African and African Diaspora Studies, Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in African and African Diaspora Studies provides an interdisciplinary understanding of the histories, cultures, societies, and political economies of African, African American, and African diasporic populations. Drawing on perspectives from the social sciences and humanities, the program places particular emphasis on African American history and contemporary experiences while situating these within broader African and global diasporic contexts. Coursework examines race, inequality, labor, economic development, family, social movements, and social justice.
The certificate is designed to complement graduate study across a wide range of disciplines by providing students with opportunities to develop deeper historical, social, economic, political, and cultural perspectives on the experiences of people of African descent. Through the study of African American communities and institutions alongside African and global diasporic experiences, students will strengthen their analytical skills and gain knowledge that can be applied to their primary fields of study, professional practices, and engagement with diverse communities.
The 15-credit certificate is particularly relevant to graduate students pursuing careers in education, social work, public health, criminal justice, public policy, community development, and related fields. Through graduate-level coursework, students will develop interdisciplinary perspectives that enhance their academic and professional preparation while expanding their understanding of African, African American, and African diasporic communities.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Application
- Admission to a graduate certificate program requires formal student application through the Graduate School admissions application system, including the required admissions application fee.
- Certificate programs will inform the Graduate School of their admission recommendation for an applicant. The final admission decision is made by the Graduate School.
- Early application to the certificate program is recommended; late application is possible, but may incur delays for certificate conferral related to time required for credit tracking.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.
Credits and Courses
The certificate program consists of a minimum of 15 credits in approved coursework at the graduate level with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. The following list contains approved courses for the certificate program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRIC 300G | Urban Violence | 3 |
| AFRIC 311G | African Religious Thought and Social Organizations | 3 |
| AFRIC 319G | African American Urban History | 3 |
| AFRIC 321G | Black Workers in the 21st Century | 3 |
| AFRIC 322G | Order and Disorder: The Quest for Social Justice | 3 |
| AFRIC 325G | Africa/China Relations | 3 |
| AFRIC 326G | Economic Problems of Black Business | 3 |
| AFRIC 329G | Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa | 3 |
| AFRIC 344G | Global Black Social Movements | 3 |
| AFRIC 350G | The Black Family | 3 |
| AFRIC 415G | Race in Sports | 3 |
| AFRIC 450G | Cultural Transmissions: Black Africa and Black America | 3 |
| AFRIC 451G | Rites of Passage in Black Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 497G | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| AFRIC 545G | Raising Children, 'Race-ing' Children | 3 |
| AFRIC 565G | Topics in African & African Diaspora Studies: | 3 |
Additional Requirements
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.