Certificate in African and African American Studies
Program Learning Outcomes for the Certificate in African and African American Studies
Upon completing the certificate in African and African American Studies, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding and use of major themes and concerns represented in African and African American Studies.
- Develop the use of intellectual tools to conduct scholarship associated with African and African American Studies.
Requirements for the Certificate in African and African American Studies
The certificate in African and African American Studies is a graduate certificate. For general university requirements, please see Certificates: Graduate-Level. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the certificate in African and African American Studies must complete:
- A minimum of 4 courses (12-13 credit hours, depending on course selection) of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above) to satisfy certificate requirements.
- A minimum of 2 semesters of participation in the CAAAS Colloquium.1,5
- A thesis (for the PhD program in which they have been admitted) that in some way features African and African American Studies.2
- All course requirements met with Rice University coursework (transfer credit not permitted). For additional program guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
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A minimum program GPA of 3.33 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the graduate certificate with a minimum grade of B+ (3.33 grade points) in each course.
This certificate is not a freestanding degree program; in addition to fulfilling the certificate requirements outlined below, candidates will be required to complete successfully the degree program to which they have been admitted in order to receive this certificate. Upon completion, the certificate is awarded at the same time as the conferral of the student’s Rice degree, along with a formal notation on their academic transcript.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this certificate. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the certificate’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the Program Director. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the certificate's Official Certifier. Additionally, these course substitutions must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate in African and African American Studies | 12-13 | |
Certificate Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirement | ||
| AAAS 510 | INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES | 3 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 3 courses from the following: 3 | 9-10 | |
| THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF AFRICA | ||
| AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD TECHNIQUES (minimum of 3 credit hours) 4 | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY OF RACE, ETHNICITY AND HEALTH | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES | ||
| THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE | ||
| RACE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY IN THE URBAN SOUTH | ||
| THE BLACK FREEDOM STRUGGLE | ||
| RELIGION, RACE, AND DIFFERENCE IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE | ||
| RACE AND SLAVERY IN THE EARLY ATLANTIC | ||
| SLAVERY AND SLAVING IN AFRICA | ||
| RACE, ETHNICITY, AND AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AFRICA | ||
| THE CHURCH OF AFRICA | ||
| THE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT OF MARTIN L. KING, JR. AND MALCOLM X | ||
| WHAT'S RELIGIOUS ABOUT BLACK RELIGION? | ||
| RACE AND FAMILY SEMINAR | ||
| RACE AND ETHNICITY SEMINAR | ||
| RACE, SOCIETY AND POPULATION CHANGE | ||
| RACE AND RACISM | ||
| RACE, MIGRATION, AND HEALTH SEMINAR | ||
| Colloquium Requirement | ||
| AAAS 600 | AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COLLOQUIUM (2 semesters required, 1st semester) 5 | 0 |
| AAAS 600 | AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COLLOQUIUM (2 semesters required, 2nd semester) 5 | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12-13 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | The Colloquium requirement is met by attending six colloquium gatherings sponsored by CAAAS, at least three gatherings per semester. In addition, all participating students are required to present their research in one of the sponsored colloquium gatherings. Students must register for AAAS 600 for two semesters to demonstrate completion of this colloquium requirement (see footnote 5 below). For more information, see the Opportunities tab. |
| 2 | CAAAS must verify that a student's thesis (for the PhD program in which they have been admitted) in some way features African and African American Studies. Students are strongly encouraged to include a member of the CAAAS faculty on their thesis committee and to consult regularly with the faculty member as they pursue their thesis work. |
| 3 | Of the 3 courses (9-10 credit hours, depending on course selection) of Elective Requirements, no more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) may be taken from the same subject code (i.e., ANTH, ENGL, HIST, POLI, RELI, SOCI). |
| 4 | ANTH 564 is a variable credit hour course (1-6 credit hours). To be eligible to fulfill Elective Requirements, it must be taken for at least 3 credit hours. |
| 5 | Students must complete 2 consecutive fall and spring semesters of AAAS 600. As a certificate colloquium requirement, students must attend and participate in six colloquium gatherings sponsored by CAAAS. In addition, all participating students are required to present their research in one of the sponsored colloquium gatherings. AAAS 600 is taken for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade and must be completed with a Satisfactory grade. As a S/U course it does not apply to the requirement of a minimum grade of B+ (3.33 grade points) in each required course. |
Policies for the Certificate in African and African American Studies
Application Procedures
- Status: Good standing within a Rice graduate-level degree-granting department or program, evidenced through the student's academic transcript.
- Application: Students must submit an application including:
- CV
- 2-3 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
- Academic transcript
- Letter of Recommendation from primary advisor
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the certificate in African and African American Studies should be aware of the following program restriction:
- Graduate students may declare their intent to pursue this university certificate only after they have first been admitted into a graduate-level Rice degree-granting program.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content) and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Program Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the certificate in African and African American Studies should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guideline:
- Transfer credit coursework cannot be applied or used to meet any of the program’s course requirements.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the African and African American Studies website: https://caaas.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the Certificate in African and African American Studies
CAAAS Colloquium and Presentation
Students in the Certificate in African and African American Studies program participate in the colloquium consisting of research presentations and public lectures organized by the Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS) for a minimum of 2 semesters. In order to fulfill certificate requirements, students must register for the colloquium course (AAAS 600) and participate in 6 colloquium meetings. Colloquium topics are determined by the CAAAS steering committee with input from CAAAS affiliated faculty. The colloquium provides graduate students with the opportunity to interact with leading scholars, network, enhance their knowledge of cutting-edge issues in AAAS, and refine their AAAS scholarship.
Colloquium attendance constitutes an official requirement for the certificate, including at least one presentation (for more information, see the Requirements tab). Attendance beyond the required minimum is highly encouraged.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the African and African American Studies website: https://caaas.rice.edu/.