The graduate certificate in Africana Studies allows master's and doctoral students at UD and any non-degree students from the Delaware community to amplify the Africana analysis in their own work. The certificate meets the need for academic inquiry and excellence at the level of advanced study that spans the experiences, history, and perspectives of African heritage peoples.
Pursuing a graduate certificate in AFRA@UD also enhances students' professional development across a range of careers and professions where knowledge and increased understanding of Black communities past and present are important. Included among these areas are education, oral and archival histories, health sciences and public health, engineering, marketing, public service and political advocacy, legal studies, social welfare, museum interpretation and curation, cinema studies, and teaching. Others may wish to pursue employment for which a Graduate Certificate in Africana Studies is deemed an advantage. Students completing the graduate certificate in Africana Studies will be able to:
- Discuss foundational theories of Africana Studies
- Articulate multidisciplinary research methods in Africana Studies
- Analyze historic and contemporary issues through a Pan-African lens
ADMISSIONS
The graduate certificate welcomes applications from persons who meet the following criteria:
- Have gained admission into a graduate degree-granting department at UD
OR
- Have earned a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited university and have made application for and gained admission to UD as a non-degree student through the graduate admissions office
Applicants must have a minimum of an earned baccalaureate degree and should have an overall undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0 = A). Admission is rolling, September 1 to May 1.
Current UD students should submit:
- A letter of 800 to 1,200 words stating your interest(s) in Africana Studies and its relationship to your graduate course of study
- An unofficial copy of your UD transcript
- A letter of support from your graduate degree program
- Graduate Certificate Enrollment Request Form
Non-UD graduate students must complete an application to the Graduate School for admission into the AFRA@UD certificate program along with the following materials:
- A letter of 800 to 1,200 words stating your interest(s) in the AFRA@UD graduate certificate program
- Official copies of transcripts from all previous post-secondary educational institutions
- Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your community work, your academic work, or your potential for graduate study
Admissions to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
All admission and funding decisions are made by the Africana Studies graduate program committee. Applicants are evaluated on several criteria: applicant's statement of objectives, undergraduate/graduate grade point average and transcripts, and letters of recommendation (three). Candidates should apply for the graduate certificate through the University's Graduate College.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Visit UD’s graduate catalog for complete course information including credits, prerequisites, restrictions, and when courses are typically offered.
The Graduate Certificate is a 12-credit program with 6 credits of required coursework, 6 credits of electives, and a graduate certificate integration statement (of 1,200 to 4,000 words) indicating how the student integrates Africana Studies into their graduate field or their profession. The results of this statement also will be presented publicly in the department.
Students may petition to the Africana Studies graduate committee to allow courses outside of the Africana Studies Department to count towards their six elective credits. Students must indicate that they are writing a research paper for a non-AFRA course that centers Africana Studies issues and perspectives. Petitions must be submitted at least six weeks before the research paper is due for the enrolled course. Said paper must be submitted to the graduate committee within two weeks of submitting it to the course. In cases where graduate certificate program enrollment is sought after the course has been completed, petitions must include the syllabus and final research paper for non-AFRA course for which the student seeks approval. In order for a course to count for another graduate degree and for the Africana graduate certificate, students must complete the Graduate College's "change of class" form.
No more than three credit hours of directed readings or independent study may be counted. Any students who utilize directed readings or independent studies courses are required to submit a paragraph summary of the course of study signed by the professor directing the project so that AFRA@UD faculty on the graduate committee can know how the course counts toward fulfillment of the cluster requirements.
