About PhD Program,
The past twenty years have witnessed two dominant but opposing approaches to the study of the interconnections between Africa and the African Diaspora. Both seek to provide alternatives to traditional models of Africana Studies. The Afrocentric model has tended to focus on historical Africa, particularly the great civilizations of the African past. It has given little attention to the Diaspora, except to those aspects of black culture that reflect a continuum or retention of elements of certain African (specifically West African) cultures. The second model may best be described as a Black Atlantic approach; it has given little attention to the African continent, but has focused on persons of African descent throughout the Western world. This approach is especially concerned with identity formation, hybridity, syncretism, and creolization. Our pedagogical focus neither romanticizes nor ignores historical and contemporary Africa. It seeks to break current conceptualizations of the African Diaspora that only consider West Africa, Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and Brazil. While these areas will continue to be important, we hope to expand an understanding of Diaspora that includes all of Spanish speaking Latin America, East Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific as well.
This program insists that African peoples, as they have moved into different geopolitical circumstances, have developed and maintained a plurality of political strategies which cut across (but are also influenced by) a variety of religious, national, and cultural boundaries. By working to complicate and particularize what we know as “African identity,” we hope to re-imagine the ways that African and African descendant peoples have worked to establish and maintain a coherent set of cultural and symbolic practices.
Our approach is in conversation with disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, but differs from them in the conceptualization of an interdisciplinary methodology. In other words, while we encourage in-depth knowledge of and training in traditional disciplines, one of the major intellectual goals of the program is the development of an interdisciplinary method and vocabulary for the study of the interconnections between Africa and peoples of African descent around the globe.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Complete the five Core Courses
- Pass an examination in a language of library research by October of the second year (for students pursing research in a language other than English)
- Complete 14 course units (includes five Core and two Second-Tier Courses)
Students whose research is conducted in a language other than English are required to pass an examination in a language of library research. In order to pass, the candidate must translate into English at a level that demonstrates an ability to do library research reliably in the language.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Penn’s graduate tuition and other fees vary by school. Consult the individual schools and programs for details. Penn awards some loans based on financial need. These awarded loans are only made by Penn as part of a student’s financial aid package. The loans are repayable by the student after completion of his/her education or withdrawal from school and are not subsidized.
Students in Ph.D. programs generally receive multi-year financial packages to cover tuition, fees, health insurance and a living allowance or stipend. The terms of the award may vary according to field of study. Contact individual programs for details. Most programs require that PhD students teach or conduct research for two or more years during their course of study, as part of their academic preparation.
Penn’s professional schools provide limited assistance in the form of grants based on financial need. Some schools award merit-based scholarships or provide support in return for service. Contact your school for information on its policies and application procedures for grants and scholarship funding.
Penn’s Student Financial Services provides up-to-date information the cost of attendance, as well as loans and other resources for support. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for federal loans (i.e., Direct Loan, Grad PLUS). In addition, private alternative loan programs are available for credit-worthy borrowers. Generally, international students must have a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Application Requirement,
- The match between the applicant’s intellectual interests and the strengths of our faculty.
- The academic record, with close attention to grades in history and related subjects.
- The recommendations of three faculty members.
- Statement of Purpose (2 pages).
- TOEFL/TSE scores, if applicable.
- GRE scores are not required.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
Please refer official website
