Those who choose the Cultural/Aesthetic concentration will take a course of study that emphasizes the understanding, appreciation, interpretation, and criticism of the cultural and artistic achievements of African peoples.

Flexibility within the concentrations allows students to choose courses from cognate fields in other departments that will strengthen their programs.

Application Deadlines

Applications must be received by February 15 for the fall semester. Applications for financial aid must be received by February 15.

Financial Aid

The Department offers a number of assistantships on a competitive basis. The assistantships will normally carry a stipend plus full waiver of tuition and fees.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold the B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale or the equivalent. Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.00 should have at least a "B" average in their work in the social sciences/humanities. In addition, all applicants may submit scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE), official transcripts (including Temple University), three letters of recommendation, and a statement of objectives. Students without prior courses in African American Studies may be required to take undergraduate courses that will not be counted toward the graduate degree. Students for whom English is not the first or official language must take the TOEFL examination and score at least 230 on the computer-based test (CBT) or 575 on the paper version. An interview may be required.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate work, with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, including the core courses - AAS 400, AAS 401, AAS 402, AAS 447, AAS 460, AAS 466, AAS 505 - and pass the comprehensive examination in order to be awarded the M.A. degree.

A student concentrating in the Social/Behavioral area must choose at least two courses from each of the subcategories, society and communication, history and political economy, as well as at least one course from the social-behavioral methods group.

A student concentrating in the Cultural/Aesthetic area must choose at least two courses from each of the subcategories, religion and philosophy, art and literature, as well as at least one course from the cultural/aesthetic methods group.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Normally applicants must hold the M.A. degree in African American Studies. Outstanding students with a B.A. and a 3.8 or better grade point average may be admitted directly into the doctoral program. Those with M.A. degrees in related disciplines can apply, but their credentials will be evaluated for appropriateness. The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE), three letters of recommendation, official transcripts (including Temple University), and a statement of objectives are required. Students for whom English is not the first or official language must take the TOEFL examination and score at least 230 on the computer-based test (CBT) or 575 on the paper version. An interview may be required.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 57 hours, 30 of which can be transfer credit from another institution. Six semester hours can be earned in cognate disciplines, and at least six semester hours must be dissertation research. No more than 30 hours of M.A. credit will be accepted. Students must take at least three courses at the 500 level or above, and at least three courses at the 600 level or above. Two of these courses must be research seminars. In addition, a student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one language other than his or her first language, appropriate to his or her research and chosen in consultation with an adviser; successfully complete both a written and an oral qualifying examination; and successfully defend a dissertation.

Course Descriptions -African American Studies

Course listings and course syllabi will be available in the Department in February for the fall semester and in October for the spring semester.

400. Proseminar in Graduate Work in African American Studies. (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the intellectual and professional foundations of the field. It examines the historical origins of African American Studies in the United States and Africa, as well as the context of classic creative, analytical, and autobiographical works.

401. African Civilizations. (3 s.h.)

An intensive investigation into the origins of several major African civilizations. Civilizations and periods chosen may vary at the discretion of the instructor but will normally include the classic cultures of Nubia, Kemet, Axum, Songhay, Mali, Ghana, Monomotapa, Yoruba, and Asante.

402. Research Methods in African American Studies. (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the basic research methods used in African American Studies. It examines historical, anthropological, behavioral, and critical methods, as well as the methodological foundations of the Afrocentric method.

415. Egyptian Language and Culture. (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the basic philosophy of the ancient African civilization, methods of analysis, critical observations of shifting cultural patterns and meaning in the larger Nile Valley context. This is not strictly a language course; however, the culture is approached through a study and analysis of Middle Egyptian.

416. Egyptian Language and Culture (3 s.h.)

A second course in the culture and language of ancient Egypt with special emphasis on the interrelationship of culture and language. It underscores the Afrocentric concern with re-centering the discourse on Africa in Africa itself.

428. History of Blacks in Pennsylvania. (3 s.h.)

Traces the growth and development of the African community in Pennsylvania. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the free African community in Pennsylvania during the 19th century, and the part it played in the fight against slavery.

432. African American Family. (3 s.h.)

Contemporary theories and research on the African American family. Includes assessment of family behavior, the role of children, sex roles, perceptual changes within the context of society, demographic factors, impact of unemployment and underemployment, and income distribution.

435. Ebonics: African American Languages. (3 s.h.)

Examines variations of African American languages found throughout the Americas. Special attention to the Gullah prototype from South Carolina and Georgia. Presents the major theoretical arguments about the development of the languages.

437. Introduction to African Languages. (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the general field of African languages. Special attention will be given to the grammatical structure and sound systems of several languages.

440. African Philosophical Thought. (3 s.h.)

An analytical and historical overview of the ideas that have made the African culture, with particular emphasis on the resurrection idea, the concept of rule, harmony and balance, divination systems, dual-gender responsibility, and relationship between human beings.

446. Cheikh Anta Diop. (3 s.h.)

A critical examination of portions of Diop's corpus on the African origin of civilization. Students will present papers analyzing Diop's Afrocentric perspective and his impact on African scholarship around the world.

447. The Afrocentric Idea. (3 s.h.)

An intensive critique of African studies within the context of evolving theoretical and methodo-logical issues. Topics include boundaries of particularism, frames of reference, etymology, historical cleavages, and the idea of the African voice. Students will write major research papers analyzing the various perspectives advanced by scholars within the field of African studies.

449. Pan Africanism: Du Bois to Fanon. (3 s.h.)

A survey of the major currents of Pan African thought from the early Pan African Congresses to the events of the Sixth Pan African Congress of Dar es Salaam. Opposing critiques will be presented and discussed, especially the Marxist critique of Pan Africanism.

| NEXT | PREVIOUS | MAIN |