Africana Studies Certificate

The Certificate in Africana Studies is a joint program of the Intercollegiate Department of Black Studies (IDBS) of The Claremont Colleges and Claremont Graduate University.  Any CGU student enrolled in an M.A. or Ph.D. program may concurrently pursue a Certificate in Africana Studies.

The Certificate requires a minimum of five four-unit courses, including a core course titled “Concepts and Methods in Africana Studies.”  The courses must be approved by the Graduate Certificate Review Committee in Africana Studies (GCRC).  The approved course sequence requires demonstration of substantive breadth, relevance to Africana Studies, and coherence.  At least three of the courses must be Claremont Graduate University courses.  The other courses should be selected from the curricular offerings of the IDBS for which graduate credit is offered.  All five courses may count as credit for the M.A. or Ph.D. for which the student is enrolled, provided that the courses are approved for that purpose by the student’s M.A. or Ph.D. advisor.  For the Certificate to be awarded, a student must attain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the courses taken for the Certificate. 

For additional information, please contact either of the co-chairs of the Certificate Program (Sid Lemelle, Pomona College, and Dean McHenry, CGU).

How to apply to this certificate program:

1. Complete the “Intent to Pursue a Certificate in Africana Studies” form (obtainable from the CGU Registrar’s Office or the Intercollegiate Department of Black Studies Office).

2. Submit the completed “Intent to Pursue a Certificate in Africana Studies” form to either of the co-chairs of the GCRC for review by that committee.

3. After the GCRC approves the “Intent…” form, one copy initialed by one of the co-chairs will be returned to the applicant; one will be sent to the Certificate advisor; and one will be sent to the CGU Registrar.

4. After completion of the requirements for the Certificate, the student must complete an “Intent to Receive a Certificate in Africana Studies” form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.