Master of Arts in Africology and African American Studies

Learn the fundamental theoretical and practical issues confronting African people with the Master of Arts in Africology and African American Studies in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. Gain an advanced understanding of the dynamics, experiences and traditions of people of African descent through a specialized curriculum that emphasizes self-guided studies and collaborative research opportunities.

The Africology and African American Studies MA is informed by the African-centered/Afrocentric paradigms in relation to other perspectives in Africana studies. Students in this 30-credit master's program can focus on several different areas, including 

  • African regional geography, 
  • Afrocentric theory, 
  • Caribbean culture, 
  • ethnographic methods, 
  • gender studies, 
  • history, 
  • languages,
  • literature,
  • mass media, 
  • popular culture, 
  • psychology, 
  • research methods, and 
  • social and political thought. 

Africology and African American Studies MA graduates pursue careers in public and private sectors, including the arts and humanities, business, healthcare, social services and teaching. Others choose to pursue the Africology and African American Studies PhD, with the goal of teaching at the collegiate level or engaging in academic research. 

Course requirements take place at Temple’s Main Campus and can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. 

Students interact in a classroom at Temple University.

Africology and African American Studies Department

Temple’s Africology and African American Studies Department is one of the oldest of similar programs in the nation and was the first to offer a doctoral degree in the field. Emerging during the Black Power Movement, the program was created to serve as an academic platform from which students could combat racism, discrimination and oppression. 

Today, the Africology and African American Studies Department and Temple University remain as committed as ever to this mission. Temple is home to more African American students than any other university in the Northeast, and it’s this diversity and sense of global community that sets the university apart. 

Additionally, the department’s professors are recognized for their published work, and graduates continue to lead programs in African American studies across the nation. 

Academic Community 

Students in the Africology and African American Studies Department can

  • contribute to the Journal of Black Studies, the top peer-reviewed publication in the academic discipline; 
  • connect with local, national and international African communities;
  • learn from and research alongside highly esteemed faculty; and 
  • study abroad in Ghana. 

Program Format & Curriculum

Africology and African American Studies MA courses take place at Temple’s Main Campus, and students can complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis. 

The curriculum comprises 30 credits—nine of which are core courses, and 21 of which are electives. The following courses are required. 

  • African Civilizations
  • The Afrocentric Paradigm
  • Theories and Methods in African American Studies

Examples of elective courses include the following. 

  • African-American Family
  • African Literature
  • Ethnographic Methods
  • Seminar in African American Social Philosophy
  • Special Topics in African Languages

Following the completion of course requirements, students have the option of completing the program with either a written comprehensive examination or a thesis. This decision is based on student interest and academic or professional goals.

Learn more about Africology and African American Studies MA academic requirements

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

*College of Education and Human Development
**Klein College of Media and Communication 

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,053.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,449.00 per credit

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

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Additional Program Information