Africana Studies Concentration

Concentration Overview

The Department of Sociology is home to Africana Studies, an interdisciplinary program with faculty expertise in race and social policy, Black Feminisms, ethnic health disparities, racial identification, Hip-Hop music, African-American and multi-racial social movements, mass incarceration, criminal justice, race and racism, race and sport, and food studies. Students completing the MS in Sociology have the opportunity to complete a concentration in Africana Studies alongside their master’s degree. Students who pursue this concentration will learn to critically assess the present cultural forces, structural forces, and historical conditions affecting the economic, legal, educational, social, and moral status of people African descent.

Why choose this program?

We support the research of scholar-activists, who connect with communities in need and provide research that can help them to shape policies and solve problems.
The research and scholarly interests of our faculty cross a wide range of disciplinary boundaries.
Best fit for students interest in full-time graduate study on the campus of Virginia’s largest research university.
The graduate program in Sociology at Virginia Tech prepares students to be productive and publicly-engaged scholars, advancing research.

Our master’s graduates have gone on to earn doctorates in sociology and related fields here at Virginia Tech and in universities around the world, or to direct and coordinate women’s centers, diversity programs, and research at such institutions as the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington DC, and the DisAbility Law Center of Virginia.
All classes are taught in small seminars and offer personal interaction with faculty and peers.

What You'll Study

You will complete 48 hours of coursework and 42 hours of research.

Students work with a large, interdisciplinary faculty that includes about 30 tenure-track professors with PhDs in sociology, anthropology, English, history, and foreign languages. Students can also study with professors and instructors from other departments on campus who are affiliated with our department.

Course List (Blacksburg)

Admissions Requirement

_{A bachelor's degree with minimum GPA 3.25 (4 Scale)}
_{Overall GPA 3.0 (4 Scale) in all Sociology Courses}
_{GRE Not Required}
_{TOEFL /IELTS Required (If Applicable)}

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Tuition and Fee

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Funding Opportunities

_{The Department of Sociology has a limited number of graduate assistantships and fellowships available for students applying for full time study on the Blacksburg Campus. Entering students can apply for such funding as part of their admissions application. No separate application required.}

_{Find out what loans are available as a graduate student and other opportunities.}