Graduate Certificate Requirements

The graduate course of study is determined by a graduate students’ home department advisors in consultation with the Curriculum Committee in the Department of African American Studies.  Therefore, students wishing to obtain a graduate certificate in African American Studies are encouraged to complete the registration form so that they are identified by the department and added to our communication lists.  They should also consult with their home department advisors as well as the African American Studies Director of Graduate Affairs, ideally during their first year to plan their course of study. 

Professor Anna Arabindan-Kesson serves as the Director of Graduate Affairs for the Department of African American Studies.

Earning the Graduate Certificate

To earn a Graduate Certificate in African American Studies, students must complete the following:

AAS 500 African American Intellectual Tradition: a methods seminar offering an introduction to African American and Black Diaspora intellectual traditions. Students are encouraged to complete this course by the time they are at level G4. It is generally taught once a year and is planned to be offered again in Spring 2026. In addition, a student must complete two other courses in the Humanities or Social Sciences:

  • Whose contents are judged to be devoted primarily to race; or
  • for which they write research papers devoted to race; or
  • which are independent study topics tailored to the student’s interests in race.

Other Requirements

Participation in a Faculty-Graduate Seminar

Students must participate in at least one cycle of the Faculty-Graduate Seminar.

This works-in-progress seminar is convened by a faculty member around a selected theme and meets bi-weekly throughout the academic year. This interdisciplinary workshop provides a forum for faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars to explore particular topics in the field of African American Studies while engaging multiple fields and methodological approaches. A paper circulates one week prior to seminar meetings. The paper’s author briefly presents his or her work before one or more graduate students offer a response, raising questions and concerns and guiding open discussion of the paper and presentation.

Central Themes in Dissertation

The dissertation is expected to center on a topic significant in African American Studies. Typically, the principal advisor for the dissertation will be a faculty member from the home department, with at least one African American Studies faculty member serving as a reader. At the time the student receives the Ph.D. in the discipline of the home department, the chair of the Department of African American Studies will award the student with a letter of certification.

Interested students must complete all requirements listed above and apply via the AAS Graduate Certificate Program Registration Form.   All administrative questions should be directed to Dionne Worthy.