Combined Degree Description
The Combined MA in African and African Diaspora Studies / PhD in International Relations pathway allows qualified graduate students to complete the MA in African and African Diaspora Studies (MA in AADS) en route to the PhD in International Relations. This pathway will train doctoral students within the discipline of International Relations while giving them area studies expertise in African and African Diaspora Studies.
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. For additional information regarding requirements and admissions, students can also visit the department website.
To be accepted into this pathway, applicants must submit an application for the Ph.D. in International Relations with a subplan in African & African Diaspora Studies by January 15 in 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.
- Minimum score of 1120 in the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). *Please reach out to the PHD program regarding updates to this 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, 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 International Relations 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 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.
The following documents must be submitted as part of the application. The documents should be submitted to FIU's Graduate Admissions online. 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 vitae;
- A detailed statement of research interests, which should include the reasons for seeking the MA/ PhD, future career goals, a summary of scholarly and extra-curricular activities, and the names of 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 International Relations is highly recommended.
The application file must be complete before the African and African Diaspora Studies/International Relations Graduate Program Committees will consider the applicant for admission. We encourage applicants to send their application material sooner.
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 INR.
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. The Director of AADS Graduate Programs will ask a university faculty member fluent in the language of interest to the student, to evaluate the student's fluency by asking her/him to summarize or synthesize the content of a text of between 10 to 20 pages, published in that language, in no more than one page. That exercise will have to take place at the university during a limited period of time. The text will be given to the student at the beginning of the exercise. The chosen text will have some connection to the student's research interest. Once a student has demonstrated proficiency for the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies,that proficiency will be recognized by the International Relations Ph.D. program. Therefore, proficiency in a foreign language will not be part of the candidacy exam. Credit hours earned in meeting the language requirement will not count toward the 30 credit hours required for the M.A. degree.
Students should apply for graduation with the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies as soon as they have completed all requirements for the degree – including the exit requirements, as specified for the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies. Ordinarily, students will complete these requirements and earn their M.A. before advancing to candidacy for the Ph.D. in International Relations. The research paper/proposal option is the only option available for students enrolled in this combined M.A./Ph.D. pathway.
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, 6 credits of core International Relations courses, and 15 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 and African Diaspora Studies
Combined MA in AADS/PhD in International Relations Core Courses: (6 credits)
- INR 5609 Contemporary Dynamics of International Relations 3
- INR 6706 Political Economy of International Relations 3
M.A. in AADS in electives (15 credits)
15 credits of elective courses with an AADS focus may be from outside the International Relations Department and within the Green School of International and Public Affairs. Students wishing to take courses outside of the Green School must seek prior approval.
MA in AADS Research Proposal or Paper Option
To graduate from the MA in AADS,students enrolled in this combined MA/PhD program 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.
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 International Relations. The research paper/proposal option is the only option available for students enrolled in this dual MA/PhD pathway.
Total credits for the M.A.: 30
Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations (75 credits)
(The following courses in addition to all 30 M.A. credits)
- GEO 6473 Space, Place, and Identity 3
- INR 5615 Research Design in International Relations 3
- INR 6608 International Relations Theory 3
Major and Minor Fields (12 credits)
- 9 credits in major field of study
- 3 credits in minor field of study
Electives: (6 credits)
additional elective course work according to the specific information about elective courses indicated in the Ph.D. in INR section of the catalog.
Comprehensive examinations: once students have achieved 60 credits of course work, they must sit for written examinations on the core sequence of their fields as per the Ph.D. in INR section of the catalog.
Dissertation (15 credits)
See the university catalog for relevant sections of the Ph.D. Program in International Relations for details.
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.