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African American Studies, Ph.D.

  • Application Deadline
  • 24 months
    Duration
University of California, Berkeley
University rank #4 (BCR) Berkeley, CA, United States
The department began in 1970, as a unit within the newly established special program of Ethnic Studies, comprised of African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano Studies, and Native American Studies. An A.B. Degree has been offered in African American Studies since 1973. The department is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the area of African Diaspora Studies.
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Overview

  • The African American Studies graduate program focuses on the life, culture, and social organization (broadly defined) of persons of African descent. The study of Africa, North America, and the Caribbean are central components of the program. Students are expected to apply a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the international and national divisions of race as they pertain to persons of African descent, wherever they may find themselves.
  • Such an approach is to be employed for the study and understanding of development and underdevelopment, domination and power, self determination, mutual cooperation, and aesthetic and creative expression. Issues of identity construction, marginality, territoriality and the universal role of race in the organization of political economy and in class formation are critical to the program's intellectual agenda.

Detailed Programme Facts

  • Programme intensity Full-time
    • Full-time duration 24 months
  • Languages
    • English
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  • Delivery mode
    On Campus

Programme Structure

Courses include:
  • Interdisciplinary Research Methods 
  • Qualitative Research Methods
  •  Theories of the African Diaspora 
  • Critical Pedagogy (Required to GSI)
  • Directed Dissertation Research 
  •  Individual Study or Research

English Language Requirements

  • Minimum required score:

    7

    The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.

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  • Minimum required score:

    90

    The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120. Read more about TOEFL iBT ®.

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  • Minimum required score:

    570

    The TOEFL®PBT is administered in a paper format and measures your ability to use and understand English in a classroom setting at the college or university level. It accurately measures how well you can listen, read and write in English while performing academic tasks. Read more about TOEFL®PBT.

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Academic Requirements

You need the following GPA score:

Required score: 3.5

Applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA equivalent to 3.5 on a US 4.0 grading scale. Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of or better on a 4.0 scale. No exam grade should be lower than 4.5 (European grade scale) or D (American grade scale).

Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated using the grades that you received in each course, and is determined by the points assigned to each grade (e.g. for the US grading scale from A-F).

General Requirements

Admission Checklist

  • A completed University of California, Berkeley graduate application;
  • 3 letters of recommendation;
  • Please submit a sample of your writing (no more than 15 pages) that best reflects your interests or previous work in the field. Examples include excerpts of theses, published work etc.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System (required for all international students).

No GRE Score required 

Tuition Fee

  • International

    33958 USD/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 16979 USD per semester and a duration of 24 months.

  • National

    33958 USD/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 16979 USD per semester and a duration of 24 months.

  • In-State

    18856 USD/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 9428 USD per semester and a duration of 24 months.
We've labeled the tuition fee that applies to you because we think you are from and prefer over other currencies.

Living costs for Berkeley

  • 1750 - 2820 USD/month
    Living Costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.

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