Graduate Certificate

Graduate Certificate in African and African American Studies

Deep, attentive study (individual and collaborative); rigorous research methodologies; trailblazing inquiry; engaging writing; and careful attention to linking pathbreaking scholarship to larger community dynamics and activities are all fundamental to African and African American Studies. These characteristics — especially the impetus toward addressing the scholarly world at hand and the larger world beyond — are certainly clear in the pioneering work of Edward Blyden, W. E. B. Du Bois, Carolyn Bond Day, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, Amy Jacques Garvey, C. L. R. James, Melville Herskovits, Walter Rodney and others.

Drawing on this rich and longstanding tradition of intellectual inquiry, the Center for African and African American Studies offers a University Graduate Certificate in African and African American Studies designed to productively situate emerging scholars and their work within an intellectual enterprise that will connect both to robust national and international conversations and scholarly developments.

The certificate provides graduate students with opportunities to think through key issues and themes within African and African American Studies in ways that will strengthen their scholarly work, widen their intellectual community, and expand the reach and consequence of their graduate study.

Requirements for the certificate

The certificate is available only to graduate students pursuing the PhD degree, and requirements include:

1) Students must complete four courses (12 credit hours) related to African and African American Studies, with no less than a B+ (see the list of AAAS courses below that can be used to fulfill this requirement). One of these courses must be the required seminar for the certificate and the courses must be drawn from at least two departments.

*** Only one independent study can count toward this number. The particular independent study course used should be discussed with the director of the certificate program. In addition, only one transfer course can count toward the certificate and only one course can be taken on an S/U basis.

2) All participating students are expected to sign up for and participate in the colloquium sponsored by the Center for African and African American Studies and held three times each semester. In order to fulfill certificate requirements, students must participate in at least six colloquium meetings. In addition, all participating students are required to present their research in one of the Center for African and African American Studies colloquium gatherings.

3) Students receive the certificate after the completion of all requirements and a final assessment (see criteria below).

Qualifications for participation

1) Good standing with a Rice department, evidenced through the student's academic transcript.

2) Students must submit an application including: a) a CV; b) a two- to three-page double-spaced description of their work and either its connection to African and African American Studies or how the study of African and African American Studies will enhance their academic trajectory; c) an academic transcript; and d) a letter of recommendation from their primary advisor.

*** Applications will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and assessed in light of the quality of the above items.

Certificate resources for students

1) Students participating in the certificate program are eligible to apply for travel and research grants of up to $1,000 (no more than one award per calendar year) to help with costs of research (including language training) related to African and African American Studies.

Qualifications for students prior to development of graduate certificate

Note, because there are graduate students who have worked on African and African American Studies at Rice long before the development of the center and its graduate certificate, we offer the following qualifications:

1) Students enrolled prior to 2017 may be eligible for the certificate;

2) They may substitute an applicable course for the required seminar;

3) They are eligible to apply for the $1,000 travel/research funds; and

4) All other certificate requirements remain in place.

Courses

For information about courses, check with your advisor and see the General Announcements, Rice University's official catalog of courses, degrees, policies and curricular requirements.

ANTH 512 AFRICAN PREHISTORY (3 credit hours)

ANTH 564 ARCHAEOLOGY (3 credit hours)

ANTH 643 RACE, ETHNICITY AND HEALTH (3 credit hours)

ENGL 570 AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES (3 credit hours)

HIST 505 THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE (3 credit hours)

HIST 521 RACE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY (3 credit hours)

HIST 525 THE BLACK FREEDOM STRUGGLE (3 credit hours)

HIST 558 RELIGION, RACE AND DIFFERENCE (3 credit hours)

HIST 563 EARLY ATLANTIC RACE AND SLAVERY (3 credit hours)

HIST 574 SLAVERY AND SLAVING IN AFRICA (4 credit hours)

POLI 535 RACE, ETHNICITY AND AMERICAN POLITICS (3 credit hours)

RELI 534 RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AFRICA (3 credit hours)