Program Overview

The core of the doctoral program is a two-semester sequence of seminars required of all students in their first year.  Students take a two-semester double seminar in which they read fifty-six major works of Afro-American Studies in their first year.  Students are also required to take a seminar on literary theory in its application to African American literature, on historiography, and Black politics. At the end of the two-semester sequence, students take a Comprehensive Examination in September. 

After completing the Comprehensive Examination satisfactorily, students select either the History/Politics or the Literature/Culture track. In the next three semesters, students take a total of nine seminars, several of which will normally be offered by other departments, in either History and Politics or Literature and Culture. At the end of their third year, students take their Qualifying Examination in the field of their research interest, based on a reading list of twenty-five to thirty books selected by the student in consultation with the member of the faculty who will direct the student’s doctoral dissertation.

The department has several archival collections available for research, including the W.E.B. Du Bois papers and the Horace Mann Bond Collection.

Students enrolled in the doctoral program may also earn the degree of Master of Arts upon completion of the preliminary requirements for the doctorate.

Requirements

1. Grades of B or better in sixteen graduate courses and seminars for a total of 64 credits.
2. Required seminars, including a two-semester sequence devoted to major works of Afro-American Studies, a seminar on Literary Theory as applied to African American Literature, a seminar on Black Politics, and a seminar on Historiography.
3. Nine additional seminars or courses, in either the History/Politics or Literature/Culture track, including a reading course in preparation for the Qualifying Examinations.
4. Demonstration of reading proficiency in one language other than English directly related to the research interests and dissertation topic of the student, to be accomplished by the end of the third year and prior to taking the Qualifying Examination.
5. Satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive and Qualifying Examinations. The Comprehensive Examination will test the student’s general knowledge of the field of Afro-American Studies, and the Qualifying Examination will test the student’s mastery of advanced materials in either the History/Politics or Literature/Culture track.
6. A total of ten Dissertation credits (AFROAM 899).
7. A Doctoral Dissertation satisfactory in form and content.