The AAADS Ph.D. is an interdisciplinary doctoral program focusing on the experiences of people of African descent in the United States, in the African diaspora, and in the world. These shared experiences—among them, slavery, emancipation, imperialism, decolonization, and racism— warrant close attention and mark this field as a discrete unit of study that bears directly and powerfully on history, literature, and politics.

Graduate students concentrate their coursework by selecting one of two specializations: “Power, Citizenship, and the State” or “Race, Representation, and Knowledge Systems.” Within each of these tracks, the degree examines the importance of transnational, global, and comparative perspectives, with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary analysis of race. Classes and cohorts are kept small to help ensure the quality of the students’ academic experience.

To provide meaningful support and guidance, this degree program offers supportive mentoring, a reflection of the department’s 40-year commitment to quality teaching. Students from the state, the nation, and the world are welcome to apply for admission into the program.

Requirements of the AAADS Ph.D. Learn more in the Graduate School Bulletin