Dual & Joint MA Degrees

Joint M.A./M.P.A. degree, African Studies & Public Affairs: Degree information

For official degree requirements, you must consult with the IU Bloomington Graduate School Bulletin for the year you entered IU. Please go to Academic Bulletins (or to one.iu.edu and then search “graduate academic bulletin”). Click on IU Bloomington, then scroll to the bottom of the list for the University Graduate School. Click on your year. Go to “Program by Campus,” on the top bar menu, then search on African Studies.

The joint M.A./M.P.A. degree program in African Studies and Public Affairs prepares you for academic roles that require a working knowledge of African history and affairs, as well as knowledge and research experience in the humanities, social sciences, policy, and management. You will need to apply for admission to the master’s programs of both the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

You will be assigned a mentor from each unit until you form a M.A./M.P.A. thesis or project committee which should be co-directed by a faculty member from each unit. The two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

For official degree requirements, you must consult with the Graduate School Bulletin. The information below is not the official record.

The deadline for receipt of application materials for the African Studies degree component is January 15. Please contact the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs for deadlines and information on the SPEA master’s program requirements and deadlines. The African Studies and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Core African Studies courses (up to 12 credits)

• African Studies (AFRI)-A731: African Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar (3 cr.)
• African Studies (AFRI)-A650: Interdisciplinary Research Methods (3 cr.)
• African Studies (AFRI)-A651: Independent Research/Directed Readings (3-6 cr.)

M.P.A. Foundation Courses (18 credits):

• SPEA-V502: Public Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V506: Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V517: Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V540: Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-F560: Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.) 31
• SPEA-V600: Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Specialized area (18 credits)

Students may design and develop a program of specialization courses, consisting of 18 credit hours, in consultation with O’Neill School faculty advisors.

Elective courses (26 credits)

Electives are chosen from a selection of cross-listed African Studies offerings in the College of Arts and Sciences and several professional schools, with the approval of the student’s major advisor.

Electives may include three additional credits of African Studies (AFRI)-A731 since the topic changes every year and is offered by different faculty members on a rotating basis.

Language requirement

Students must take four semesters of an African language; however, these credits are not counted toward the total credits required for the degree. This language requirement may be waived by demonstrating equivalent competence through an exam completed under the supervision of the African Languages Coordinator.

Beyond the second-year level, up to three credits for the study of African languages may count toward electives.

M.A. Committee

M.A. students may choose from a thesis or project in order to complete their degree. The thesis option is strongly recommended for students intending to pursue a Ph.D. following completion of their master’s degree. The project option is designed for students wishing to pursue a non-academic career in a variety of fields. There is no M.A. exam option.

Thesis

Your thesis is an in-depth treatment of your topic of choice, should be interdisciplinary in nature, and 70 to 100 double-spaced pages in length. It may be an expanded seminar paper or an entirely new project based on library, archival, field, or museum research, and should make use of relevant sources in a language other than English. All three committee members must approve the thesis but may agree to waive an oral defense.

Project

The project option is designed for students wishing to pursue a non-academic career in a variety of fields. A “project” may be: an internship related to African issues in an organization, government agency, museum, or other institution in Africa or elsewhere (including the United States); or a media project (thematic video or other media production).

The plan for the project must be approved by three committee members. The plan should include: a brief description of the internship or media project; and a brief definition of the internship portfolio or media project’s analytical essay that will be submitted for evaluation by the M.A. committee. After endorsement by all committee members, the plan must be approved by the African Studies director before the student begins the project.

An internship (in Africa or elsewhere) should be at least six weeks in duration and culminate in a portfolio, including an abstract, an analytical essay of at least 30 double- spaced pages, and an addendum of at least 30 pages. The analytical essay should include: a description of the internship; a discussion of internship activities; and a rigorous analysis of the internship experience based on engagement with cross- disciplinary insights gained through relevant courses taken for the M.A. degree. The addendum might include: a journal, reports written during the internship, and other relevant items.

A media project must be accompanied by an analytical essay of at least 30 double- spaced pages. The analytical essay should include: a description of the media project; a discussion of the process of producing the media project; and a rigorous analysis of the media project based on engagement with cross-disciplinary insights gained through relevant courses taken for the M.A. degree. An addendum might include materials related to the project, such as a script, storyboards, and other relevant materials related to the thematic video or other media production.

No formal defense is required, but an M.A. review must occur after the student submits the internship portfolio or media project’s analytical essay to the M.A. committee. Once the committee evaluates and approves the internship portfolio or media project’s analytical essay, students are encouraged to make a presentation to the African Studies Program community in a venue such as the Friday colloquium, the annual Graduate Students in African Studies conference, or another program-supported public event.

Our dual M.A./M.L.S. degree program in African Studies and Library Science prepares you for a wide range of careers requiring a combination of technical skills in information science, instructional design and development, evaluation, and analysis. This program responds to the growing need for librarians with Africa-specific knowledge and research experience in the humanities and social sciences.

The dual M.A./M.L.S. program requires completion of a minimum of 56 credit hours of graduate coursework and the two degrees must be awarded simultaneously. You will be assigned a mentor/advisor from each unit. Your African Studies M.A. thesis/project committee should include a representative of the Information and Library Science faculty or other means of including perspectives of both programs. Note: The African Studies and Library Sciences degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

For official degree requirements, you must consult with the Graduate School Bulletin. The information below is not the official record.

Core courses (up to 12 credit hours)

• African Studies (AFRI)-A731: African Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar (3 cr.) 34
• African Studies (AFRI)-A650: Interdisciplinary Research Methods (3 cr.)
• African Studies (AFRI)-A651: Independent Research/Directed Readings (3-6 cr.)
• 18 credit hours of Master of Library Sciences foundation courses
• Fulfill the Information and Library Science (ILS) management and leadership skills requirement
• Fulfill the ILS digital literacy requirement

Elective courses (14 credit hours)

• Three credits of either (ILS)-Z521: Information in the Humanities or (ILS)-Z522: Social Science Information
• Nine credits of elective courses chosen from Information and Library Science courses
• An internship related to African Studies is strongly advised

Language requirement

Students must take four semesters of an African language, however, these credits are not counted toward the total credits required for the degree. This language requirement may be waived by demonstrating equivalent competence through an exam completed under the supervision of the African languages coordinator.

Beyond the second-year level, up to three credits for the study of African languages may count toward electives.

M.A. Committee

An M.A. committee must consist of three persons with relevant Africa and topical expertise, including a Department of Information and Library Science faculty member or someone representing the ILS perspective.

M.A. thesis or project

M.A. students may choose from a thesis or project in order to complete their degree. The thesis option is strongly recommended for students intending to pursue a Ph.D. following completion of their master’s degree. The project option is designed for students wishing to pursue a non-academic career in a variety of fields. There is no M.A. exam option.

Thesis

Your thesis is an in-depth treatment of your topic of choice, should be interdisciplinary in nature, and 70 to 100 double-spaced pages in length. It may be an expanded seminar paper or an entirely new project based on library, archival, field, or museum research, and should make use of relevant sources in a language other than English. All three committee members must approve the thesis but may agree to waive an oral defense.

Project

The project option is designed for students wishing to pursue a non-academic career in a variety of fields. A “project” may be: an internship related to African issues in an organization, government agency, museum, or other institution in Africa or elsewhere (including the United States); or a media project (thematic video or other media production).

The plan for the project must be approved by three committee members. The plan should include: a brief description of the internship or media project; and a brief definition of the internship portfolio or media project’s analytical essay that will be submitted for evaluation by the M.A. committee. After endorsement by all committee members, the plan must be approved by the African Studies director before the student begins the project.

An internship (in Africa or elsewhere) should be at least six weeks in duration and culminate in a portfolio, including an abstract, an analytical essay of at least 30 double- spaced pages, and an addendum of at least 30 pages. The analytical essay should include: a description of the internship; a discussion of internship activities; and a rigorous analysis of the internship experience based on engagement with cross- disciplinary insights gained through relevant courses taken for the M.A. degree. The addendum might include: a journal, reports written during the internship, and other relevant items.

A media project must be accompanied by an analytical essay of at least 30 double- spaced pages. The analytical essay should include: a description of the media project; a discussion of the process of producing the media project; and a rigorous analysis of the media project based on engagement with cross-disciplinary insights gained through relevant courses taken for the M.A. degree. An addendum might include materials related to the project, such as a script, storyboards, and other relevant materials related to the thematic video or other media production.

No formal defense is required, but an M.A. review must occur after the student submits the internship portfolio or media project’s analytical essay to the M.A. committee. Once the committee evaluates and approves the internship portfolio or media project’s analytical essay, students are encouraged to make a presentation to the African Studies Program community in a venue such as the Friday colloquium, the annual Graduate Students in African Studies conference, or another program-supported public event.

In partnership with the School of Public Health (SPH), we offer a three-year program that qualifies you for a dual master’s degree (M.A./M.P.H). The program is a response to the growing need for public health personnel with Africa-specific knowledge and research experience in the humanities and social sciences.

The dual M.A./M.P.H program requires completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours of graduate course work and the two degrees must be awarded simultaneously. You will be assigned a mentor or an advisor from each unit. Your thesis committee must include a representative from each academic unit who will serve as co-chairs of the thesis project.

The College of Arts and Sciences’ African Studies Program and the School of Public Health (SPH) jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for a dual master’s degree (M.A./M.P.H). The program is a response to the growing need for public health personnel with Africa-specific knowledge and research experience in the humanities and social sciences. The dual M.A./M.P.H program requires completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours of graduate course work and the two degrees must be awarded simultaneously. Students will be assigned a mentor or an advisor from each unit. The student’s thesis committee must include a representative from each academic unit who will serve as Co-Chairs of the thesis project.

Admissions Requirements

Same as for the College of Arts and Sciences Master of Arts in African Studies degree except that students must also apply to the master’s program of the School of Public Health (SPH) and meet its established M.P.H admissions criteria. Students must be accepted for admission to both units in order to be admitted to the program.

Other Stipulations

Students must pass all routine requirements of the MPH program including satisfactory performance on the C650 Culminating Experience in addition to the completion of the master’s thesis.

Public Health Core Courses (15 Credits)

• SPH-B 589 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-P 510 Organization and Administration of Public Health Programs (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 541 Environmental Health (3 cr.)

Public Health Required Courses (7 Credits)

• SPH-B 696 Field Experience in Public Health (4 cr.)
• SPH-B 698 MPH Culminating Experience (3 cr.)

Concentration Coursework (12 Credits)

• SPH-B 501 Assessment & Planning in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 529 Health and Disease Disparities in Diverse Communities (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 602 Intervention Design in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 562 Health Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

African Studies Core Courses (9-15 Credits)*

• AFRI-A 731 African Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar (3-6 cr.)
• AFRI-A 650 Interdisciplinary Research Methods (3 cr.)
• AFRI-A 651 Independent Research/Directed Readings (3-6 cr.)

Electives to complete a minimum total of 26 credits in African Studies chosen from 100% Africa content courses or from cross-listed courses

African Studies elective courses may be selected from the range of cross-listed African Studies offerings in the College of Arts and Sciences and several professional schools, with the approval of the student’s major advisor. AFRI A-731 may be taken for up to six credits because the topic for the African Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar changes every year and is offered by different faculty members on a rotating basis. A student may take it for fewer than three credits after having taken it once for three credits. SPH courses may include any elective within the School of Public Health that complements an area of topical or methodological focus and has a minimum of 25% Africa content.

Language Requirement

Same as for the M.A. in African Studies.

Academic programs in African Studies continue to grow, with a corresponding need for scholars in Public Affairs who have knowledge and research experience in the humanities, social sciences, policy, and management aspects of this field. The dual M.A. /M.P.A. program requires completion of a minimum of 62 credit hours of graduate course work. Students must apply for admission to the master’s programs of both the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Public Affairs) and the College of Arts and Sciences (African Studies Program), and meet the admissions criteria established for each. Students will be assigned a mentor from each unit until they form a M.A.-M.P.A. thesis or project committee which should be co-directed by a faculty member from each unit. The two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Admissions Requirements

Same as for the College of Arts and Sciences Master of Arts in African Studies degree, except that students must also apply to the master’s program of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and meet its established admissions criteria. Students must be accepted by both units in order to be admitted to the program. The deadline for receipt of application materials for the African Studies component is January 15. Please contact the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs for deadlines and information on the SPEA master’s program requirements and deadlines.

Required Courses (9-12credits)

• A731 African Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar (3 cr.)
• A650 Interdisciplinary Research Methods (3 cr.)
• A651 Independent Research / Directed Readings (3-6 cr.)

Electives to complete a total of 26 Africa-related credits

• Students should take elective courses organized around a topical or regional concentration. These courses are to be selected from the range of cross-listed African Studies offerings in the College of Arts and Sciences and several professional schools, with the approval of the student’s major advisor. Electives may include up to three additional credits of A731 because the topic for the African Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar changes every semester and is offered by different faculty members on a rotating basis.

Language Requirement

Same as for the M.A. in African Studies.

SPEA Course Requirements

The core requirements for the M.P.A. and a specialized SPEA concentration (36 credit hours) to include:

M.P.A Foundation courses (18 credits):

• SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-F 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.).

Specialized Area

• Students may design and develop a program of specialization courses in consultation with SPEA faculty advisors (18 credits).

The African Studies Program offers the Ph.D. Minor to students in a range of fields including: anthropology, archaeology, art history, comparative literature, economics, English, education, ethnomusicology, folklore, French, geography, history, instructional systems technology, journalism, law, linguistics, political science, public and environmental affairs, public health, sociology, and Spanish and Portuguese.

Students selecting African Studies as a minor are encouraged to visit the Program office (Global and International Studies Building, GA 3072) as soon as possible after arriving on campus to discuss their interests. The Program director and staff will provide information about courses, faculty, and ways to connect with other African Studies students.

Course Requirements

Students minoring in African Studies must complete AFRI-A650, Interdisciplinary Methods in African Studies, and four other graduate-level courses in African studies outside their major field. The courses should be in at least two different disciplines; must be taught by an African Studies Program affiliated faculty member; and must be approved by the Program director.

The African Studies Interdisciplinary Seminar AFRI-A731 may be taken twice for a total of six credits but variable credit is only allowed in addition to having taken it once as a three-credit seminar.

One language course in the third year of study, or higher, may be counted toward the Minor.

The Program strongly recommends that Ph.D. candidates who minor in African Studies take two years of an African language in addition to their course work for the minor. Serious scholars of Africa are proficient in at least one African language. Moreover, language proficiency improves opportunities for fieldwork and funding; in fact it is a requirement for important overseas research grants (e.g., SSRC and Fulbright-Hays awards).

Students preparing a minor in African Studies and a minor in another field may double-count only one course.

Students with special qualifications or previous coursework at leading institutions may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee to give credit for work that is comparable to specific courses at Indiana University. Petitions must include a formal letter of request from the candidate, as well as a syllabus from the course in question. The materials should be submitted to the Chair of the Graduate Affairs Committee or the Director of the African Studies Program.

The requirements stated above constitute a minimum level of expectation.

Examination

Although a 3.7 grade point average in African studies courses would normally exempt the student from having to take a written comprehensive examination, the decision in this matter rests with the student’s major-field advisor and the faculty member representing African Studies as the minor-field advisor. Certifying that the student has met the minimum requirements rests with a faculty member in the African Studies Program who is not in the student’s major department.