The study of black life in America is
essential to every American understanding the roots of their identity as Americans.
Brenda Stevenson, Ph.D.
Master of Arts Program
Established
in 1980, the Master of Arts Program in Afro-American Studies
is international in scope and focuses on African origin
cultures in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central
and South America. The interdisciplinary program gives students
the opportunity to gain expertise not only in the field
of Afro-American Studies but in a traditional discipline
as well. The program provides a theoretical base of knowledge,
exposure to methods of research, and a context for analyzing
and interpreting the African diasporic experience, which
can be invaluable either in further graduate study or in
a specific job or career choice.
The Program
The M. A. program is designed to take
six quarters of full-time study. A total of 12 upper-division
and graduate courses, in addition to a thesis or comprehensive
exam, are required for the degree. There are six core
courses, which are normally taken during the first year
of study. Students are then expected to choose a complementary
specialization within a discipline from among the program's
nine participating departments: Anthropology, English,
History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science,
Psychology, and Sociology. The remaining six courses must
be taken within the student's area of specialization.
Related courses are also offered in the following areas:
African studies, art, dance, economics, education, folklore,
geography, Latin American studies, library and information
science, management, psychiatry, public health, social
welfare, and theater arts.
Plan of Study
The
M.A. program is designed to be completed in two academic
years or six quarters of full-time study. Degree requirements
include a total of twelve upper-division and graduate
courses and a thesis or comprehensive exam. The program's
multidisciplinary core consists of six required courses,
normally taken in the first year of study: AAS M200A (Afro-American
Historiography) and three courses from the Afro-American
Studies series, which includes courses in African American
literature, history, socio-linguistics, psychology, sociology,
and political science. In addition, AAS 270A (Introduction
to African American Studies) is required of all M.A. students.
Students are then expected to choose a complementary specialization
within a discipline ordinarily chosen from among the program's
nine participating departments: Anthropology, English,
History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science,
Psychology, and Sociology. Six courses must be taken in
the student's area of specialization. Related courses
are also offered in the following areas: African Studies,
Art, Dance, Education, Law, Film & Television, Folklore,
Geography, Latin American Studies, Management, Psychology,
Public Policy, and Theater Arts. Students may petition
the M.A. committee for approval of a program in a related
school or department M.A. candidates may satisfy the foreign
language requirement by showing satisfactory completion
of two full years of coursework at the college level or
by passing a foreign language proficiency exam at UCLA.
Students choose eitehr to write an M.A. thesis or take
a Comprehensive Examination. Students' final two quarters
are devoted to researrching and writing their M.A. thesis
or preparing for their Comprehensive Examination.
Online Application available in September:
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/
Admission to the Afro-American
Studies Master’s Degree Program
Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree, preferably
in the social sciences or humanities, and demonstrate an
interest in Afro-American Studies. Applicants must submit:
2. Two official transcripts from every undergrad institution
sealed with stamp.
3. Three academic letters of recommendation. If possible,
try to include two from professors.
4. Verbal and quantitative GRE scores.
5. A writing sample (8-12) pages.
6. A statement of purpose (three pages): Emphasize your
scholarly achievements as an undergrad and your scholarly
goals for UCLA. Be specific! Proofread! Personalize it
for UCLA. For example, look on the UCLA webpage for professors’
names with whom you might want to work.
7. Resume or Curriculum Vitae - (optional).
8. Personal statement for the Diversity Fellowship application
in addition to filling out the online Diversity Fellowship
form).
(a) Write a two-page statement for each fellowship
application. Send directly to Afro-American Studies
Program.
(b) Emphasize your personal life and economic hardships.
Why do you merit a fellowship? (A “fellowship” is not
financial aid; it is a “scholarship” on the graduate
level.)
9. Cross Reference Sheet (if you have changed your name
while in college).
(a) Any other pertinent supplemental information regarding
your achievements (newspaper clippings, magazine articles,
etc.).
In addition, they should meet the UCLA requirement of a
minimum of 3.00 or "B" grade point average in
the junior and senior years of college. Other evidence of
promise -- such as relevant experience, accomplishments,
and community service -- may be submitted. Admission to
the M. A. program is limited to the fall quarter. The application
deadline is December 15.
Areas of Studies
The M.A. in Afro-American Studies
is interdepartmental, with formal support linkages to nine
disciplinary departments:
•
Anthropology •
Philosophy
•
English •
Political Science
•
History •
Psychology
•
Linguistics •
Sociology
•
Music
Related courses are also offered in the
following schools and departments:
•
Art
• African Area Studies
•
Dance
• Education
•
Economics
• Library and Information Science
•
Geography
• Management
•
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Public Health
•
Theater
• Social Welfare
•
Folklore and Mythology •
World Arts and Culture
•
Latin American Studies
Course
Requirements
A total of 12 upper division and graduate
courses are required for the regular M.A. degree. Students
taking the Joint M.A./J.D. program are only required to
take one year’s worth of coursework. Of that number, only
four may be selected from upper division listings. The regular
M.A. program has a structured core of six required courses.
Joint M.A./J.D. students are urged to take Afro-American
Studies M200A, three courses from 200B through 200F, 270A,
and one graduate-level course in research methods (for social
sciences students) or critical theory (for humanities students).
The methods course should be selected from the list approved
by the interdepartmental degree committee (students may
petition to substitute an appropriate upper division course
if their outside department’s methods course is closed to
non-majors). These courses should normally be taken in the
first year of study. The second year is devoted to acquiring
disciplinary competence in the cognate field, and six courses
must be selected from that discipline. M.A./ J.D. students
will fulfill the final course requirement with courses in
law.
Eight units of 500-series courses (excluding
597 and 598) may be applied to either the total course requirement
or the minimum graduate course requirement.
Established
in 1980, the Master of Arts Program in Afro-American Studies
is international in scope and focuses on African origin
cultures in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central
and South America. The interdisciplinary program gives students
the opportunity to gain expertise not only in the field
of Afro-American Studies but in a traditional discipline
as well. The program provides a theoretical base of knowledge,
exposure to methods of research, and a context for analyzing
and interpreting the African diasporic experience, which
can be invaluable either in further graduate study or in
a specific job or career choice.
The
M.A. program is designed to be completed in two academic
years or six quarters of full-time study. Degree requirements
include a total of twelve upper-division and graduate
courses and a thesis or comprehensive exam. The program's
multidisciplinary core consists of six required courses,
normally taken in the first year of study: AAS M200A (Afro-American
Historiography) and three courses from the Afro-American
Studies series, which includes courses in African American
literature, history, socio-linguistics, psychology, sociology,
and political science. In addition, AAS 270A (Introduction
to African American Studies) is required of all M.A. students.
Students are then expected to choose a complementary specialization
within a discipline ordinarily chosen from among the program's
nine participating departments: Anthropology, English,
History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science,
Psychology, and Sociology. Six courses must be taken in
the student's area of specialization. Related courses
are also offered in the following areas: African Studies,
Art, Dance, Education, Law, Film & Television, Folklore,
Geography, Latin American Studies, Management, Psychology,
Public Policy, and Theater Arts. Students may petition
the M.A. committee for approval of a program in a related
school or department M.A. candidates may satisfy the foreign
language requirement by showing satisfactory completion
of two full years of coursework at the college level or
by passing a foreign language proficiency exam at UCLA.
Students choose eitehr to write an M.A. thesis or take
a Comprehensive Examination. Students' final two quarters
are devoted to researrching and writing their M.A. thesis
or preparing for their Comprehensive Examination.