The African American Studies Department at Loyola Marymount University is devoted to the scholarly examination of the varied social, cultural, economic, political, and spiritual forces that impact the lived experiences of African-descended peoples in the Americas and beyond. In so doing, we focus on the dynamics of the communities African-descended peoples create and their contributions to the societies they inhabit. As an interdisciplinary field, African American Studies draws upon the insights of the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Economics Political Science, Psychology, Sociology), the Humanities (History, Literature, Law, Philosophy, Theology), and the Arts (Visual and Performing) to foster a deeper understanding of the experiences of African-descended peoples and those of the wider human community. Students taking the B.A. degree in African American Studies gain a broad education, develop critical thinking skills, learn effective written and oral communication, and are prepared for both meaningful and informed interactions with the diverse peoples comprising the global community.