MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN AFRICANA STUDIES

The Africana Studies master’s degree requires students to satisfactorily complete 32 points of graduate course work distributed as follows: semester 1) the required Pro-seminar I in Africana Studies, plus two approved courses; semester 2) the required Proseminar II in Methods and Research Proposal, plus two Africana Studies approved courses; semester 3) a graded 4-credit Directed Readings course with your thesis adviser and an additional 4 credit course, in addition to a master’s thesis. Africana Studies master’s degree can also be pursued part-time.

The MA can also be pursued as a joint degree with Journalism, Economics, Library Information Science, or a concentration in Museum Studies.Below are descriptions for these programs. More information can also be found in the General Guidelines for the MA in Africana Studies.

JOINT MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN AFRICANA STUDIES AND JOURNALISM

The goal of this program is to develop skills that intersect journalism with social and cultural commentaries that inform, advocate and focus on Africa, African and African Diasporic communities and spaces. Students will sharpen their ability to research, report and write with depth, understanding and perception about African and African Diasporic politics, societies and cultures. The curriculum comprises 42 credits of required classes from both Journalism and Africana Studies, as well as elective courses from other disciplines (Politics, the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, History, and others). The final requirement will be a Masters Project in the form of a well researched and reported journalistic work of 6,000 to 10,000 words in explanatory, investigative or narrative style.

For further information on the Joint Program visit the Journalism Global and Joint Program Studies page and Collaborations pages.

JOINT MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN AFRICANA STUDIES/ECONOMICS

The goal of this program is to help students develop social science skills that can be used to better society in the public and private spheres, specifically in the support of African and African Diasporic communities. The program provides students with a social science background in economics and Africana studies. Students analyze development economics, politics, and other social sciences and gain a broader perspective of how these disciplines apply to Africa and the African Diaspora. The curriculum consists of 36 credits of required courses from both economics and Africana studies, as well as elective courses from other social science disciplines, such as politics, or from other schools at NYU, such as the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The final requirement is either a master’s thesis or a special project associated with an internship conducted at a site involving the application of social science knowledge and principles to African affairs. While this program specifically targets African students, others with interest in this interdisciplinary connection between Africana studies and economics are encouraged to apply. For more information on visit the NYU MA Program in Economics site.

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM (M.A./MSLIS) IN AFRICANA STUDIES AND LIBRARY SCIENCE

Palmer School of Library and Information Science offers the full Master of Science in Library and Information Science (M.S.L.I.S.) in Manhattan. It is housed in the renowned Bobst Library of New York University, an outstanding research facility in the heart of Greenwich Village, overlooking Washington Square.

The dual degree allows student to graduate with an MSLIS from the Palmer School, accredited by the American Library Association, and Master’s degree from any department at NYU, including Africana Studies. Students who enroll in the dual-degree program will earn two master’s degrees for a total of 52 credits. For the Master of Science in Library and Information Science (M.S.L.I.S.), the Palmer School requires students to complete 28 credits, which includes four core courses and four elective courses as well as a mentorship. The Palmer School has elective courses in information technology, subject reference and organization of information, web architecture, digital libraries, information retrieval, metadata, collaborative technologies, rare books, archives and management. For more information on the Dual Masters Program visit the Long Island University Palmer School of Library and Information Science website.

CONCENTRATION IN MUSEUM STUDIES

This concentration requires the completion of 36 points (16 in museum studies), a master’s thesis, and a full summer internship in a museum or cultural institution. Those planning to work as museum professionals with collections in museums, historic houses and sites, and government agencies relating to African and African Diasporic history and culture, literature, and politics — are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit the NYU Museum Studies Graduate Program site.