At a Glance

Over the course of its 40 year history, the Woodson Institute has advanced the field of Black Studies and supported undergraduate students at UVA as a program in African American and African Studies. In 2017, the Woodson achieved departmental status to formalize its position as an academic department. As a department, the Woodson is committed to training the next generation of thinkers as well as the general public about issues of race, social justice, and inequality. The core of this work is the African American and African Studies major and minor, which exposes students to critical inquiry and discussion about the lives and experiences of people in the African diaspora. Global in context, rigorous in content, the department's teaching emphasizes intellectual intersections, cross-cultural connections, and real-world applications. 

Our majors in African American and African Studies have taken their education to pursue a wide range of careers in law, K-12 education and higher education, medicine, non-profit sector, business and consulting. As you plan your academic and professional career, review the programs and opportunities offered at the Woodson Institute.