Careers In Africana & Latinx Studies

Areas

• Counseling/Therapy
• Mental health services
• Case management
• Rehabilitation
• Vocational training
• Crisis services
• Programming
• Community relations and outreach

Employers

• Mental health institutions
• Hospitals and clinics
• Residential treatment facilities
• Private and group practice
• Correctional institutions
• Federal, state, or local government:
• Department of Human Services
• Veterans Administration
• Organizations that aid minorities, immigrants, and
• refugees or focus on cultural issues
• Youth organizations and camps (e.g., YMCA,
• Boys and Girls Club)
• Nonprofit and social services organizations (e.g., United Way, Red Cross, Goodwill
• Industries, Salvation Army, etc.)
• Immigrant and refugee service providers

Strategies

• Supplement curriculum with courses in psychology,
• social work, or child and family studies. Consider a double major or minor.
• Obtain a graduate degree in psychology, counseling,
• or social work to provide therapy.
• Gain experience through volunteer opportunities, internships, and/or part-time jobs.
• Develop multi-cultural competence.
• Volunteer with organizations that assist people of diverse backgrounds, such as ones providing services to refugees and immigrants.
• Participate in training opportunities (e.g., suicide prevention or crisis hotline response)
• Learn to work well with different types of people and gain experience working with diverse clientele.
• Acquire knowledge of government and community resources available for those in need

Areas

• Domestic/International advocacy
• Humanitarian services
• Development: Economic, Community, Housing
• Disaster/Disease relief
• HIV/AIDS advocacy
• Policy development
• Program administration
• Education
• Volunteer coordination
• Grant writing
• Research
• Fundraising/Development

Employers

• Organizations committed to racial and civil rights, (e.g., National Association of the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP), National Action Network, 100 Black Men)
• Community action agencies
• Nonprofit organizations (e.g., National Black Business Council)
• Private voluntary organizations
• Faith based organizations (FBOs) and churches International aid and relief organizations
• NGO's (Non-governmental Organizations) (e.g., Action Aid, Oxfam, International Red Cross)
• Federal government agencies with an international focus (e.g., Peace Corps, USAID, and the Foreign Service, State Department) or focus on community assistance (e.g., Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Health and Human Services)
• State and local government agencies

Strategies

• Volunteer at relevant local social service agencies to gain experience and demonstrate interest.
• Participate in campus "alternative break" trips or church-led mission trips to places such as the Caribbean, South America, or Africa.
• Develop excellent research, writing, communica­tion, and organizational skills. Learn how to motivate individuals and groups.
• Gain leadership roles in campus organizations (e.g., the NAACP.
• Learn a language spoken in Africa (e.g., Swahili or Zulu).
• Plan to study abroad or volunteer in Africa.
• Seek cultural experiences on campus and get in­volved with the international student population.
• Earn a relevant graduate degree to prepare for this work.
• More opportunities exist in urban areas and large communities.

Areas

• Training and development Human resources
• Equity and diversity functions Management
• Sales
• Customer service
• Marketing
• Advertising
• Public relations
• Consulting

Employers

• Public and private corporations in various industries:
  • Banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, retail stores, hotels and restaurants, consumer goods manufacturers, and businesses targeting black clientele
• Staffing agencies
• Consulting firms
• Marketing companies
• Public relations agencies

Strategies

• Double major or minor in business.
• Gain business experience through internships and/or part-time jobs.
• Join campus organizations or professional societies and seek leadership roles.
• Understand the top skills employers desire and be prepared to demonstrate them, such as communication (oral and written), computer, interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork.
• Conduct informational interviews with professionals to learn more about career fields.
• When job searching, seek employers interested in hiring "any major."
• Learn how to sell your Africana Studies major to companies that value cultural diversity.
• Be willing to start in a management-trainee program or other entry-level positions.
• Earn an MBA or a graduate degree in another area of interest for greater opportunities.

Areas

• Journalism
• Writing:
  • Creative
  • Freelance
  • Editing
  • Publishing
• Museum work:
  • Curatorship
  • Exhibition design

Employers

• Newspapers, magazines, websites
• Broadcast media companies including television, movie, and radio
• Trade, professional, or consumer publications
• Publications and Internet sites marketed toward African Americans (e.g., Ebony, Essence)
• Advertising agencies
• Publishing houses
• Large corporations
• Self-employment/Freelance
• Museums and galleries

Strategies

• Take courses in English, journalism, and/or communications. Consider a double major or minor.
• Write for campus publications such as college newspapers, magazines, or department/program newsletters.
• Volunteer to assist or tutor students in a writing center.
• Intern with a publishing house, magazine, or other relevant organizations.
• Seek opportunities for recognition and networking through writing contests and freelance writing submissions.
• Create a portfolio of writing samples.
• Become familiar with the proposal and submission process involved in freelance writing.
• Obtain a graduate degree for museum work.

Areas

• Law: Corporate, Public interest, Civil, International
• Lobbying
• Government relations
• Elected or appointed leadership Public Policy
• Research
• Intelligence
• Campaign management Special interest advocacy Immigration services
• Program administration

Employers

• Law firms
• Corporate legal departments
• Public defender offices
• District attorneys
• Public interest groups (e.g., Southern Poverty Law Center)
• Legal aid
• Sole practitioner
• Government agencies (e.g., US African Development Agency)
• Lobbying groups

Strategies

• Obtain a J.D. for law positions or an advanced degree in political science, public administration, or public policy for government positions. Supplement curriculum with relevant courses to prepare for law school.
• Consider a double major or minor in areas such as economics, political science, or history.
• Maintain a high GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations.
• Prepare for and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
• Participate in activities that develop strong debate and public speaking skills such as mock trial.
• Get involved with the pre-law society on campus.
• Gain relevant experience through jobs or internships with law firms, government agencies, or mediation centers.
• Consider studying abroad for international experience.