What can I do with this degree?
REHABILTATION COUNSELING
AREAS
HUMAN SERVICES
Counseling
Case Management
Advocacy
Mental Health Services
Programming
Administration
EMPLOYERS
Community service agencies
Advocacy groups
Federal, state, and local government
United Way agencies
Local branches of national non-profit organizations
Religiously-affiliated service organizations
Private foundations
Adoption and child care agencies Nursing homes and retirement communities
Hospitals and wellness centers
Halfway houses
Vocational services
Educational information services
Insurance companies
STRATEGIES
Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions. Spend summers working at social service agencies. Gain experience working with diverse populations. Develop excellent communication skills. Concentrate course work in an area of interest such as youth, gerontology, or poverty. Learn a second language in order to interact with non-English speakers and increase marketability. Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant, or other student leader. Earn a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or other related field to increase employment opportunities. Most states require licensure or certification for positions involving the direct provision of therapeutic services to clients.
AREAS
PUBLIC WELFARE
Administration and Planning
Case Management
Program Evaluation
Policy Setting
Research
EMPLOYERS
Public welfare agencies
Private social service agencies
STRATEGIES
Public welfare is designed to provide services and support for poor, disabled, ill, elderly, or juvenile clients. Volunteer at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, battered women homes, literacy programs, or other social service agencies to get experience.
AREAS
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Counseling/Therapy
Rehabilitation
Probation
Parole
Youth Services
Victim Assistance
EMPLOYERS
Prisons and correctional facilities
Courts
Police departments
Probation offices
Victim services organizations
STRATEGIES
Counselors in corrections focus on rehabilitation of clients. Obtain experience by volunteering at a corrections facility or victims program such as a rape crisis center. Earn a Criminal Justice Counseling Specialist Certificate of Advanced Study or a Victim Services Certificate.
AREAS
EDUCATION
School Counseling
Student Services
Research
EMPLOYERS
Public and private schools
Colleges and universities
Adult education providers
STRATEGIES
In addition to Practicum or Field Placement, volunteer or seek additional paid positions. Assist a professor with research. Develop exceptional written and oral communication skills. Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.
AREAS
GOVERNMENT
Social Statistics
Demography
Public Administration
Policy Analysis
Research
Program Development
Human Services
City Planning
Law Enforcement
EMPLOYERS
Federal departments and agencies such as: Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, Veteran’s Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Aging
State and local government, Peace Corps.
STRATEGIES
Supplement curriculum with coursework in statistics and social research. Develop exceptional computer, communication, and research skills. Gain work experience via government internships, part-time jobs, or summer work. Develop a specialty such as aging, family, criminal justice, or healthcare. Learn the federal job application process. Consider beginning a career with the government by joining the military.
AREAS
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
Research
Data Analysis
Demography
Market Research
Information Sourcing
EMPLOYERS
Universities
Government agencies
Research institutes
Non-profit agencies
Community organizations
Private industries
Advertising and marketing firms
Consulting organizations
Information brokers
Newspapers, magazines, news agencies
Public opinion research polls
STRATEGIES
Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills. Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs. Volunteer to help a professor with a research project.
Network with professionals working in areas of interest. Gain experience
working on teams.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Many transferable skills such as analytical, organizational, research, interpersonal, computer, leadership, teamwork, and oral/written communication are associated with the Africana studies degree.
Internships, part-time jobs, summer jobs, and/or volunteer experiences are critical.
An undergraduate degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions in business, industry, and government; however, a graduate degree is likely to be more desirable in a competitive market.
An undergraduate degree in Africana studies is great preparation for graduate or professional education in sociology, law, counseling, psychology, social work, medicine, education, college student personnel, higher education administration, and other related fields. Research pre-requisites for graduate or professional programs of interest.
To enhance graduate or professional school opportunities, maintain a high grade point average, secure strong faculty recommendations, join student or professional organizations, and gain relevant experience outside of the classroom through work, internship, volunteer, and research opportunities.
A Ph.D. is required for teaching at the four-year university level.
For human or social service positions, gain experience with a population of interest (i.e., children, college students, elderly adults) and develop multicultural sensitivity and understanding.
Talk with professionals working in areas of interest.