Department of Geography, Sociology, History, Africana Studies & Anthropology at Chicago State University

Ida Wells StatueCSU’s Department of Geography, Sociology, History, Africana Studies and Anthropology (GSHAA) is a dynamic, community-focused department. The department is dedicated to the promotion of social justice and equity in a rapidly changing and challenging world.

Each program in the GSHAA Department serves the State of Illinois, Chicago’s South Side and southern suburbs, and students from all over the world. We provide quality instruction employing pertinent scholarly and technological methods. Our scholarship and practice focuses on the intersecting arenas of environment, economy, and community.

Claims about GSHAA Dpeartment

  *IPEDS 21-22 Data Collection: Fall 2021 Enrollment, Student-to-Faculty Ratio

**GSHAA Department Resources

***CSU Course Schedules, Fall 2021-Summer 2022 (includes 75 or 78 total classes)

Degrees and Programs

GSHAA offers a wide variety of educational programs.

Degrees offered: 

  • A Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology
  • A Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Africana Studies, with three concentration options (Africana Studies; History-Liberal Arts; and History-Secondary Education)
  • A Master of Arts degree in History
  • A Master of Arts degree in Geography, with an optional concentration in Geographic Information Science (GIScience)

 

Certificate and licensure programs offered:

  • Graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Graduate certificate in Community Development
  • Graduate certificate in Archives and Records Management
  • A Post-Baccalaureate Licensure in Social Studies Education

 

Minors offered: 

  • Africana Studies
  • Geography
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Gerontology
  • History
  • Social Work
  • Sociology

Careers

Our programs provide you useful skills for careers or further training in a wide variety of fields including education, law, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), community development, social services, urban data analysis, city government, Geographic Information Systems, and much more.

History and Africana Studies graduates are well prepared for careers in business as cultural services or DEI managers, as well as teachers and writers, and working in international affairs. A Sociology degree focuses on the ways that societies work. A degree in Sociology can lead you to a career in social work, social services, teaching, community leadership, or even marketing. Similarly, a Geography degree can lead towards work in urban planning, community development, environmental management, or more technical jobs in Geographic Information Systems, computer programming, cartography, or more.

Learn More About Our Careers

Have you ever wondered how your major might help you after you graduate? See this new academic major report for the state of Illinois! 

This tool contains useful data on how graduates from different majors are doing in the labor market: How much money are they earning? What industries are they working in? How much debt do they graduate with? What occupations are they likely to hold? Whether declaring an initial major, or switching majors, use this tool to better inform you of your choices!

 

Contact Us

Sociology Program Advisors:

Dr. Judith Birgen

jbirgen@csu.edu

(773) 995-3747

Geography Program Advisor (includes MA in Geography and Post-Baccalaureate Programs in GIScience and Community Development):

Dr. Tekleab Gala

tgala@csu.edu

(773) 995-4435

History and Africana Studies Advisor (includes History Liberal Arts, History Secondary Ed and Africana Studies Options and History MA)

Dr. Suzuko Morikawa

smorikaw@csu.edu

(773) 995-2363

Department Chair of Geography, Sociology, History, Africana Studies & Anthropology

Dr. Daniel Block
(773) 995-2310