African Studies Center

at Michigan State University

Requirements of Graduate Certificates

Graduate Certificate for Ph.D. Candidates

To qualify students must:

  1. Successfully complete at least 16 credits from the African Studies Core Curriculum. Only upper-division and African language courses qualify for inclusion. A list of core curriculum courses is available on this website:
    1. Obtain a grade of 3.0 (A=4.0) or better in each of those courses
    2. Include core curriculum courses from at least three academic departments and at least one graduate seminar
    3. Include at least one African Studies Center Interdisciplinary seminar in the 16 credits.
    4. Include no more than six credits of the 16 in independent reading and research. This does not include thesis or dissertation writing and research credits
    5. Include only courses taken while enrolled in graduate study; courses taken while an undergraduate may not be credited toward the Graduate Certificate
    6. Include Africanist courses from other universities only with the approval of the Director of the African Studies Center.
  2. Complete a piece of significant research in African Studies as evidenced by:
    1. a. An M.A. or M.S. thesis or a doctoral dissertation concerning Africa, or
    2. b. A professional article accepted by a scholarly journal that has been approved by a faculty member of the African Studies Center, or
    3. c. The successful completion of substantial research papers in two graduate-level African Studies seminars in the Core Curriculum with a seminar grade of at least 3.5
  3. Complete the "Application for the Graduate Certificate in African Studies" form available from the Center. Return the completed application to the Assistant Director with transcripts verifying all courses included to fulfill certificate requirements.

Graduate Concentration for Masters Candidates

To qualify students must:

  1. Successfully complete at least 10 credits from the African Studies Core Curriculum, a list of which is available at the Center.
    1. Obtain a minimum grade of 3.0 in each of those courses
    2. Include courses from at least two academic departments
    3. Include no more than four credits in directed reading and research or independent reading within the required credits
    4. No thesis or dissertation writing credits may be included
  2. Obtain approval of the Director of the African Studies Center for the completed program by submitting a completed application form for the African Studies Concentration, and transcripts verifying the courses and grades completed.

Note: Students who obtain the African Studies Graduate Certificate are not eligible to obtain the Concentration in African Studies.