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Simmons University (Kaplan)

Boston , Massachusetts ,United States

BA in Africana Studies

Explore the history, politics, society, economy, and culture that shape the lives of Black people in the African diaspora. Broaden your perspective of the Black experience in the United States and around the world.

A bachelor's degree in Africana Studies — offered through Simmons’ Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences — equips you with the knowledge and tools to promote social justice and racial equity. This interdisciplinary and transnational program grounds itself in the humanities and social sciences. You'll engage in intersectional studies of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. 

You can pursue Africana Studies as either a major or a minor. An Africana Studies degree pairs nicely with degrees in many fields serving Black communities and other people of color. Some examples of these types of fields include nursing, social work, education, nonprofits, law, politics, and criminal justice. 

Intakes

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Application Processing Time in Days: 20

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Simmons University offers diverse job opportunities due to its wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional fields like business, education, and nursing. This broad academic offering creates a variety of potential roles for faculty, staff, and research positions across different departments, reflecting a strong potential for diverse employment opportunities at the institution. 

Potential Areas for Job Opportunities:

Academic Programs:

With offerings in arts, sciences, business, education, and nursing, Simmons University has potential openings for faculty, researchers, and instructional staff in these diverse fields. 

Professional Fields:

The presence of professional programs suggests opportunities in roles related to administration, student services, and program management within these areas. 

Support Services:

As an educational institution, Simmons would also require administrative, human resources, IT, and facilities staff to support its operations. 

Research and Innovation:

Opportunities in research and innovation are likely within the arts, sciences, and professional programs, potentially including grant-funded positions. 

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Simmons University uses a holistic review process, meaning it considers a range of factors beyond grades, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, a resume/CV, and extracurricular involvement, for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) are considered, and a strong high school GPA of 3.5 or higher is typically expected for admission. International students must also submit English proficiency test scores if their native language is not English. 

TOEFL = 83
TOEFL Essentials = 8
IELTS = 6.5
Duolingo = 115
SAT = 550 EBRW
ACT = 21 English
Pearson Test of English (PTE) = 55
Kaplan (KiBT) = 83