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African Studies M.A.


  • About Us

    Our Students' Testimonials:


    The intellectual objective of the African Studies M.A. Program is to provide graduate students an opportunity to engage in intensive study and research on Africa on an interdisciplinary basis. The program offers African Area courses in a wide range of disciplines, including the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, and some professional fields. A concurrent degree program is also offered where students can work for the M.A. in African Studies and the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) at the same time.

    Academic flexibility draws many students to the program. Because there are more than 50 faculty members with African interest and experience in approximately 30 disciplines, students have multiple options to design individual programs suited to their specific interests.

    According to a recent survey, 50% of the program graduates continue studying at the post-graduate level, about 20% are employed in higher education, and a significant percentage work in international or foreign organizations in numerous countries.

    During their time spent completing this program, students will also have the opportunity to present their work at the Annual International Institute Graduate Student Conference. With a transnational and interdisciplinary focus, African Studies M.A. students are provided a unique experience and a specially tailored forum in which to engage experts on their research.

  • People

    FACULTY

    AFRICAN STUDIES
    FACULTY ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE 2019-20

    Harold Torrence, Chair, African Studies

    Hannah Appel, Ph.D., Anthropology, International Institute
    Edith Mukudi Omwami, Ph.D., Education
    Jemima Pierre, Ph.D., African American Studies
    Allen F. Roberts, Ph.D., French and Francophone Studies, World Arts & Cultures/Dance
    Paula A. Tavrow, Ph.D., Community Health Sciences
    Dominic R. Thomas, Ph.D., Comparative Literature, French & Francophone Studies
    Harold Torrence, Ph.D., Linguistics
    William H. Worger, Ph.D., History
    Ruby Bell-Gam, University Librarian, ex officio affiliate

     

    Affiliated Faculty

    STAFF

    ACADEMIC COUNSELING

    Magda Yamamoto, Academic Counselor
    UCLA International Institute Academic Programs
    Office of Academic Advising
    10256 Bunche Hall, Mail Code 148703
    Los Angeles, CA 90095-1487

    Tel: 310-206-6571
    idpgrads@international.ucla.edu

    Academic Counseling drop in hours:
    Monday-Friday     10:00 am - 11:30 am and 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm in 10256 Bunche (10th floor)

    STUDENTS

    Our Students

     

    Under construction.... more to come!

     

    Louise Hyland

     English B.A., Concordia University Irvine

     Hometown: Newport Beach, originally from South Africa

    I have two main research interests: The first is cross cultural food, particularly African food and its role in assisting to bridge political, social, and cultural gaps between people.  I am also very interested in South African literature from pre-apartheid through to current day post-apartheid.  I have a particular love for subversive anti-apartheid literature written during the time of apartheid.  My literary interests extend to other Sub-Saharan regions such as Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, etc. After achieving this Master’s degree I would like to continue on to receive a PhD.  My ultimate goal is to develop a substantial published repertoire and teach at the collegiate level in order that I may share my love of Africa, literature and cultural anthropology.  

    In regards to hobbies, I am an avid, but often frustrated, writer.  I have a deep love for gymnastics and as a judge, most weekends will find me evaluating routines that young ladies have poured their heart and soul into preparing.  I also love to grow vegetables and have been known to reprimand tomato plants when they do not produce an acceptable yield.  My children are my greatest achievements and everything else I ever do will pale in comparison.   

     

    Doyle McKinney

    International Studies B.A., CSU Long Beach

    My research interests include water scarcity, environmental degradation and public health in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the effects of development on health and environment, specifically, the proliferation of fast food and intersectionality of development, disenfranchisement, and advertising. As an experienced traveler with field research experience and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from CSULB, I hope to work in Africa post MA for an NGO or development agency.

    My hobbies are tennis, hiking, traveling, intercultural communication, sailing, cycling, composing music and visiting museums. 

     

    Xiuling Zhang 

    Sociology B.A., University of Boston

    Xiuling worked as an intern at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Kigali, Rwanda for the summer. Her fieldwork mainly focused on two areas: first, facilitating IITA’s banana and cassava projects, and, second, concentrating on Rwanda agriculture and animal resources development board(RAB)’s cooperation with IITA. Her research found that RAB plays essential roles in its collaboration with IITA and other NGOs. RAB’s participation enables the incorporation of local knowledge and expertise into developmental projects, which makes the developmental projects better suit local context and serve for the country's agenda.

     

  • Degree Requirements

    DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

    Starting the MAAS Program

    Getting Towards Graduation

    Starting the MAAS Program

    Area of Concentration; Course/Degree Requirements

    Besides satisfying a language requirement, a minimum of nine courses (36 units) are required for the Master's Degree (of which at least five must be graduate level, i.e., 200+ courses only).

    These nine courses must be distributed as follows:

    (1) African Studies 201A "Africa and Disciplines"

    (2) Five Courses in Student's Area of Concentration

    Comprised of a minimum of five courses of which at least three must be at the graduate level (200+). The other two courses may be either graduate level or upper division undergraduate courses (100+). In general, all major courses are from the same department (e.g., History or Political Science). There are some exceptions, i.e. Sociology and Anthropology may be taken as a combined major or Development Studies, involving courses from a variety of departments, may be considered a major. Other combined majors or changes in major must be approved by the Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor must be kept informed of any alterations in the student's chosen area of concentration.

    (3) Additional Courses

    A minimum of three other courses outside the major area is required, of which two must be at the graduate level.

    (4) Optional independent study; 500-level courses

    All 500-level courses must be approved by the course instructor. No more than two  "500-level Independent Study" (8 units) courses may be applied toward the nine-course minimum degree requirement stipulated above.  Only one of the 500-level course (4 units)  may be applied toward the minimum five graduate courses required for the M.A. degree.

    Except for 500-series courses, University regulations indicate that a student in an interdepartmental degree program may not apply courses taken on an S/U grading basis toward the master's degree.

    Concurrent  Degree Program: African Studies MA/Public Health MPH

    The African Studies program and the School of Public Health offer a concurrent program whereby students can pursue the MA degree in African Studies and the MPH with a specialization in Community Health Sciences at the same time. The students enrolled in these programs are subject to different and additional minimum course requirements. Concurrent students should consult with Program Advisors for scheduling and other details. For information on the Concurrent Program with Public Health, search the site www.ph.ucla.edu,  or call 310-825-5516.


    Foreign Language Requirement

    In addition to minimum course requirements,  MAAS students are required to satisfy the African Area Studies Foreign Language Requirement before graduation by achieving elementary proficiency in an African Language.   European languages spoken in Africa  may be substituted by petition to the chair. The Program Language Requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following two ways:

    1. Language Courses
      take three courses (12 units) in a single  African Language, Afrikaans, Arabic or Berber with an average of `B' or better (please note that language courses are not applied to the nine-course requirement). Approved Summer Language or Intensive Language courses may also be substituted. 
    2. Language Examination
      Demonstrate elementary proficiency in an examination with the African Languages Coordinator.

    Getting towards graduation

    Advancement to Candidacy; Forms

    All graduate students must formally advance to candidacy prior to graduation.

    Formal application should be filed no later than the second week of the quarter in which the degree is to be awarded.

    All required forms may be obtained from the Coordinator of Student Affairs' office or from Graduate Division (1255 Murphy Hall). Besides the Petition to Advance to Candidacy, additional forms to be obtained and submitted during or near this time include: Language Petition and Examination Committee or Thesis Committee Nomination Form.

    Additional forms for:

    Plan 1: Comprehensive Exam

    Plan 2: Thesis

    Faculty Committees

    The following instructions apply to both EXAM and THESIS options.

    It is the student's choice and responsibility to decide whether they wish to satisfy their final degree requirement by writing a Master's Thesis or by taking a Program-administered Comprehensive Examination. It is likewise up to the student to select which faculty will serve on their committee but:

    1. Thesis and Exam Committees must be formally appointed via formal petition signed by all Committee Members and the MAAS Program Chair. [forms available from the Coordinator of Student Affairs].
    2. The Committee Chair must be a faculty member from whom you have taken a graduate level course.
    3. At least two of the three faculty members (including the Chair) must be chosen  from the African Studies program's Faculty list.  (a maximum of one member does not have to be included on the  list, however, has to be UCLA ladder faculty).
    4. At least two of the faculty (including the Chair) must be from the student's area of concentration.

    These above stipulations apply to both Exam and Thesis Committee appointments but important procedural variations also appear below. Any exceptions to these stipulations must be pre-approved by the Program Chair.

     

    1. Comprehensive Examination Plan (form)

    Formal petitioning for the Exam option must be approved no later than the end of the second week of the student's final quarter of enrollment.

    If you choose the Comprehensive Examination Plan you will be required to take a one-day written examination in your major area of concentration. It will be your responsibility to make arrangements for the examination details (e.g., approaching faculty members for inclusion on your Exam Committee, the obtainment of Committee member signatures, the scheduling of an exam date, etc.) but all decisions must be formally approved by the Program Chair.

    If the student fails to pass this Exam, a later Exam must be rescheduled. Failure to pass the re-Exam can result in termination from the Program.

    Students are advised to monitor the progress of these procedures by remaining in touch with members of their Committee and the Coordinator of Student Affairs. Failure to submit completed forms by Program deadlines, failure to reserve an examination date at least two weeks in advance, or failure to ensure that all Exam questions have been received by the Coordinator of Student Affairs at least five days prior to the examination may result in the Exam's postponement to the following academic quarter. (Any exceptions to the above must be pre-approved through the Program Chair/Faculty Advisor)

    2.Thesis Plan (form)

    Eligibility of faculty appointments to Exam Committees likewise applies to the nomination of Thesis Committees (see above).

    It is the student's responsibility to formally appoint their Faculty Thesis Committee but all nominations must be approved in consultation with the MAAS Program Chair/Faculty Advisor. However, in addition to MAAS Program approval, your Thesis Committee must also be approved by Graduate Division and a formal petition (signed by all faculty Committee members and by the Program Chair/Faculty Advisor) must be obtained from the Coordinator of Student Affairs, completed, and submitted to Graduate Division (1255 Murphy) on or before stipulated deadlines. The Thesis must reflect the student's major discipline or emphasis and evaluation for its final approval will be at the discretion of your Faculty Thesis Committee. Consult the quarterly UCLA Schedule of Classes for all filing dates and deadlines.

    Disqualification from the Program

    Any recommendation of a student's disqualification from the African Area Studies Program will be made by the MAAS Program Chair and approved through Graduate Division. Disqualification may be recommended (though not necessarily automatic) for any of the following reasons:

    1. Failure of the student to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout their time to degree.
    2. Failing to pass the Comprehensive Re-examination upon the second attempt.
    3. Insufficient progress toward the degree.
    4. Serious infractions of academic standards (such as plagiarism.)

    Please note: disqualifications are extremely rare but not unknown.

    CONCURRENT DEGREE PROGRAM: AFRICAN STUDIES MA/ PUBLIC HEALTH

    A joint degree program with  the School of Public Health is available to students interested in pursuing M.A. and M.Ph. degrees concurrently.  Applicants are required to satisfy the admissions requirements of both programs and students must meet the requirements in both programs to be awarded the degree. 

    The M.A. in African Studies/M.Ph. program allows students to use a maximum of 8 quarter units of African Studies course work to be applied toward both the M.A. degree in African Studies and the M.Ph. degree through a pro forma petition to the Graduate Division.

    Applicants interested in this concurrent program should contact the African Studies program, and the Student Affairs Office, the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

     

    UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
    Sukhwinder Sagoo, Admissions Officer
    School of Public Health
    16-071 Center for the Health Sciences (CHS)
    (310) 825-5524
    Email: sagoo@ph.ucla.edu


    General inquires regarding the M.A. in African Studies should be addressed to:

    Magda Yamamoto, Academic Counselor
    UCLA International Institute
    African Studies  M.A. Program
    10256 Bunche Hall
    Los Angeles, CA 90095-1487
    Telephone: (310) 206-6571

    Email: idpgrads@international.ucla.edu

     

    COURSES

    Graduate-level courses are numbered 200-299.

    Of the nine courses for the African Studies MA, at least five must be at the  graduate level.

    Courses in the 300 series cannot be applied to the degree. 

    400 level courses can be applied to the degree but as Electives and not as graduate courses.

    Maximum two 500 series courses are allowed for the degree.

    All courses must be taken for a letter grade unless they are in 500 series. The 500 series courses taken for S/U can be applied to the degree but only if the course has no letter grade option. 

    FALL 2019 COURSE LIST

    RULES AND REGULATIONS

    Rules & Regulations


    Registration and Enrollment; Course Load

    Students are advised to remain aware of all campus deadlines applicable to registration and enrollment (which appear in the CALENDAR section of the UCLA Schedule of Classes). Failure to meet stipulated deadlines can result, at minimum, in the levying of late fees or other fines.

    For each quarter (Summer session excluded), all graduate students are required to be either:

    • registered and enrolled,
    • registered in absentia, or
    • on official leave of absence

    Students register by paying registration fees by the deadline. Students are advised to enroll in at least 12 units per quarter unless approval by the Faculty Advisor stipulates otherwise. An exception to this policy exists only for graduate students, near their time to degree, who may be eligible to pay a filing fee. Students should monitor their academic progress online via My.UCLA and always check their records for accuracy. Any discrepancy should be immediately brought to the attention of the relevant faculty member.


    Registration and Enrollment Procedure
    All students can access their UCLA Billing Statement online through My.UCLA which will alert them to all payment amounts due for each quarter (such as registration fees, fines, outstanding debts, financial awards, and refunds).

    ENROLLMENT for all courses may be done online through My.UCLA before the stipulated deadlines. Some courses (such as most graduate level seminars) may require that the student requests a Permission to Enroll number (or "PTE") from the appropriate instructor before enrolling in a course. More detailed information about this procedure is also available through various Campus publications and from the Coordinator of Student Affairs.

    A PROJECTED COURSE LIST for each academic quarter will be distributed to every student prior to the beginning of each academic term. Each quarterly list will indicate courses that may be applied to MA degree requirements. The Faculty Advisor must check and approve all courses. Approval for enrollment in courses not appearing on this list must be obtained from the Program Chair/Faculty Advisor.
    Course lists are always subject to change without prior notice and information (such as Course ID#s, class times & locations, and instructors) should always be verified by consulting the quarterly UCLA on line Schedule of Classes.

    Leave of Absence
    Students may formally petition to take a temporary LEAVE OF ABSENCE for one to three quarters during their graduate tenure. There is a maximum of three quarters of leave permitted to UCLA students. Leave of absence is not automatically granted and there must be a valid reason for the leave to be approved. Students are eligible for leave of absence only for one of the following reasons: outside employment, medical, parental obligations, other family obligations, military, emergency, financial hardship.
    Students on a leave of absence are not eligible for any financial assistance from the university and are not covered by the Graduate Students Health Insurance policy (GSHIP).

    Registration in Absentia
    A registered student can apply for Registration in Absentia when (s)he needs to conduct research outside of California. Student’s research has to be directly related to his/her degree program.
    For more information on the Leave of Absence and the Registration in absentia please click here.


    Withdrawal
    Registered students wishing to officially WITHDRAW from the Program are advised to notify Graduate Division via formal petition. Failure to do so can result in the seizure of the student's Transcripts and Official Records and/or legal action by the University.


    Incompletes
    An "Incomplete" (appearing on the student transcript as an "I" rather than letter grade) indicates either that the student has not satisfied the minimum requirements for a given course or, alternatively (and rarely), indicates that the instructor (through prior agreement with the student) has allowed a temporary grade assignment of "Incomplete" to stand for one quarter and be immediately changed into a letter grade the following quarter (this typically occurs only with courses spanning more than a single quarter).
    Incomplete grades can become very serious!!! If the student fails to satisfy the required coursework by the end of the following quarter, the Incomplete Grade will revert to a Failing Grade of "F" (not easy to later remove from the student's transcript).
    In order to petition for any grade change or to remove an Incomplete grade, a form signed by the Chair/Faculty Advisor must be submitted to Graduate Division with a processing fee, supporting documentation, and an explanatory letter from the course instructor.

    Fees
    Current fees are listed on the UCLA Graduate Division website . California residents are exempt from  Non-Resident Tuition. Non-California residency are encouraged to obtain California residency for tuition purposes as soon as possible. Students should contact the Academic Advisor for more information. International students are not eligible for California residency and should expect to pay the Non-Resident Tuition throughout their studies at UCLA.

    For more information on graduate studies rules and regulations please check the "Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA".

    ACADEMIC FORMS AND HELPFUL LINKS
  • Funding Opportunities

     

    Graduate & Postdoctoral Extramural Support (GRAPES) Database - Search Form

    GRAPES is not a fellowship or scholarship, rather it is an extensive database created by UCLA to help graduate students search for funding opportunities from institutions all over the world. Graduate students in need of funding (from all disciplines) are encouraged to become very familiar with the GRAPES database, and to reference it regularly.

    Funding opportunities stemming directly from UCLA are sometimes limited. With GRAPES, however, graduate students may search for hundreds of potential funding sources from many universities and institutions outside of UCLA.

     

    General Fellowship Opportunities

    Boren Fellowship

    Boren Fellowships provide funding for U.S. graduate students to study world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. The fellowship is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only.

    Maximum awards for the Boren Fellowships are $30,000. In exchange for funding, recipients commit to working in the federal government for a minimum of one year. 

    Alice Belkin Memorial Scholarship

    The Burkle Center awards outstanding minority graduate students who have financial need and research interests relating to globalization and international relations with scholarships up to $4,000.00 each academic year. Scholarships are granted to qualified applicants who demonstrate leadership skills and academic achievement.

    Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program (GOFP)

    This one-year fellowship program provides recipients with a stipend plus tuition (and nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary).  The program supports a limited number of entering students pursuing either terminal or professional master's degrees.

    Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students who qualify for nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions under AB 540 (eligibility for undocumented AB540 students is effective January 1, 2013). The intent of this fellowship is to provide access to higher education for students who might otherwise find it difficult or impossible to successfully pursue graduate study.

    Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

    The U.S. Department of State funds about 600 students for summer language institutes abroad at various skill levels. CLS is a program of the U.S. Department of State and provides fully funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks for U.S. citizen graduate students. Scholars will complete language coursework as well meeting with a native speaker language partner. Languages offered: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu. Language levels are classified as Beginning, Advanced Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. The CLS Program provides undergraduate academic credit through Bryn Mawr College. Upon completion of the program, participants also receive a certified American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) score.

    Hilton Global Summer Scholars Program

    The Hilton Global Summer Scholars will undertake a training fellowship on initiatives focused on reducing poverty and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Before, during, and after these summer experiences, scholars will contribute to building the evidence base on what works to improve the lives of the poor and most marginalized communities, while gaining valuable international experience and gaining the opportunity to share findings with a range of stakeholders.

    Payne International Development Fellowship

    The Payne Fellowship is a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Program, administered by Howard University, which seeks to attract and prepare outstanding individuals for careers as USAID Foreign Service Officers. Candidates can be graduating seniors or college graduates with strong academic records and a desire to promote positive change in the world. The Payne program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need. Selected fellows will receive support for graduate school and gain employment with USAID in an exciting rewarding career in the Foreign Service.

    Applicants must have U.S. citizenship and be seeking admission to graduate school for a two-year program in an area of relevance to the Foreign Service at a U.S.-based institution. Up to $22,000 annually toward tuition, fees and living expenses for a two-year master’s degree in fields related to the Foreign Service such as development, economics, public administration, business administration, global health, agriculture, or environmental science at a U.S.-based institution.

    The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

    The purpose of the fellowship is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen field.

    Application deadline is November 1st.

    Teaching Assistantships

    Graduate students interested in teaching positions are encouraged to subscribe to the TA Marketplace group. Departments that need to fill TA vacancies post job announcements through that group.  Students need to be registered in order to have access to the group announcements. 

    African Studies Fellowship Opportunities

    The Judith Boyajian Travel Fellowship

    The Judith Boyajian Travel Fellowship is designed to provide graduate students with support for purposeful travel to and cultural immersion in Africa. Electing either to pursue study in an extant program or to design an original project that would be carried out in partnership with both a UCLA faculty member and an appropriate agency based in Africa. Key for any student who applies for the grant would be a commitment to public service, and whether in an established program or under an original project, students will also be required to be engaged in it.

    The fellowship will provide up to $4,000 to cover travel and approved related expenses and fellows are expected to spend a minimum of 45-days in-country. Fellowship cannot be combined with other funding.

     

    East Asian Studies Fellowship Opportunities

    Taiwan Studies Graduate Research Fellowship

    Through a grant from the Taiwan Ministry of Education, the UCLA Asia Institute will offer awards of up to $6000 to UCLA graduate students for pre-dissertation or dissertation-level research in Taiwan for summer 2015 or academic-year 2015-16. Students from any discipline may apply, but research must incorporate topics or methodologies of the humanities or social sciences.

    Eligibility: According to guidelines established by the funding agency, students who are native citizens of Taiwan, Hong Kong, or the People’s Republic of China are not eligible to apply.

    Hiroshi Wagatsuma Memorial Fellowships

    The Wagatsuma Fellowship was created in honor of the late UCLA Anthropology Professor Hiroshi Wagatsuma, who for many years served as an important bridge of mutual understanding between students and academics in Japan and the United States. He pursued cross-cultural studies in anthropology, psychology, sociology, and law until his death in 1985. Applications should be submitted online.

    Awards of up to $7000 will be made to students working on a dissertation or comparable research project with a substantial cross-cultural or comparative dimension, preferably one concerning Japan or other Asian country and North America. Applications should discuss how the proposal meets the requirements of the award to continue in the spirit of Prof. Wagatsuma's work. 

    Korean Foundation, Korean Studies Scholarship Program

    The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) annually offers 10 yearlong scholarships to graduate students majoring in Korean studies in North America. These scholarships support a master or PhD student's coursework and/or research while enrolled at their home institutions. It covers students only through the year that they are advanced to candidacy and only if they are in residence (not overseas research). Scholarships are for one academic year only. Scholarship recipients may reapply in succeeding years for additional support. Fellowship recipients are required to submit reports on their research or coursework at the conclusion of their one-year fellowship period. 

    Latin American Studies Fellowship Opportunities

    UCLA Blum Center Summer Scholars Program

    Through this program, graduate students live and work in a region of Latin America and work with universities,international institutions and/or community organizations involved in activities focused on improving health and social conditions of local populations.

    Each student will be mentored both by a faculty member from their respective university and a representative from the sponsoring host organization in Latin America.

    Monica Salinas Summer Research Scholarship 

    Currently enrolled in UCLA Latin American Studies Graduate MA Program. Departmental Scholars are eligible. Applications available Winter quarter. 

     

     

  • Admissions Information

    Note that the African Studies graduate program offers a Master's degree (M.A.) only.  There is no Ph.D. in African Studies offered at UCLA.

    General admissions information, instructions about applying, and the online application for admission can be found at UCLA’s Graduate Division Website.

    The deadline to apply to the African Studies interdepartmental graduate program is December 1.   All applicants must apply electronically for graduate admission.    The applicants will be notified about the admission decision by mid-March. 

    The following materials are required components of the admission application:

        o UCLA online  application

        o Statement of purpose  (two pages maximum, double space). Your statement of purpose should describe academic, Africa-related and/or professional experience. Applicants may include information about their academic achievements and goals for study at UCLA.

        o Writing sample. A research paper or other writing sample that well demonstrates writing and analytical skills (10 pages maximum). The goal of the writing sample is to demonstrate your ability to write professionally and clearly. For that reason, the writing sample should be written in English.

        o Three letters of recommendation preferably from former or current professors or from other individuals who can attest to applicant's ability to succeed in graduate study.  Letters should be uploaded via the online application system.

        o Transcript.   An unofficial transcript may be uploaded via on-line admission application. If transcripts are not in English, an authorized translation has to be provided. Official transcript with degree award date is required upon admission to the program.

        o Effective Fall 2019 application cycle, the GRE scores will not be required of applicants to the African Studies M.A. program.  Students who apply to the joint M.A. African Studies/ M.PH. Public Health program will need to submit the scores with the application to the Public Health program. 

        o  TOEFL scores (international applicants only). Applicants who hold a degree from a university located in U.S. or another country where English is both a primary spoken language and the language of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full time study at such institution are not required to submit TOEFL scores. For more information please review English Requirements.

    Financial Assistance for Entering Students     

    - Graduate Opportunity Fellowship for Entering Students.  Students submit application for the award along with the online application to the African Studies program.   The fellowship offers fees, non-resident tuition (if applicable) and a stipend to qualified applicants.

    - African Studies Program Fellowship: amounts vary. 

    - Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship Program:  current seniors who look for careers in the U.S. State Department are eligible.  Application deadline for students applying for Fall 2020 is September 17, 2019

     

    African Studies M.A. Program Inquiries:
    Telephone: (310) 206-6571
    E-mail: idpgrads@international.ucla.edu

    UCLA International Institute
    African Studies Graduate Admissions
    10256 Bunche Hall
    Los Angeles, CA 90095-1487 

     

  • Information for Incoming Students

    Housing Options

    For students seeking housing near UCLA’s campus, there are a number of options provided by the university and by independent housing offices. Incoming students who have recently accepted an offer of admission will be contacted directly by the university via e-mail with details about how to apply for university housing. In general, most graduate students seeking university housing near campus will be competitive for housing agreements in the Weyburn Apartments.

    Weyburn Terrace Apartments

    While university housing is not guaranteed, many students in the MA program are able to secure housing in the Weyburn Terrace Apartments next to campus. The Weyburn apartments are located right next to UCLA and are within walking distance of the main campus. In addition, a very convenient university bus route connects Weyburn to the university with shuttles arriving every few minutes.

    Weyburn offers individual studio housing and housing for students seeking a roommate. Furnished and unfurnished housing options are both available. For detailed information about rates for Weyburn Terrace housing, please click here.

    Parking is available for students who obtain housing in Weyburn Terrace. A parking permit for Weyburn may be applied for during the online application process.

    Student housing is not managed by the MA program, however. As stated above, students who have recently committed to UCLA will be contacted by the university directly with information about how to apply for housing. To explore more UCLA housing information, including off-campus university housing options, please click here.

    Non-University Housing Options

    There are plenty of non-university housing options for incoming students. Craigslist is an excellent option for many students seeking housing near UCLA. Many UCLA students successfully find housing using websites such as Zuma Housing ,  Westside Rentals, Apartmentlist, Trulia  and Zillow.

    Students often utilize Facebook Groups to connect with other students seeking housing in the area around Westwood. Some popular Facebook Groups are: "UCLA Sublets/Apartments," "UCLA Housing and Roommate Search," and "UCLA Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets." Be wary of scams, do not click on links that look suspicious (especially in the comment sections). 

    The neighborhoods that are located in proximity to UCLA and have good bus connection to UCLA include:

    • Beverly Hills
    • Brentwood
    • Culver City
    • Mar Vista
    • Koreatown
    • Palms
    • Santa Monica
    • West Hollywood
    • West Los Angeles
    • Westwood


    Parking options

    A daily parking permit for on campus parking is $12.  

    Students may also apply for quarterly parking permits, known as orange permits. Orange commuter permits are $249 each quarter. Commuter permits only secure parking at on-campus locations. Detailed information concerning parking permits including deadlines to apply may be found here.

    Public Transportation

    Students who find off-campus housing may also use the many convenient bus routes that connect UCLA to the greater LA area:

    • Students residing "South of Wilshire" may utilize the free Bruin Bus. 
    • Students residing in Culver City and Palms will find the Culver City Bus very accessible.
    • Students residing in Santa Monica, Mar Vista, West Hollywood may easily commute to campus by using the Big Blue Bus.
    • Los Angeles County Metro (bus and rail) allows students to commute from many other areas of Los Angeles.
    • You can use Metro Trip Planner to find the best bus connection when traveling around Los Angeles.

    The practicality of commuting to campus using city bus lines will be determined by the distance between the student’s housing and UCLA. While extremely affordable, some students may experience commutes of up to an hour in each direction to and from campus. Students are encouraged to consider all these factors while selecting appropriate housing.

    Obtaining California Residency for Tuition Purposes

    Out of state students can apply for California residency after completing their first year at UCLA. If approved, students will be able to pay the in-state tuition during their second or any subsequent year at UCLA. For more information, such as required documentation and deadlines to apply please visit the Registrar’s website.

    Please note that this information does not apply to international students.

  • Affiliated Research Centers

African Studies Students

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