University of California, Berkeley campus

Arts & Humanities

PhD African Diaspora Studies at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley, United States

Programme overview

The African American Studies graduate program focuses on life, culture, and social organization (broadly defined) of persons of African descent. Africa, North America, and the Caribbean are central components of the program. Students are expected to apply a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the international and national divisions of race as they pertain to persons of African descent, wherever they may find themselves.

Faculty: Graduate Division  |  Department: African American Studies  |  Duration: 6 years  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Berkeley, CA, United States

What you will study

Program Requirements A minimum of two years or four semesters of academic residence is required by the university for all PhD programs. Academic residence is defined as enrollment in at least 12 units in the 200 series of courses. Thus, every graduate student must enroll in and complete a minimum of 12 units of graduate course work per required semester of academic residency.

Career pathways

Graduates enter career areas including Academia & Education, Government, Law & Public Policy, Nonprofit.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree and should demonstrate a general knowledge of African American history and an understanding of the disciplinary bases for the study of the African diaspora. Demonstrated knowledge in the field should include understanding relations among social, economic, and political structures and culture in African American life. Students are admitted to graduate studies in the fall semester only. Applicants must file: A University of California, Berkeley graduate application. Two official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Three letters of recommendation. Writing sample (no more than 15 pages) that best reflects their program/research interests. TOEFL (required for all international students). Students who have been accepted to this program and have earned a master's degree in another program will be evaluated based on requirements for the pre-qualifying examinations.

Duration: 6 years

Apply through the official page: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/

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