Combined M.A. in AADS/PhD In Global Sociocultural Studies Pathway

Combined Degree Description

The combined African & African Diaspora Studies MA/Global & Sociocultural Studies PhD pathway allows qualified graduate students to develop an expertise in African & African Diaspora Studies by earning an MA in AADS while progressing toward a PhD in one of the three major areas in the Global and Sociocultural Studies Department geography, sociology, or anthropology. Applicants must meet the admission eligibility requirements (see the appropriate sections in the graduate catalog) and follow the admission procedures for both programs.

Applicants should consult the FIU catalog for the most updated requirements. To access the requirements for the MA in AADS in FIU's catalog, please click here. Applicants can also find additional information on the department's website.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 in undergraduate work.
  2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in any prior graduate work.
  3. Minimum score of 1120 in the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). * Please reach out to the PHD program regarding any updates to this requirement
  4. International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the IBT TOEFL (equivalent to 550 on the paper-based version, or 213 on the computer-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language) or 6.3 overall on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an online graduate application to the PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies with a sub plan for a MA in Africa and African Diaspora Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application. The application must be submitted by January 1st for funding consideration (February 1st for all others) in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

Admission Procedure

To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an application to the PhD in Global and Sociocultural with a sub plan for a MA in African and African Diaspora Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application. The application must be submitted by January 1st in the year in which they wish to begin their studies. Only applications to begin studies in the fall semester will be considered.

The following documents must be submitted as part of the application. The documents should be submitted to FIU's Graduate Admissions either online or by regular mail. Both departments will be able to access the documents, so applicants do not have to submit the documents twice. They will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee from both units.

  • Official transcripts of all prior college-level work (undergraduate Bachelor’s degree and any graduate transcripts);
  • Official GRE scores or equivalent; *Please reach out to the PHD program regarding this requirement
  • Official TOEFL scores, if applicable;
  • A curriculum vita;
  • A detailed statement of research interests, which should include your reasons for seeking the MA/ PhD, future career goals, a summary of scholarly and extra-curricular activities, and the names of Global and Sociocultural Studies Department faculty members who would be appropriate dissertation advisors (Note: Consult the department's website for information about faculty members)
  • A writing sample (such as a seminar paper) which demonstrates the ability to conduct research and write effectively; and
  • Three letters of reference from academic sources or others able to judge academic abilities and potential. In addition, an interview (in person or phone) with members of the MA in AADS Program and/or appropriate faculty in the Department of Global Sociocultural Studies is highly recommended.

The application file must be complete by the respective deadline before the African & African Diaspora Studies/Global & Sociocultural Studies Graduate Program Committees will consider the applicant for admission. We encourage applicants to send their application material sooner.

Once the file is complete, applicants should contact AADS to schedule a telephone interview with the AADS Graduate Program Director.

Required Credits

Students must fulfill the requirements for both programs. The 30 credits for the MA in AADS earned by students will count toward the 75 credits required for the Ph.D. in GSS.

MA in African & African Diaspora Studies Requirements (MA in AADS)

This 30-credit, one year, three semester program occurring over the Fall, Spring, and Summer includes 9 credits of core AADS courses, which includes 3 credits for the directed research paper exit option, 9 credits of core Global and Sociocultural Studies courses, and 12 credits of electives. There is also a Foreign Language Requirement.

MA in AADS Core Courses: (9 credits)

AFA 5005 African and African Diaspora Studies Theory 3
AFA 6920 AADS graduate colloquium 3 (1 credit for 3 semesters)
AFA 5855 Research Methods in African & African Diaspora Studies

Combined MA in AADS/PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies Courses: (6 credits)

ISS 6346 Theory and Inquiry 3
ISS 6305 Research Methods 3

M.A. in AADS in electives (15 credits)
9 credits of elective courses with an AADS focus must be from the Global and Sociocultural Studies Department and within the Green School of International and Public Affairs. Six credits may be from outside of the Department but within the Green School of International and Public Affairs. Students wishing to take courses outside of the Green School must seek prior approval.

Note: Students are advised to take at least 9 of these elective credits in their chosen major discipline for GSS (anthropology, sociology, or geography).

MA in AADS Research Proposal option
To graduate from the MA in AADS, students enrolled in this combined MA/PhD pathway must elect to complete either a research proposal or research paper for their exit option. Those who elect to write a research proposal must take AFA 6911 Research Paper/Proposal Writing in African and African Diaspora Studies.

MA in AADS Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English according to the nature of their thesis or research paper/proposal and professional interests.

Application for Graduation from MA in AADS
Students should apply for graduation for the MA in AADS during the summer term if they are on track for completing all requirements for the degree — including the exit option. Ordinarily, the MA will be conferred before the student advances to candidacy for the PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies.

Matriculation to PhD in GSS
All students must undergo a successful M.A. review upon completion of the AADS Master Program requirements in order to continue toward the Ph.D. in GSS. The GSS Graduate Committee, along with an appointee from AADS, conducts these reviews. The purpose of the M.A. review is to determine the ability of the student to do Ph.D. level work with the department’s faculty. Among the information considered during the review are students’ performances and grades in courses, and faculty recommendations.

Doctor of Philosophy in Global and Sociocultural Studies (75 credits)
(The following courses in addition to all 30 M.A. credits)

The doctorate in Global and Sociocultural Studies requires a minimum of 75 credits beyond the baccalaureate including a dissertation based on original research. 30 credits of the MA in AADS will count toward the 75-credit minimum. Thus, a minimum of 45 credits must be earned beyond the MA.

Major Courses (33 credits)
All doctoral students will choose a major in Anthropology, Geography, or Sociology. The following distribution of coursework is required.
a). Major theory (3)
b). Major methods (3)
c). Major course electives (6 minimum) d). Exam and dissertation credits and GSS and non-GSS Department electives
• Doctoral Exam Preparation (6 maximum)
• Doctoral Dissertation (15 minimum)

General Electives (12 credits)
GSS and non-GSS Department electives

Ph.D. General Examination
After successfully completing the common core requirements, the major's course requirements, and electives, a student prepares for the Ph.D. General Exam by enrolling in a maximum of six credits of exam preparation for their major. In preparation for the exam, a student forms a dissertation committee according to the regulations published on the University Graduate School web page (http://gradschool.fiu.edu). The Ph.D. General Exam addresses the student’s anticipated dissertation topic, and is conducted according to the University Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual and the Department’s Ph.D. General Exam guidelines.

The Dissertation Proposal and Defense/Candidacy Exam
After passing the Ph.D. General Exam, a student works under the guidance of the dissertation committee to prepare a dissertation proposal and defend it orally before the committee. The chair of the dissertation committee must hold Dissertation Advisor Status from the University Graduate School. The proposal defense serves as the doctoral candidacy exam for the Ph.D. program in Global and Sociocultural Studies. Upon passing the proposal defense, a student is admitted to candidacy status.

The Dissertation and Dissertation Defense
After successfully defending a dissertation proposal, a student conducts the proposed research and completes a dissertation under the guidance of a dissertation committee. Only after successfully defending the dissertation proposal may a student register for dissertation hours (ANG 7980, GEO 7980, or SYA 7980). The Ph.D. program requires a student to be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 3 hours of Doctoral Dissertation each semester from the time of advancement to candidacy until completion of the dissertation, including summers. Upon completion of the dissertation manuscript and authorization by the committee, a student defends the dissertation before the committee and the University community. The University Graduate School’s regulations governing he dissertation are described at http://gradschool.fiu.edu

Cost of Attendance and Funding Opportunities

Click here to access information regarding the cost of tuition for graduate students at Florida International University.

Click here to access information on graduate funding.