Overview

This African Studies Graduate Certificate from Portland State University is perfect for you if you’re looking for:

Exceptional faculty. Our faculty have extensive experience with teaching and research in the African continent.
Exciting, cutting-edge courses. Our face-to-face and online courses cover topics such as African history and culture, African politics, and post-colonial studies.
An interdisciplinary education. We offer a flexible interdisciplinary curriculum that can be tailored to your goals and interests. Our faculty are scholars from diverse disciplines such as geography, history, political science, and economics.
Personalized advising. Professional and faculty advisors are there to support your learning goals and guide you to new opportunities.
Study abroad opportunities. You can enhance your knowledge of the region by going on one of the many credit-bearing international opportunities in Middle Eastern or North African countries offered through PSU’s Education Abroad.
Scholarships and fellowships. Many scholarships are available to students, including Critical Language Scholarships as well as Boren and Fulbright opportunities.

Our diverse campus is located in the center of downtown Portland, one of the most vibrant cities on the West Coast.

Career opportunities:

A certificate in African Studies prepares students for a wide range of careers in the nonprofit, private, and government sectors. Graduates of our program have found opportunities all over the world in:

Graduate programs in African and International Studies, Business, Political Science, Urban Studies, Public Health, etc.
Private-sector employers, including international businesses
Aid organizations such as the International Red Cross
Nonprofits focused on issues ranging from health to education, food systems, gender rights, sustainability, and more
Business incubators and trade organizations
Government agencies, with a focus on international affairs
Journalism and media organizations

Whether you want to pursue a career overseas, work in the United States, or prepare for a graduate degree, take the first step with a Portland State University’s African Studies certificate.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

African History, 1800–Present
Protests & People Power in Contemporary Africa
African Cinema & African Cultures
Women in African History
Traditional Cultures of Africa

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-07-22 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-05 00:00:00
Starting 2026-09-30 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-06 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-05 00:00:00
Starting 2027-03-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

110

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IELTS

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Credits

24 SCH

Delivered

On Campus, Blended

Campus Location

Portland, United States

Disciplines

African studies View 257 other Bachelors in African studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

To enroll as a freshman (first year), you must have completed secondary school or high school. Your education must be equivalent to United States secondary school or high school education.

You must have a cumulative (overall) grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 when converted to the U.S. 4.0 grading scale.

Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You may be admitted to Portland State University and an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) pathway if you do not meet PSU's English Language Proficiency Requirement. Learn more about PSU’s English language programs.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

43420 USD / year

≈ 43420 USD / year
Out-of-State

43420 USD / year

≈ 43420 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

16420 USD / year

≈ 16420 USD / year

Additional Details

Washington Border Discount (WBD)- $17,788/ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)- $23,260

Living costs

Portland

United States

1271 - 2262 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for African Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career opportunities:

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Portland

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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