MA Afro-American Studies at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

The MA in Afro-American Studies is an interdisciplinary graduate degree on the history, politics, culture, music, economics and literature of people of African descent in the United States and the wider African diaspora. It is offered by the W.E.B. Du Bois Department, one of the largest Afro-American studies programs in the country.

Faculty: College of Humanities and Fine Arts | Department: W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies | Duration: 2 years (46 course credits) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Master's students take 46 course credits over two years, with the comprehensive examination taken after the first year based on the Major Works seminars.

Career pathways

Federal, state and local government, schools and colleges, and community and public-trust organizations.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School (all UMass Amherst graduate programmes): bachelor's degree from an accredited US institution or an equivalent international degree; minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale (some programmes expect more); most programmes require at least two letters of recommendation; personal statement and resume; 600-word short essay on community; $90 application fee. Applicants whose native language is not English: TOEFL iBT 80 (tests taken before January 2026; combined score of 4 on the new scale for tests from January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo English Test 115 or PTE Academic 53.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Duration: 2 years (46 course credits)

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