General Description
French and Francophone Studies doctoral students who have research and educational interests in African studies may apply to the Dual-Title Doctoral Degree Program in African Studies. The goal of the program is to enable doctoral students from French and Francophone Studies to complement their knowledge and skills in their primary discipline with in-depth knowledge of prevailing theories on and problem-solving approaches to thematic, regional, or national issues pertaining to African development and change.
The Dual-Title Doctoral Degree Program will provide interested French and Francophone Studies doctoral students with a multidisciplinary approach that will enhance their analytical capabilities for addressing key issues in African Studies.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in French and Francophone Studies and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the African Studies dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements of the African Studies Bulletin page. Applicants interested in the dual-title degree program may make their interest in the program known clearly on their applications to French and Francophone Studies and include remarks in their statement of purpose that address the ways in which their research and professional goals in the primary department reflect an interest in African Studies-related research.
To be enrolled in the Dual-Title Doctoral Degree Program in African Studies, a student must have the approval of the French and Francophone Studies Department and then submit a letter of application and transcript, which will be reviewed by and African Studies Admissions committee. An applicant must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to be considered for enrollment in the dual-title degree program. Students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in African Studies prior to obtaining candidacy in French and Francophone Studies.
Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 66 post-baccalaureate credits. Course work accepted for the M.A. in French and Francophone Studies will count toward the credit requirement. At least 48 credits, exclusive of dissertation research credits, must be in French and Francophone Studies.
- 18 credits of Africa-related course work at the 400- or 500-level of which the following 9 credits are required: AFR 50 1 (3) and a minimum of 6 credits from a list of courses maintained by the African Studies program chair.
- Up to 6 of the 18 credits may come from French and Francophone Studies, as approved by the student’s French and Francophone Studies and African Studies Program academic advisers.
- The remaining credits can be taken in African Studies or in any department other than French and Francophone Studies.
- Of the 18 credits, no more than 6 credits may be taken at the 400-level and no more than 3 combined credits may come from 596 and 599 listings.
The choice of courses in African Studies is to be proposed by the student, subject to approval in advance by the French and Francophone Studies and African Studies academic advisers. The suite of selected courses should have an integrated, intellectual thrust that probes thematic, national, or regional issues and be complementary to the student’s specialty in French and Francophone Studies.
Please note that this is a basic outline of the major steps leading to the award of a dual-title Ph.D. in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies. For more details and information, please see the Graduate Handbook.