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- African American Studies
African American Studies
Industry Areas
Here are examples of industry areas students enter with this major, jobs/internships, typical employers that hire students, skills employers look for, and examples of where alumni work. To find more information make an appointment with your career counselor/advisor.
Industry|Employers |
Job|Roles |
Skills |
Alumni |
Education • Universities and colleges |
• Teaching • Research • Student Support Services • Student Affairs • Multicultural Programming • Administration • Information/Library Science |
K-12: • Coordination • public speaking • critical thinking • writing • social perceptiveness • complex problem solving Higher Ed: • Research • Writing • critical thinking • Judgment and decision making • presentations |
• Teach for America Chicago Public Schools, Teacher • Prairie View A&M University, History Professor • Westwood College, Admissions Advisor • Northwestern University - Medill - Journalism, Professor Clinical • Urban Prep Academy, Institutional Advancement Officer • Hawthorn School of Dual Language, 5th Grade Dual Language Teacher • Score! Educational Center, Educational Director • Johnson College Prep, Teacher • Lake Forest Academy, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Coach • KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth, Talent Manager |
Human Services • Hospitals and clinics • Residential treatment facilities • Private and group practice • Correctional institutions • Federal, state, or local government agencies |
• Counseling/Therapy |
• strong interpersonal skills |
• Chicago Lakeshore Hospital, Mental Health Counselor |
Advocacy (Nonprofit) • Organizations committed to racial and civil rights |
• Domestic and International Advocacy • Humanitarian Services Development: Economic • Community • Housing • Disaster/Disease Relief • HIV/AIDS Advocacy • Policy Development • Program Administration • Education • Volunteer Coordination • Grant Writing • Fundraising/Development |
• Creativity • Multi-tasking • Interpersonal • Time Management • Service Orientation • Writing • Social • Perceptiveness • Enthusiasm & knowledge for the cause |
United Nations World Food Programme, Head of Online Fundraising and Email Marketing (Rome, Italy) Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF), Executive Director Careers In Nonprofits, Inc, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives Hyde Family Foundation, Program Director Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, Director of Individual Giving and Events The Chicago Taskforce on Violence Against Girls & Young Women, Co-Coordinator |
Business • Banks and financial institutions |
• Training and Development • Human Resources • Equity and Diversity Functions • Management • Sales • Customer Service • Marketing • Advertising • Public Relations • Consulting |
• Problem-Solving Skills • Analytical Thinking Skills • Leadership & Team Based Skills • Business Judgment • Communication Skills • Project Management • Professionalism |
• PepsiCo.- Sales Associate • WDB Marketing, Owner • JP Morgan Chase, Vice President • McMaster-Carr, Warehouse Supervisor • Amazon, Senior Product Manager • Bud Light Experiential Marketing, Manager |
Journalism • Newspapers, magazines |
• Writing: Creative Freelance Copy • Editing • Publishing • Museum Work: Curatorship • Exhibition Design |
• advanced verbal and written communication • flexibility and versatility • ability to research and think critically • strong interpersonal skills • creativity • editing and attention to detail • teamwork • active listening and interviewing • time management • computer and technical skills |
Writer, CNN American Express Company, Communications Specialist Working Mother Magazine, Bonnier Corp., Editorial Asst. Self Employed, Freelance Editor and Writer The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Head Writer Black Star Media, Writer and Director The Onion, Features Contributor |
Law • Law firms• Corporate legal departments • Public defender offices • District attorneys • Public interest groups • Legal aid • Sole practitioner • Government agencies • Lobbying groups |
• Corporate • Public Interest • Government Relations • Elected or Appointed Leadership • Public Policy • Research • Intelligence • Campaign Management • Special Interest Advocacy • Immigration Services • Program Administration |
• Administrative • Analytical Thinking • Attention to Detail • Time Management • Writing Skills • Active Learning |
• Zurich North America, Corporate Counsel • Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Lawyer • Office of the Mayor, General Counsel, Mayor's Office of International Affairs • Bay Area Legal Aid, Program Staff Attorney • Mindcrest, Inc., Legal Analyst • UC Berkeley, Associate Campus Counsel |
Medicine • Hospitals• Medical centers and clinics • Pharmaceutical companies • Private and group practice • Health networks • Nursing homes • Rehabilitation centers • Colleges or universities • Correctional facilities • Armed services • Government agencies • State and local public health departments |
• Medicine • Dentistry • Optometry • Podiatry • Pharmacy • Veterinary Medicine • Allied Health • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Genetics • Public Health |
• Flexibility • Cross functional teamwork • Analytical ability • Communication skills • Time and project management |
• Brown Spinal Care, Chiropractor • Morristown Memorial Hospital, Doctor • Mt. Sinai Hospital, Senior Network Analyst • South Side Health and Vitality Studies, Research Coordinator • ENH Medical Group, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Physician |
Popular Industries (According to LinkedIn)
- Education (23%)
- Media and Communication (12%)
- Research (11%)
- Program and Project Management (7%)
- Community and Social Services (6%)
- Entrepreneurship (6%)
- Legal (5%)