
The University of Maryland African American and Africana Studies graduates have been successful in many fields post-graduation. AAAS majors work in many areas including advocacy, human services, government, policy, and entertainment. Using information from the University of Maryland graduation survey, we have compiled information about AAAS majors, such as where they work or go to graduate school post-graduation. Use this information as a place to start exploring your career interests. Review additional resources below and on the Feller Center's website.
Quick View: Careers and Skills related to AAAS Major
Explore Career Paths
Start Planning
Start Exploring Career Titles/Work Areas
Use the sample job and internship titles (mentioned above) to start exploring career paths. The links below provide a short overview of the positions. Review more career areas related to this major as well as tips to succeed.
- Career Exploration Toolkit, self-paced activities to provide greater career clarification
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, a career title dictionary
- O*NET Online, the nation's primary source of occupational information
- FOCUS2, explore career paths using self-assessment questionnaires
- Terrapins Connect, talk with professionals working in the field through UMD’s alumni network
- Federal positions by major, research career titles with the federal government related to your major
- FirstHand (formerly Vault) Guides, browse 100’s of industry guides to gain inside tips
- African civilization
- Artistic development
- Black community
- Black culture
- Black history
- Civil rights
- Correction facilities (youth/adult and private/public)
- Cultural anthropology
- Economic development
- Education
- Halfway houses and pre-release programs
- Immigration and naturalization services
- Justice
- Law
- Local, state, and federal courts
- Nonprofit organizations
- Police department: State, City, County
- Policy research
- Political development
- Psychology
- Public management/ policy
- Racism
- Reintegration programs
- Social change
- Social issues
- Urban planning
- Youth group home
Resources: Career Planning & Graduate School
Explore career path options with these resources:
- Careers in social worker
- Demography careers
- What is needed for law school?
- USAJobs, federal openings | Explore federal job titles by major
Policy:
- Identify organizations and issues of interest: U.S. and public policy issues by country, Think tanks based in Washington, D.C.
- Visit FirstHand’s Guide to Politics, Public Policy, and Activism Jobs for detailed tips.
- Tips for breaking into the field of Public Policy, UMD Panel Notes
Politics:
Political internships are for all majors; the experience benefits students within all majors. It is an excellent networking opportunity as well as hard evidence on a resume that the student can work in a fast paced environment. Students also build communication, written, and interpersonal skills. Review this Guide to Political Jobs and Internships to get started!
Start researching your career path of interest to identify the educational requirements. The list below offers a brief overview of some of the more popular graduate degree programs and institutions our AASD undergraduates have attended.
- African American Studies, Ph.D.
- Law, J.D.
- Medicine, M.D.
- Psychology, M.S.
- Psychology, Ph.D.
- Public Health, M.P.H.
- Public Policy, M.P.P. - University of Maryland, College Park
- Social Work, M.S.W.
- Student Affairs, M.A.
- Urban Planning, M.S.
Graduate School Resources: Researching programs:
- Questions to consider before applying
- Application timeline: stay on track with your graduate school application
- Tips for completing the application
- Financing ideas for graduate school
- Graduate School listing, LASC
- Law School Prep Resources
Market Skills Developed: AAAS Major
Skills lead to jobs. Which skills do you possess?
- Assess your abilities, interests, and values and explore how they relate to career options.
- Skills inventory - get started identifying your unique assets.
African American & Africana Studies majors have skills in…Review learning objectives.
- Accumulating and interpreting information
- Analysis
- Contending analytical and theoretical approaches
- Oral and written communication
- Proactivity and initiative
- Quantitative and qualitative methods
- Research
- Understanding of multidisciplinary work

Skills lead to jobs. Which skills do you possess?
- Careers and Skills related to AAAS Major
- Assess your skills, abilities, interests, and values.
- LinkedIn Learning skill based videos.
Highlight your skills in your application materials.
Gain Experience
Internships are a great way to try out an interest, regardless if they are directly related to your major. Employers tend to favor job seekers who have had an internship in the field they are hiring for.
Sample internship titles/sites
- Campaign Inter, Fair Sentencing of Youth
- Community Impact Intern, United Way of Frederick County
- Congressional Intern, U.S. House of Representatives
- Counselor Intern. Parks & People Foundation
- Digital Intern, U.S. House of Representatives
- Family and Community Engagement Intern, Institute for Educational Leadership
- Intern, Black Child Development Institute
- Intern, National Council for Negro Women
- Intern, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
- Intern, WUSA 9 News
- Major Investigations Unit Intern, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City
- Marketing Intern, Live Nation Entertainment
- Politics Marketing Intern, Blavity
- Public Service Aide Intern, Prince George’s County Council
- Research Assistant, Center for Substance Abuse Research
- Research Assistant Intern, American Institutes for Research
- Research Intern, The Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. Center for Education, Justice and Ethics
- U.S. Africa Business Center Intern, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Sample list of opportunities
- Start your search with these tips
- Handshake - check out job and internship openings for off-campus positions for UMD students
- UMD National Scholarships Office - review a listing of opportunities for UMD
- Federal government internships - links to openings and application tips
- Access Tom Manatos list of internship & job openings for government and political positions
The UMD Department of African American Studies Student opportunities
Prepare to apply: Tips to customize your resume, cover letter, etc.

Review notes from a recent What to Do with a Major in African American Studies panel of professionals.
BSOS Students Gain Experience Through:
Build Connections
After researching career paths, consider talking with people working in your field of interest to gain inside information. The links below provide sample events where you may be able to meet professionals in your field of interest. Use these opportunities to learn more about your field of interest, establish new networking contacts, and informational interviews.
- Career Events for BSOS students
- University Career Center Event Calendar
- Terrapins Connect, is an online platform that allows students’ virtual access to UMD alumni who have volunteered to share industry specific information, conduct resume reviews, etc.
- Use LinkedIn to locate alumni & recruiters
- Intern for a Day, matches students with professionals working in a field of interest to shadow for the day or offer informational interviews; offered in the fall and spring
- Get contact information: Employer & Industry notes for BSOS majors
- The National Association for Multicultural Education, Advancing and Advocating for Social Justice & Equity.
- Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), attend events to learn about international affairs careers and research graduate programs
- Foreign Policy Association, is to serve as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding, and informed opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global issues.
- InterAction, is an alliance organization in Washington, D.C. of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and works to end poverty and help the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, produces many resources for a wide variety of audiences.
- Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.