Graduate Certificate in African-American Studies
The central objective of the Department of African & African-American Studies (AAAS) in this certificate program is to formally recognize the expertise students in a range of disciplines already obtain in African-American Studies in a manner that enhances students' career opportunities. The Graduate Certificate in African-American Studies enables graduate students to formally claim expertise in an area of the field of African-American Studies through completion of 12 hours of graduate coursework.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Admissions criteria
Eligibility criteria for admission to the certificate program follow Graduate Studies' admission policy.
Application Deadlines
The application deadline for non-KU students is August 1 for fall admission and December 15 for spring admission.
Current KU students must officially apply to the certificate program before the fourth and final course requirement is completed.
Current KU Graduate Students
Current graduate students wishing to enroll in the graduate certificate program will apply through the Office of Graduate Admissions. A student must be in good standing with their current graduate degree program in order to participate in the certificate program. A graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for admission. The application must include:
- A letter stating your interest in African-American Studies and its relationship to your graduate course of study
- An unofficial copy of your KU transcript or a current copy of your Degree Progress Report (DPR)
- A letter of support from your graduate degree program
Non-KU Graduate Students
Non-KU graduate students must complete an application through the Office of Graduate Admissions for admission into the certificate program. The application must include:
- A letter stating your interest in African-American Studies Graduate Certificate
- Copies of official transcripts from all previous post-secondary educational institutions
- Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic work or potential for graduate study
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Requirements | ||
| AAAS 801 | Introduction to Africana Studies: African-American | 3 |
| In close consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, a student designs a coherent sequence of 3 elective courses. All courses must be taken at the 500 level or above. At least 1 of the elective courses (3 credit hours) must be taken at the 700 level of above. Only courses with an African-American focus may count toward the required hours. No more than 3 hours of directed readings or independent study may be counted. At least 2 of the elective courses must be taken with a AAAS faculty member. | 9 | |
| The Civil Rights Movement | ||
| African-American Studies in: _____ | ||
| Gender, Culture, and Migration | ||
| Slavery in the New World | ||
| Migration, Diasporas and Development | ||
| Black American Literature | ||
| The Life and Intellectual Thought of W.E.B. Du Bois | ||
| Investigation and Conference | ||
| Intercultural Communication: The Afro-American | ||
| Africian-American Culture | ||
| Topics and Problems in African and African-American Studies | ||
| The Black Woman | ||
| Research Methods in Africana Studies | ||
| The Civil Rights Movement | ||
| The Life and Times of W.E.B. Du Bois | ||
| The Rhetoric of Black Americans | ||
| Slavery in the New World | ||
| Black American Literature | ||
| Race and the American Theatre | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Students are encouraged to review Graduate Studies' policies related to graduate certificate programs for information about other requirements that may apply.
Additional information can be found in the AAAS Graduate Student Handbook.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate mastery of relevant knowledge in the fields of Africana Studies and Black Studies. This mastery can encompass related fields of Arab Studies and Islamic Studies.
- Articulate an understanding of the nexus of the African continent and African Diasporas and their interconnections with US and global histories, cultures, and socioeconomic systems.
- Understand the development of Africana Studies and academic activism and critique dominant Eurocentric paradigms.
- Apply inter-disciplinary and transdisciplinary methods and approaches related to Africana Studies.
- Engage with communities of the African diaspora through research, service learning, community action, or a dialogue on a relevant topic in the field.