Admission Requirements and Procedures

M.A. in AADS

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. 

Each applicant to the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program must complete a graduate application form, available online at by clicking here and arrange to send transcripts of all prior college (undergraduate and graduate) work and TOEFL (if applicable) to FIU's Office of Graduate Admissions.

Along with copies of the above material, each applicant should also submit:

1. A statement of purpose, expressing the applicant's academic and professional objectives to the Director of the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program.
2. Writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support the application.
3. Three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the applicant’s academic potential. The letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Director of the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program.
4. A current Curriculum Vitae or resume.

The deadline for receipt of the entire application—including all supporting materials and letters of recommendation—is February 1st for funding consideration & June 1st for all others. We encourage applicants to send their application materials sooner. To be admitted into the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program, a student must meet the University's graduate admission requirements, which can be found in Florida International University's Graduate Catalog, and the following minimum standards:

1. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. The student must also have a GPA of 3.5 on any previous graduate work.
3. 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 or 6.3 overall on the IELTS is required.

Combined M.A. in African & African Diaspora Studies (AADS)/PhD in International Relations

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

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 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).
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 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.

Applicants must follow the admission procedures for both programs (see the appropriate sections in this graduate catalog). Only applications to begin studies in the fall semester will be considered. This new designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application, and students must indicate their intention to apply for this combined program.

Each applicant must complete an online graduate application form available by clicking here and arrange to send transcripts of all prior college (undergraduate and graduate) work and official reports of the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and TOEFL (if applicable) to FIU's Office of Graduate Admissions.

Additional documents:

1. Along with copies of the above material, each applicant should also submit a separate statement of purpose expressing the applicant's academic and professional objectives.
2. Applicants must include writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support their applications.
3. Applicants must request three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the various aspects of the student's academic ability. The letters of recommendation should be addressed to Director of the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program. AADS will photocopy the recommendation letters once they are all in and send them to the Graduate Program Director of the International Relations department.
4. A Curriculum Vitae

Combined M.A. in African & African Diaspora Studies (AADS)/Ph.D in Global and Sociocultural Studies

To be accepted into this program, students must submit a doctoral application in Global and Sociocultural Studies with a sub-plan of MA in AADS by January 1st for funding consideration, February 1st for all others in the year in which they wish to begin their studies. Applicants must meet the admission eligibility requirements and follow the admission procedures for both programs. This new designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application, and students must indicate their intention to apply for this combined program.

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).
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).

Applicants must follow the admission procedures for both programs (see the appropriate sections in this graduate catalog). Only applications to begin studies in the fall semester will be considered.

Each applicant must complete an online graduate application form available by clicking here and arrange to send transcripts of all prior college (undergraduate and graduate) work and official reports of the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and TOEFL (if applicable) to FIU's Office of Graduate Admissions.

Along with copies of the above material, each applicant should also submit:

1. A statement of purpose, expressing the applicant's academic and professional objectives to the Director of the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program.
2. Writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support the application.
3. Three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the applicant’s academic potential. The letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Director of the African & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program.
4. A Curriculum Vitae.

Combined M.A. in African & African Diaspora Studies (AADS)/Ph.D in History

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for higher education (or equivalent);
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 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;
3. 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 program, students must submit a doctoral application for a 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 of the year before they wish to begin their studies.

The following documents must be submitted as part of the application. 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 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)
• 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 History is highly recommended.

Combined M.A. in African & African Diaspora Studies (AADS)/Ph.D in Political Science Degree Pathway

To be accepted into this pathway, applicants must submit an application for the Ph.D. in Political Science with a subplan of combined MA in African & African Diaspora Studies and PhD in Political Science by January 15 of the year in which they wish to begin their studies for funding consideration (February 15 for all others).

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

• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in undergraduate work.
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in any prior graduate work. Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores from with the last five years.*Please contact the PHD program regarding any updates of the GRE requirement
• 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 90 on the IBT TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-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 Political Science 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, and students must indicate their intention to apply for this combined degree pathway. The application must be submitted by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies for funding consideration (February 15 for all others). Only applications to begin studies in the fall semester will be considered.

Each applicant must complete an online graduate application form and arrange to send transcripts of all prior college (undergraduate and graduate) work and official reports of the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) (if applicable) and TOEFL (if applicable) to FIU's Office of Graduate Admissions either online or via 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.

Each applicant should also submit a separate statement of purpose, along with copies of the above material. The letter of application should include a statement expressing the applicant's academic and professional objectives. Applicants must include writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support their applications. Applicants must request three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the various aspects of the student's academic ability.

In addition, an interview (in person or phone) with members of the MA in AADS Program and/or appropriate faculty in the Department of Political Science is highly recommended.

The application file must be complete before the African and African Diaspora Studies/Political Science Graduate Program Committees will consider the applicant for admission. We encourage applicants to send their application material sooner.

Certificate Programs in AADS

Undergraduate Certificates:

To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in AADS, students should do the following:

1. To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in African Studies, please click here. To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Global Black Studies, please click here. To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Afro-Latin American Studies, please click here.

To apply for the fully online program, students should to the following:

1. Complete the FIU certificate application form, available here.

Graduate Certificates:

To apply for the Graduate Certificate in AADS:

1. Graduate students currently enrolled at FIU: To apply for the Graduate Certificate in AADS, please click here. To apply for the Graduate Certificate in Afro-Latin American Studies, please click here. The 30$ application fee must be submitted with the application to AADS.
2. Applicants that are not currently enrolled at FIU must submit an online application found here.

For additional information on the application process please call African & African Diaspora Studies at (305) 348 6860 or email africana@fiu.edu