The Combined African and African Diaspora Studies MA / PhD in History pathway allows qualified graduate students to complete the MA in Africa and African Diaspora Studies (MA in AADS) en route to the PhD in History. This pathway will train doctoral students within the discipline of Atlantic History while giving them area studies expertise in African and African Diaspora Studies. In combination, these two programs provide a beneficial synthesis for interdisciplinary approaches to both the Atlantic world and the African diasporic experience.
Admission Requirements
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. You can also find additional information on the department's website.
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for higher education (or equivalent);
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate work and/or a GPA of 3.25 on any previous graduate work;
- Minimum score of 1120 (combined verbal and quantitative) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or, for International students, a minimum score of 525 on the EXADEP (Spanish version of the GRE); or a minimum of 590 on the GMAT; *Please reach out to the PHD program regarding any updates regarding the GRE requirement
- International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English and have not obtained a degree from an English-speaking academic institution 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 90 on the IBT TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version, or 232 on the computer-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required.
Admission Procedure
To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an application to the PhD in History 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 15th for the following year's fall admissions. 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 updates on 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 History Department faculty members who would be appropriate dissertation advisors (Note: Consult the department website for information about faculty members and submission)
- 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. Must be submitted directly to the department with waiver form. Please visit department website for more information.
In addition, an interview (in person or phone) with members of the MA in AADS Program and/or appropriate faculty in the Department of History is highly recommended.
MA in African & African Diaspora Studies (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 core History 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 three semesters)
- AFA 5855 Research Methods in AADS 3
Combined MA in AADS/PhD in History Core Courses: (9 credits)
- HIS 6059 Historical Methods 3
6 credits in any of the following courses, or any other graduate History courses with an AADS focus.
- AFA 6851 Advanced Seminar in African & African Diaspora Studies
- AFH 5905 Readings in African History
- AFH 5935 Topics in African History
- AFH 6915 Research in African History
- AFH 6932 Research Seminar in African History I
- AFH 6933 Research Seminar in African History II
- WOH 5236 The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Making of African Diaspora, 1441-1807
- WOH 5237 The African Diaspora Since the End of the Slave Trade
MA in AADS Elective Courses (12 credits)
12 credits of elective courses with a clear AADS focus, all least 6 credits of which are from the Department of History (making a total of 15 History credits) such as those on the following list:
- AFA 6851 Advanced Seminar in African & African Diaspora Studies
- AFH 5905 Readings in African History
- AFH 5935 Topics in African History
- AFH 6915 Research in African History
- AFH 6932 Research Seminar in African History I
- AFH 6933 Research Seminar in African History II
- WOH 5236 The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Making of African Diaspora, 1441 - 1807
- WOH 5237 The African Diaspora Since the End of the Slave Trade
Students wishing to take courses outside of the Green School must seek prior approval from the Graduate Program Directors of the MA and PhD Programs.
MA in AADS Research Proposal option
To graduate from the MA in AADS, students enrolled in this combined MA/PhD pathway students must select the research proposal option and take the proposal writing course-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 as soon as they have completed 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 History.
PhD in History
Students will begin studies toward the Ph.D. in History immediately following their satisfactory completion of MA in AADS degree requirements. Students are expected to meet all the requirements for the PhD in History, which requires a total of 75 credits.
Courses required in addition to the degree requirements for the MA in African & African Diaspora Studies (minimum 39 credits)
- HIS 6906 Advanced Readings in Atlantic Civilization 3
- HIS 6918 Research in Atlantic Civilization 3
3 credits outside of AADS and Atlantic Civilization (also excluding Methods), 3 credits of which must be in a comparative course (HIS or WOH prefix) - 12 credits electives - 15 credits HIS 7890 Dissertation
Language Requirements
All students must acquire reading competence in two languages other than English. The language requirement may be fulfilled in one of two ways: 1) achieving a High Pass on the department examination in one language, and at least a Pass on the second; or 2) achieving a Pass or High Pass in departmental examination in one language, and competency in social science quantitative skills, demonstrated by receiving a grade of “B” or “B+”, for Pass, and “A” or “A-“, for High pass, in an appropriate course approved for this purpose by the Director of Graduate Studies. At least one High Pass must be received. Language requirements vary, according to the concentration fields. In cases where the dissertation will be in the history of US or English-speaking countries, one language plus the quantitative skill is sufficient. In Latin American history, either Spanish or Portuguese, and a second language appropriate to the student’s field are required. Language exams will be graded on a High Pass, Pass, and Fail basis; a High pass is required in the student’s primary language. Students should check with the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies to determine which languages are appropriate for their program of studies.
Comprehensive Examinations and the Dissertation
Following completion of all course work, satisfaction of language requirements, and the constitution of a dissertation committee, students will be required to pass a written and an oral comprehensive examination. After the completion of their comprehensive examinations and the approval of a dissertation proposal by their dissertation committee, students will write a doctoral dissertation. The time needed for the research and writing of dissertations in History is variable, although doctoral candidates normally spend one year engaged in continuous field research and a second year in full-time writing.
Restrictions
- The grade of “B” or better is required for graduate credit.
- At the end of the second semester of residence, or upon completion of the first 18 credit-hours of work, the Graduate Committee will examine and evaluate the student’s progress and prospects. Professors will provide detailed written evaluations of the work of all first-year Ph.D. students they have taught. Students whose progress is deemed insufficient will be advised to withdraw from the program.
- No more than 6 semester-hours of Topics (5935) courses toward meeting the degree requirements, without permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.
- No more than 6 semester-hours of HIS 5908 (Independent Study) toward meeting the degree requirements, without permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Cost of Attendance and Funding Opportunities
Click here to access information regarding the cost of tuition for graduate students at Florida International University.
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