Global Black Studies, Graduate Certificate

To earn a graduate certificate at Washington University, a student must be currently enrolled in an applicable Washington University PhD program; apply and be accepted to the graduate certificate program; complete all courses required by the academic unit offering the certificate; maintain satisfactory academic progress; fulfill all academic and residence requirements; and apply for program completion (graduation) via Workday Student. Graduate certificates are not standalone programs and are only available to current students in applicable Arts & Sciences doctoral programs. Thus, graduate certificates are conferred at the same time as the student’s PhD. 

Program Requirements

• Total Units Required: 12
• Certificate Length: Two years
  • Note: Students must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits each semester to retain full-time status. As students complete their coursework, if enrolled in fewer than 9 graduate credits, they must enroll in a specific Arts & Sciences graduate course that will show 0 units but does count as full-time status. Students should connect with their department to ensure proper enrollment prior to Add/Drop.
  • Students are encouraged to apply for the Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate by the end of their first year and to begin coursework ideally in their first year but no later than the start of their second year in order to complete all requirements by the end of year two.
• Grade Requirement: B or higher 

Required Courses

The Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies is awarded to students who complete a PhD in a department in the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences and who satisfy the following graduate certificate requirements:

• Two core seminars (6 credits)
  • AFAS 5500 Graduate Seminar in Global Black Studies: Approaches, Theories, and Methods
  • AFAS 5510 Research Writing Seminar in Global Black Studies
• Two additional graduate-level electives (6 credits)
  • Students may take one elective (3 credits) outside of AFAS with approval. In exceptional circumstances, both electives may be taken outside the department with approval from the AFAS Director of Graduate Studies.
  • For a list of sample graduate courses in AFAS, consult the full list of AFAS Graduate Certificate Requirements on the AFAS website.
• Annual consultation with the AFAS Director of Graduate Studies

According to the policy of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, up to 6 credits can be double-counted toward both a student's PhD program and the certificate, with approval from both departments.