Bachelor in African-American/Black Studies (Bachelor's)

At Smith College, tuition is Tuition for the 2024–2025 academic year is $63,800..

This programme is an interdisciplinary academic field focused on the study of Black experiences across global contexts. It examines how race intersects with gender, sexuality, class, nation, and religion in historical and contemporary settings. Students engage with theoretical frameworks and research methods to analyze social, political, and cultural dynamics. The programme emphasizes critical analysis of power structures and the preservation of marginalized histories.

Focus areas include Black women's studies, oral history and archival practice, race and popular culture, Black queer studies, African diaspora, racial politics.

The programme requires 36 credits, distributed across foundational courses, advanced seminars, and a senior thesis. Students complete a capstone research project based on original inquiry.

Graduates pursue careers in public writing, cultural criticism, archival work, and advocacy organizations focused on racial justice.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Submission of transcripts, personal statement, and two academic references is necessary.

The programme totals about 36 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 20% of applicants.

Residential life is central to Smith. The college has 40 self-governing houses rather than conventional dorms, and most students live on campus throughout their college career. House communities bring together students from all four class years and sustain traditions such as Friday afternoon tea. The campus includes Paradise Pond, formed in the 18th century by a dam on the Mill River. It serves as a campus attraction and a living laboratory for science students. Smith is in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Smith’s open curriculum gives students room to shape an education across disciplines. Current students combine fields such as computer science and psychology, sociology and landscape studies, or neuroscience and chemistry. The college supports paths into STEM, the humanities, graduate study, professional school, and service programs. Career support begins when students arrive, with nine career advisers, internship opportunities, conference funding, fellowships advising, and access to Smith Career Connect. Eighty-seven percent of graduates complete at least one internship while at Smith.

International students can draw on a worldwide alumni network of 53,000 people in more than 130 countries. Praxis grants support unpaid internships around the world, while Smith’s fellowship advising includes opportunities such as the Fulbright program. Recent student experiences have included work connected to Ghana, international taekwondo competition, and climate research in Rhode Island. The college’s location in Northampton places campus life within a Massachusetts setting while its academic and alumni networks extend well beyond the United States.