The Program is designed to provide students with the flexibility to design courses of study that reflect their individual interests and are responsive to emerging fields of research within African, African American, and African Diaspora Studies. The program's requirements have also been specifically designed so that dual degree students can complete all requirements in both programs. The Program admits students for the PhD degree only. All applicants will automatically be considered for fellowship awards. All students in good standing are provided full tuition and living stipends.
The three tracks of concentration in African Studies, African American Studies, or Diaspora Studies will allow students to select both a topical and an area studies sub-field. Hence, for example, a student who wishes to study public policy can do so while focusing attention on the experiences of African peoples in specific locations in the United States, South America, Africa, or the Caribbean.
Prospective students must identify which track they will pursue during the first year of study; however, double track concentrations are welcomed and encouraged.
To obtain the PhD, students will be required to meet the following requirements:
The Core Program consists of four courses taught by Center for Studies faculty and can be shaped to emphasize their particular areas of expertise. In some cases, other courses may serve as alternatives for fulfilling these requirements.
In addition to the four first-year courses, students must take two additional methodology courses by the end of their second year in either:
Apart from the Core and Second-Tier Courses, no other specific courses are required. The remaining courses of the 20-course unit requirement are expected to satisfy disciplinary standards and are chosen in consultation with faculty advisors.
All students must pass a Preliminary Examination in May of their first year. The Preliminary Examination is a two-day (four hours each day) examination that is based on the four Core Courses. Two graduate group members will administer and evaluate the student's performance. The exam is graded Pass/Fail. A satisfactory performance on the examination is a requirement for an A.M. degree in the program. A superior performance is a requirement for continuation in the program as a Ph.D. candidate.
Students whose research is conducted in a language other than English are required to pass an examination in a language of library research. In order to pass, the candidate must translate into English at a level that demonstrates an ability to do library research reliably in the language. Students should take the examination in a language that they are likely to need in their doctoral research. The examination can be taken in any language spoken in Africa or the African Diaspora except English. To receive an A.M. degree, the student must demonstrate proficiency in at least one non-native language relevant to his or her program.
Students who select the African track will be required to take a minimum of four courses (two years) of an African language, such as those required for undertaking field research in Africa or the Diaspora.
In order to fulfill the research requirement of the Graduate Council of the Faculties, each student must submit an A.M. paper. This paper will normally be written in the context of a graduate course and, if necessary, revised for this occasion. The student's faculty advisory committee must approve the A.M. paper.
The Ph.D. Oral Examination is taken a semester after the completion of coursework. Students are examined in four related fields of specialization (two major and two minor). Committee members will work with students to identify four fields of specialization relating to their dissertation project. Students will then be expected to work with committee members to develop comprehensive reading lists in each of those four fields. Students must be prepared to discuss the relevant scholarly debates and histories of those fields in an examination setting. At the end of the examination, the candidate's performance will be evaluated and graded, either pass with distinction, pass, pass conditionally upon specified further work, re-examination at a later date, or fail. To be admitted to candidacy, students must pass the Oral Examination.
A doctoral dissertation in the program is expected to be a substantial work of original scholarship demonstrating theoretical sophistication and intensive research. Ph.D. candidates are expected to begin full-time research on their dissertation projects immediately upon passing their comprehensive examinations. During the third year of graduate study (or in the case of students with A.M.s, in the second term of the second year), candidates will submit a dissertation proposal to and receive the approval of all members of their advisory committees.
