Central to the work of students and faculty in the concentration is the close collaboration of artists, scholars and writers in examining relationships between academic and artistic knowledge about the world and human experience. Concentrators work closely with faculty members in developing new knowledge about the world and human existence through the critical and comprehensive study of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora. Concentrators are encouraged to study abroad in Africa, the Caribbean and/or Latin America and to acquire language competency in a language other than English spoken in Africa and the diaspora.