Master's in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Africana Studies
Overview
The master of liberal arts with a concentration in Africana studies is an interdisciplinary
degree program that focuses on the study of the African Diaspora with attention to
history, culture, society, and politics. Coursework in Africana studies—wherein faculty
research focuses on the western, eastern, and southern Africa, the Americas, and the
Caribbean—aligns with the University of South Florida’s strategic goals of developing
“well-educated, highly-skilled global citizens” who will assume leadership roles domestically
and abroad. By choosing Africana Studies, you become a part of a unique education
entity that is grounded in the experiences, culture, and contributions of the Black
World (the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean). Indeed, Africana Studies is
itself an institution indebted to the passion for social change and the power of progressive
thinking that emerged during the late civil rights movement and the Black Power era.
USF’s Department of Africana Studies was founded in 1969 and was the first department
of its kind to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in the state of Florida. In
2016, it joined with International Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies,
and Political Science to develop an interdisciplinary school focused on training students
to develop cross-disciplinary skills and perspectives to advance research that expands
our collective knowledge and capacity to recognize, assess, and address social, political,
and economic linkages across local and global communities.
Admissions
The School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at the University of South Florida offers a master's in liberal arts with a concentration in Africana studies. For a listing of the admission requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog.
Students must apply for admission through the Office of Graduate Admissions. The School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies admits for the fall and spring semesters.
Additional information on admission requirements:
The statement of purpose should discuss your academic experience and your interest
in graduate work in Africana Studies.
The writing sample should be double spaced and not exceed 20 pages.
Our department requires three (3) letters of recommendation. They should be signed
on letterheads and come from sources who can speak to your academic and/or professional
experience in ways that will inform readers of your potential as a graduate student.
Our department requires a current CV or résumé.
Our department requires official GRE scores. There is no minimum required score, but
the average scores of previously accepted applicants have been approximately 160 verbal,
152 analytical, and 5 writing.
*International students should review the Office of Admissions International Students website for additional information and requirements.
*International students are also encouraged to contact the Office of International Services for information on visas, international travel, etc.
Program Requirements
For the Master's in Liberal arts with a Concentration in Africana Studies degree requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog. Students should adhere to the requirements within the Graduate Catalog under which they were admitted.
*Students can elect another catalog following the one they were admitted under. More information on this policy, and other policies, can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
*Students must request approval from the graduate director for any course not pre-approved and listed under the degree in the Graduate Catalog.
Additional information on program requirements:
Required Africana Studies Courses:
*Students must earn a "B" or higher (3.0) in all required core courses or they will
be required to retake the course.
Electives (12 Hours):
Students must complete 12 additional hours in approved graduate electives. These may
include additional courses within Africana Studies or outside of the department*.
Students may also choose to complete a graduate certificate as the basis of their
elective work. Please see the AFA MLA Handbook for further information on approved
electives.
Thesis/Non-Thesis Option (6 Hours):
Students should make this decision at the end of the second semester of study. Please
see the AFA MLA Handbook for further information on the thesis and non-thesis options.
Please review the AFA MLA Handbook, located on the Forms/Information page of the major's website, for more information.
Financial Assistance
The School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies funds a limited number of qualified master’s degree students. Funded students will receive a graduate assistantship that includes:
- a stipend for the academic year (9 months)
- a tuition waiver (not including school fees)
- the option of health insurance mostly paid by the department (the student only pays a small amount towards insurance)
We only process graduate assistantships in Spring, so they become available in Fall
for the next academic year.
If you would like to be considered for a graduate teaching assistantship, which is a 20 per hour week job where you would assist professors in organizing and grading for their classes, please indicate your interest in the statement of purpose that accompanies your program application. These 9-month academic year positions come with a biweekly stipend, a tuition waiver which pays most tuition costs, and access to subsidized health insurance. There are only a small number of graduate assistantships available and they are awarded on a competitive basis, based on applicants’ academic credentials.
The graduate assistantship is based on maintaining satisfactory annual academic progress. The graduate assistantship requires each student to work 20 hours per week, which means the student would be assisting professors of the department with their teaching and class preparations. The department also provides funding for conference travel or the presentation of research at conferences upon approval.
*Information on the assistantship can be found in the graduate catalog and more information ca be found on the Graduate Assistantships Resource Center website.
PLEASE NOTE: International students whose native language is not English and who want to be considered for a graduate assistantship must show proficiency in spoken English even if their TOEFL has been waived for admission to a graduate program. More information on the TOEFL requirement can be found under Admission Requirements in the graduate catalog.
Forms/Information
Master's in Liberal Arts (Africana Studies) Handbook
School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies Graduate Resources
Africana Studies Directed Individual Contract Form
Spring 2022 MLA Graduate Course Schedule
Thesis Defense Announcement
Non-Thesis Literature Review Guidelines
For further information or questions, please fill out this form.