PhD in Afro-American Studies in Boston United States | University of Massachusetts Amherst

The graduate program in Afro-American Studies aims to cultivate scholars and educators who embody the legacy of W. E. B. Du Bois, the department's namesake. Born in Massachusetts, Du Bois maintained throughout his lifetime that pursuing social justice demands rigorous academic inquiry, while true scholarly achievement calls for active engagement in bettering society. As we mark the program's 20th anniversary, we take pride in its accomplishments. Established in 1996, we became the second independent department to offer a doctoral program specifically in Africana Studies, rather than as a joint degree with another discipline. Our efforts have yielded significant achievements, accolades, and distinctions. We received the American Historical Association's Equity Award for our outstanding success in attracting and retaining students and faculty from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds in the field of history. With an almost perfect track record of placing graduates in academic positions nationwide, our program stands unmatched. This success stems from providing students with comprehensive knowledge of African American history and culture while fostering their ability to critically analyze societal structures, historical narratives, and cultural expressions—equipping them to advance scholarship on race and racial dynamics. The program promotes an integrative analytical framework that examines history, politics, economics, and culture within their sociopolitical contexts rather than isolating them. Students explore not just African American experiences but also their connections to broader societal forces—cultural, political, and economic—that have fundamentally shaped and continue to influence Black communities.