate.
Who We Serve
Pan-African Studies welcomes students from every background and academic path: majors and double majors, minors who pair PAS with their primary field and students from across the university who take PAS courses to fulfill Cardinal Core requirements or explore subjects that interest them.
At the graduate level, we serve students in the MA and PhD programs, along with graduate students in other disciplines who deepen their knowledge through the graduate certificate. Whether you’re preparing for a career, pursuing advanced study, fulfilling a requirement or exploring new perspectives, Pan-African Studies offers you the chance to engage critically with the histories, cultures and experiences of people of African descent – and their significance in the world today.
Frequently Asked Questions
A lot! Pan-African Studies majors build careers in education, law, business, social work, journalism, health care, public service, social justice and equity work and the arts – and many go on to graduate or professional school. Like other humanities and social science majors, PAS develops the critical thinking, research, communication and analytical skills to navigate complex problems in many professions.
Absolutely! Pair Pan-African Studies with another major to explore complementary interests. We offer both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science, giving you flexibility if you’re pursuing more than one major. Talk with an academic advisor about how PAS fits your degree plan.
Yes! The Pan-African Studies minor deepens your understanding of Black histories, cultures, experiences and contributions while you pursue another major – whether you’re headed for education, health care, business, the arts or another field. We also offer minors in Black Performance Studies (jointly with Theatre Arts) and Race/Gender Studies (jointly with Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies).
Pan-African Studies explores the histories, cultures, ideas and experiences of people of African descent across the African continent and its global diasporas. Courses examine Black history and culture, religion, politics, social movements, popular culture and contemporary issues affecting Black communities – and connect them to broader questions about society, power, identity and social change.
Yes! Every PAS major completes an internship as part of the degree. You’ll identify or develop a site connected to your interests, your career goals and the mission of Black Studies – in schools, legal offices, community organizations, health care institutions, media organizations, cultural institutions and more.
Close-knit. You’ll build relationships with faculty and fellow students through department events, cultural programming and community-engaged activities – and the new PAS student study lounge gives you a dedicated place to study, connect and build community outside the classroom.
Transform Your Passion for Justice Into Your Career
Ready to turn your commitment to community and justice into professional impact? Explore Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville — Kentucky's only comprehensive Black Studies department, building leaders and scholars since 1973.