The central mission of the Black Studies Department is to prepare students to critically understand, conduct research, and interpret the complex histories, societies, and cultures of Africans and people of African descent in the United States and the global Diaspora.

The Department's interdisciplinary design encourages specialization within the University of Missouri's broad liberal arts and social science curricula. As a result, students and faculty may conduct research that develops new or builds upon existing concepts, theories, and approaches to the study of the evolving experiences and contributions of Africans and the Diaspora. In so doing, Black Studies prepares students to competently participate in diverse and competitive global societies where they may contribute viable practical solutions to critical challenges on multiple levels.