Program Overview

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Introduction to the Africology and African American Studies PhD Program

The Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Africology and African American Studies. The mission of the department is to provide an intellectual arena where students can critically examine, analyze, and interpret the experiences, traditions, and dynamics of people of African descent.

About the Program

The graduate program in Africology and African American Studies is informed by Afrocentric paradigms in relation to other perspectives in Africana studies. The program reflects a deeply ingrained commitment to the self-directed study of African peoples and has benefited from a variety of conceptual and political inputs from diverse faculty participation and community contributions. The goal of the department is to prepare graduates who can engage in a diverse range of intellectual issues affecting the lives of Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.

Program Details

• Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years
• Campus Location: Main
• Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The majority of courses are offered after 4:30 p.m., and the degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
• Interdisciplinary Study: Advisors may encourage or require students to take courses in other departments to enhance their research agenda.
• Affiliation(s): Faculty are affiliated with various professional organizations, including the African Heritage Studies Association, African Literature Association, and African Studies Association, among others.
• Study Abroad: The department offers study abroad opportunities, such as the Temple University Ghana program, with a maximum of 6 credits applicable toward the doctoral degree.
• Accreditation: The program is accredited by the National Council for Black Studies.
• Areas of Specialization: The program offers various areas of specialization, including African and African American History, African and African American Literature, African American Drama, and more.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline

• January 15
• November 1

Admission Requirements

• Letters of Reference: 3 letters are required, preferably from college/university professors who have taught or worked with the applicant.
• Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: A sound academic background in Africology and African American Studies is expected.
• Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Applicants must present credentials equivalent to the appropriate master's degree at Temple University.
• Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Applicants must present credentials equivalent to the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.
• Statement of Goals: A 500- to 1,000-word statement outlining specific interest in the program, research goals, future career goals, and academic and research achievements.
• Standardized Test Scores: GRE scores are optional, but applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English must report scores for a standardized test of English (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE).
• Resume: A current resume is required.
• Interview: An interview may be required.
• Writing Sample: A writing sample demonstrating the student's ability to conduct research and write a scholarly paper relevant to the discipline is required.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements

• Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 51
• Required Courses:
  • Core Courses:
    • AAAS 8001: Proseminar in Graduate Work in African American Studies
    • AAAS 8002: African Civilizations
    • AAAS 8004: Theories and Methods in African American Studies
    • AAAS 8008: Ethnographic Methods
    • AAAS 8009: The Afrocentric Paradigm
    • AAAS 9642: Seminar in African American Social Philosophy
  • Electives: 27 credits
  • Research Courses: 6 credits
    • AAAS 9994: Preliminary Examination Preparation
    • AAAS 9998: Pre-Dissertation Research
    • AAAS 9999: Dissertation Research

Language Examination

The language requirement is intended to ensure that students have a working familiarity with a language and culture other than English and/or their native language. The PhD student may take the exam at any time but must pass it before taking the preliminary examination.

Culminating Events

• Preliminary Examination: A proctored, closed-book, 12-hour written examination administered by the student's Examination Committee.
• Dissertation Proposal: A formal research proposal presenting a plan for increasing the knowledge base in the discipline.
• Dissertation: An original and definitive empirical study making a significant contribution to the field of Africology and African American Studies.

Job Prospects

Graduates of the PhD program in Africology and African American Studies generally find employment in academia, college and university administration, public and private high school administration, the entertainment industry, criminal justice, journalism, public relations, social work, local, state, and federal government, or nonprofit organizations.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy

Non-matriculated students who desire to take courses at the PhD level in the Department of Africology and African American Studies must first submit an academic transcript to the department's Graduate Director for review. A maximum of 9 credits may be applied toward a degree if the student later matriculates.

Financing Opportunities

The department offers a limited number of assistantships on a highly competitive basis. The awards usually involve teaching or assisting one or more faculty with instructional duties. Teaching Assistants receive a stipend and full tuition remission of up to 9 credits.