HUMANITIES & Social Sciences :
By Christophe Dongmo
Christophe Dongmo is currently pursuing a PhD in History at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He holds a Masters degree in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters degree in Law from The University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
The humanities are rather a group of academic subjects united by a commitment to studying aspects of the human condition and a qualitative approach that generally prevents a single paradigm from coming to define any discipline. The humanities are usually distinguished from the social sciences and the natural sciences and include subjects such as Classics, Languages, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Performing Arts, Religion and the Visual Arts. Other subjects at times included as Humanities in some parts of the world include Archaeology, Area Studies, Communications, Cultural Studies and History of Art, although these are often regarded as Social Sciences elsewhere. In the end, the classification between "social sciences" and "Humanities" is a casuistic matter that varies from one institution to the next according to specific social and environmental parameters.
I have provided further details below in the following areas : [Click on a link to access the appropriate section]
In the following, I concentrate my analysis on how to get into a PhD Program in Humanities and Social Sciences. Although Master program also exist, funding and scholarship opportunities are rather slim, if not existent, for such degrees. Unlike most countries following the Anglo-Saxon model, the American PhD is a combination of formal coursework and Dissertation (Thesis). Depending on the circumstances, the Coursework component generally takes 2-3 years of full time study. During the Coursework Residency period, students register for an array of relevant courses in their major, minor and other secondary fields of interest. They attend graduate seminars and write a score of Research Papers. In the process, the student develops an interest in a specific area in which the prospective Dissertation will be written. The standard PhD takes 2-3 years of coursework and an additional 2-3 years for the Dissertation.
Indeed, such Research Papers usually form the stronghold for a future Dissertation or other forms of formal research such as Conferences Presentations or Journal articles. As a matter of fact, you may notice that the American PhD Programme is extremely different from its British counterparts (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and Ireland, etc…). In most countries following the British model, the PhD is a solitary process involving the writing and defense of a Dissertation that will advance the critical study of knowledge in the area. In the USA, the student starts with Coursework and then develops an interest in a specific field after about two years.
It is fairly possible to read for a PhD in a field completely different from the undergraduate education.
Given the interdisciplinary nature of American scholars, most Universities welcome applications from people
who were trained in a different area. If you studied law at undergraduate, you can easily be admitted into
a PhD in any field of humanities and social sciences, namely Philosophy, Sociology, and History.
Someone who studied Mathematics, Engineering or Physics can easily go into PhD involving substantial
quantitative research such as Economics, Finance, and Statistics. Likewise, someone with a degree in
life science may shift to humanities, even though the contrary is more or less hard. Therefore, if you
feel like you would like to change your career path, do not stick to your undergraduate field of study.
In the USA, University education is a class determinant. Unlike elementary and High School public education that
is financially funded by the State, going to the University is a privilege and not a constitutional right.
The question that any standard American citizen asks himself is "where should I apply?" Factors that generally
shape the applicant behavior are, but not limited to, the reputation of the School, the fields of specialization in that University, the cost of living in the host city, and financial aid to international applicants, just to name but a few. Those living in the USA are quite familiar with the ranking of Universities and Colleges. Although there are currently many rankings in the market, the one that generally catch the public mind is the one carried out by USA NEWS (www.usnews.com); and students generally refer to it to make application choices. But without undermining the ranking of Universities, I will advise prospective applicants from Cameroon to give considerable weight to the chances of getting admitted with full funding. Generally, when you go through your CV, academic record, GRE scores, it is easy to predict the type of institutions where you stand a good chance of being admitted with funding for a PhD.
In the United States, not all Universities offer PhD programs. Most institutions -"the Colleges -" are liberal arts undergraduate institutions that focus on the 4-year Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) after the High School Diploma. Likewise, most institutions bearing the label "University" are mainly geared towards the BA program coupled with some professional Master programs in fields like Psychology, Education, and Counseling. You should therefore double check and make sure that your target institution offers your selected program.
There are many ways through which you can uncover whether a specific institution offers PhD programmes in your field: (1) Do general Yahoo or Google searches; (2) read academic journals in your field and look at the academic affiliation of those who published there (especially where they have earned their degree); (3) read the U.S. News Graduate Program Edition that is published yearly and can be ordered on line at www.usnews.com; (4) or ask for advice from someone who is likely to master the field and has gone through that process.
In USA, admission is extremely selective and most Universities will not admit you for a PhD if they cannot guarantee you fellowship for 4-5 years generally covering tuition fees plus a monthly stipend to cover a full time single student needs. This is because PhD is very demanding enterprise and requires full time commitment. It is generally "extremely difficult" to work part time and study towards a PhD Degree.
Given the competitive nature of the admissions process, most students (including Americans) apply to many schools. Some even apply to about 20 to expect 2-5 positive admissions letters. Notwithstanding financial constraints (application fees), I believe that if you really want to get into a PhD programme with scholarship, you should plan to send at least five or six applications. In America, there is a tradition for prospective applicants subdividing their application plans into three categories:
- The "Dream Schools:" These are Universities that receive an extremely amount of applications and whose admission rate is less than 10%. These tend to be major top private research Universities. Having a first class honors and excellent recommendations, good test scores and excellent CV does not always guarantee admission into the "Dream Schools" category, for all those who apply there are extremely qualified and the School can not admit all of them.
- The "Target Schools:" These are Universities with stringent admission requirements but where a good student with excellent credentials and good recommendations is nearly sure of being.
- The "Safety Schools:" In this category, the prospective applicant will consider any School where there is less competition and where the probability of admission is greater.
I did mention that the United States is a class society, meaning that in the system everyone knows where She/He belongs, and where She/He can easily be admitted to study. Students generally design their application choices according to their GRE test scores and the strength of their academic transcripts, experience, and most importantly, the financial capability.
The applicant must be able to document that She/he possesses at least the equivalent of an American Bachelor (4years of formal University training). The British Bsc Hons, or a Cameroonian French Maitrise, or the English Cameroon's MS/MA will surely meet this requirement.
The Standard Application Deadline: 15 January
Universities accept applications only for the Fall Semester (starting End August), for which applications are generally due by January 15 of the corresponding year. For example, if you expect to start a PhD programme in August 2007, you application should be received by the 15th January 2007 latest. This is just a guideline, for many other schools have early closing dates, or within the same University, some Programmes may elect to have an early closing date. This implies that you have to plan accordingly and well in advance to meet the application deadline. Most Schools acknowledge receipt of the application and some do not. It is almost a custom (unwritten rule) that most Schools will contact you if some documents are missing from your file, and give you a deadline to submit them. Failure to submit them means that your file will not enter the selection process. Expect a reject letter in your mail box if you do not supply the requested support documentation.
You should hear from the University in writing by March and if offered a place, you will be given an "Offer and Acceptance" Form that should be filled out and returned to the School to indicate whether you accept or reject their offer. Most Universities have April 15 as the conventional deadline for students to accept or reject an admission offer. If you do not formally accept the offer, the School will automatically assume that you either changed your mind or got a better offer or opportunity somewhere else. On these grounds, it is always advisable to use a reliable mailing postal address to avoid missing posted materials. If you haven't heard from a School around March 20, you should send an Email to the Graduate Admissions Officer to inquire. It may be that they replied and you did not receive, which could be detrimental to you.
The Personal Statement
This is an important component of the application file. Here, you write an application essay in which you
describe your background, academic, life, and personal experiences, and then link them with your motivation to
read a graduate degree in Humanities and Social Sciences. I do recognize that students from the Cameroonian
system are less trained in writing such documents in a methodological and conceptual way. Still, a good
degree of self preparation, advice intensive research, and self-help could be useful. Note also that the
Personal Statement should mention the area in which you want to specialize. For example, instead of simply
mentioning that I am applying to read for a PhD in "Political Science," you should mention the sub-field or
area of specialization, for example, a PhD in Political Science, majoring in International Relations (Major field) and Comparative Politics (Minor Field). Likewise, if you expect to study History, the subject line of the personal statement should clearly mention the area of concentration, let's say "African History," "African-American History." "European Medieval History or "American Political History." This specification of the sub-field allows the University to give considerable weight to your application and assess the availability of a potential Dissertation Supervisor. On this ground, it is always advisable to visit your prospective School Website, read the Graduate Programmes Description, the academic profile of Professors teaching there and decide what will be your area of specialization. Although you may have a good application file, most Universities will turn you down if they cannot offer adequate supervision in your projected area of specialization.
Note also that the Personal statement should include your "career goals and objectives," that is, what you are planning to do after completion of your studies. Always mention that you're planning career in academia, for this is the purpose of the PhD Degree. If you hate teaching at University level, conducting intensive research, or have a resent for the field, then the PhD is not the right path for you. American Universities generally have a preference for applicants who are willing and planning to go back, be an Ambassador of their college and contribute to the development of their home country. As such, as part of your career goals, your personal statement should discuss the benefits that your home country (Cameroon) will derive from your education. In other words, you have to convince the School where you're applying that it is in their best interests and "diplomatic advantage" to invest in your education.
Three Recommendation or Reference Letters from University Professors
For PhD admission, the general requirement is to submit three "Reference Letters" from persons who had either taught you or supervised
your research at University level, and who, on these grounds, can reasonably attest of your capability to conduct scholarly research.
Recommenders are generally asked to describe "for how long" and "in what capacity" have they known you. I would like to stress on the fact that the Recommendations should be from a Professor or Lecturer who has taught you and not from someone who is just qualified in the field or is a high executive in the business or corporate world. In the American context, even a University Professor who has not taught you at University level will be unqualified to write a recommendation, for he is not in a good position to judge your academic excellence and research potential. I still recall a friend of mine who applying for a PhD International Relations and sent two Recommendations, one from Barrister at Law /Advocate and another one from a Diplomat. Such recommendations were turned down because such persons could not justify their analysis. The School sent him an Email requesting to substitute two academic Recommendations within delay.
Most Schools provide an Official Recommendation Form that the Recommender will fill out, sign across the flap and return it in a sealed envelope. Note that the requirement of academic references applies only to those applying for a PhD. Some professional graduate programs (MBA, JD, MA, MD) will accept professional recommendations (Someone who has been your supervisor at work) since these are professional programs. For example, if you're planning to the Medical Doctor (MD) or the Doctor of Pharmacy (DPharm), which are both professional degrees programmes, Schools will more likely accept professional recommendations. But if you're planning to read for a PhD in Medicine or a PhD in Pharmacy, you should expect to submit 3 academic references for these are academic degrees and they need people who can do research and publish for the development of science.
Most American Universities welcome and encourage Recommendations from Alumnus, that is, people who have graduated from their School, irrespective of whether or not they have known the applicant in an academic environment. If you are acquainted with an Alumnus who is not an academic, request a reference in addition to the three prescribed academic ones.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts are overtly different from what we call in Cameroon "certified copies of the original" bearing a fiscal stamp. By "Official transcripts," Americans mean an official copy delivered by the Registrar of your previous institutions under a sealed envelope. Most students from Cameroon generally find it hard to meet this requirement since Cameroonian Institutions issue only one copy of the transcript. Work it out with your Registrar or Admissions Officer, should that be needed.
Curriculum Vitae
Whether the School requests it or not, always include a Curriculum Vitae (CV) in your application file. The CV should be well-written. Avoid mentioning personal information such as date of birth, father's and mother's name, gender, height, race, marital status, number of children. Just as a guideline, a good CV many mention any of the following "Education," "Conference Presentations," "Academic Publications," "Research Projects Conducted," "Research in Progress," "Teaching Experiences," "Research Experience," and/or "Professional Experience" "Extra-Curricular Activities."
Research or Writing Sample in English
Most PhD Programmes in Humanities and Social Sciences will request the submission of a "research sample" or "writing sample." This is a piece of research paper that you might have written during a Bachelor or Master Program. This is also a critical component of the application file. The research sample does not need to be in the field where research will be conducted but should be nearly related. For example, if you are applying for a PhD in Political Science, it is fairly acceptable to submit a writing sample that you undertook for a Sociology, Anthropology, or History class. I hope that things have changed because some students from Cameroon find it difficult to meet this requirement since our educational system is mainly based on the "closed books' exam model in which students do not write research papers at undergraduate level that are graded.
Application Fee
You should also expect to pay a non refundable "application fee" for any application that you submit. The amount varies from one institution from the next, and coalesces around $40 to $100. You may pay by Credit Card or by Bank transfer or International Money Order. Your School should be able to advise you on the proper payment method. No application can be processed without the application fee. If you have a relative in the USA who is willing to assist you in this respect, discuss the modalities with that person. Note that some schools charge higher application fees for "paper applications."
The Online Application
Almost all American Universities have switched to Online Applications, meaning that you fill out the application form online, which can be easily stored into their database. Economically, this procedure has the advantage of mitigating the transaction costs of processing a paper application. To apply online, you need a Credit Card, otherwise the computer will not process the application. Besides the fact that you can store information and edit them at a later stage, the online application has the advantage of mitigating spelling mistakes and easing the task of admission officers.
The Graduate Record Examination or GRE (www.gre.org) is a standardized test taken by graduate applicants seeking a place at American universities. It does not evaluate your knowledge of a specific area, but your capacity to think very fast and understand complex situations requiring some degree of intelligence. Although there is currently a debate on the effectiveness of the GRE, Educational specialists assume that this is required for graduate studies.
The GRE is a compulsory exam and everyone, including American citizens, is required to take it. This is a 4 hour exam comprising analytical, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing. It comprises a fair amount of Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry), complex English sentences, and reading comprehension. Although the GRE does not have any relation with the field you're planning to study, experience has shown that applicants with a strong background of Mathematics are "comparatively advantaged." Likewise, an excellent knowledge of academic and complex English has proved to be useful for the verbal component of the test.
To sum up, the GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.
- Verbal Reasoning
The skills measured include the test taker's ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it analyze relationships among component parts of sentences recognize relationships between words and concepts.
- Quantitative Reasoning
The skills measured include the test taker's ability to understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis reason quantitatively solve problems in a quantitative setting.
- Analytical Writing
The skills measured include the test taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively examine claims and accompanying evidence support ideas with relevant reasons and examples sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion control the elements of standard written English.
- Who Takes the GRE and Why ?
Prospective graduate applicants take the General Test. GRE test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study. The scores provide common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in evaluating grades and recommendations.
- Where Do People Take the GRE ?
The General Test is offered year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other
countries. It is offered at paper-based test centers in areas of the world where computer-based testing is
not available. See which format is available in your area. In Cameroon, the GRE is offered twice a year,
generally in October and February at the American Cultural Center in Yaoundé. For such purposes, test takers
have to register about 45-60 days upfront. Although the American Cultural Center hosts the GRE exam,
it just acts as an agency-liaison and is not part of its administrative apparatus. As a result, they neither register applicants nor take exam fees. Applicants pay straight to the GRE managing corporation- Educational Testing Services- in USA. Payment by Credit Card is the preferred method of transaction. Otherwise, report to your local bank with ETS's banking details. They do not accept unconventional payment methods such as Western Union or Money Gram. Likewise, if you have a close relative or brother in the USA, you may assign her/him that task, but make sure that you give him all relevant details (personal information, date of birth, mailing address, Passport or National Identity Card No, date and place of the test ) to avoid being registered for the wrong test. It is worth mentioning that students should not plan to take the GRE just as a matter of formality, for it counts for almost for 60-70% on a student application decision.
Who Accepts the GRE ?
Any accredited graduate or professional school, or any department or division within a school, may require or recommend that its applicants take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both. If approved by the GRE Board, a non-accredited institution can also receive test takers' scores.
The GRE Score
The GRE General test is scored over 1800 (Verbal: 800, Quantitative: 800). The Analytical part is an essay graded 1-6. But generally when raising the issue of GRE Scores, people refer to the combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores only. There is no universal acceptable passing score and Schools have their own policies. On the day of the test, you should have at hand the Names and Codes of about 4 Universities where your GRE Score will be automatically transferred. You will be requested to supply this information on a supplemental test sheet. This is an advantage stemming from the registration fee. If you do not have such information on the day of the test, you will have to pay the GRE Office for that service for you are not entitled to submit such contacts at a later stage. ETS transfer your score to 4 Schools and charge about $15 for additional score transfers.
What is the GRE Subject Test ?
The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in the eight disciplines listed below:
- Biochemistry
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Literature in English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
This means that if you are planning any of the above mentioned fields, you will be required to take two GREs (General, Subject). The procedures are nearly the same. In Cameroon, he GRE Subject is generally offered once a year. Consult the GRE Calendar.
There is no general rule and I am going to present a broad picture of the situation. I did mention somewhere
that University education in the United States is a privilege and not a right. As a result, the general rule is that
people pay or borrow from financial institutions to pay for their studies. The society finds it normal and people do
not strike because of perpetual fee increases. Loans are available only to citizens and permanent residents.
For students applying straight from Cameroon, the best avenue of funding is the Postgraduate University
Scholarships that are fully managed by different Departments. Some Universities consider all those who apply
for all available Entry Merit Scholarships. Some Universities will require the applicant to fill out a separate
application form to be considered for a fellowship. Such information is generally available from the School Website.
Otherwise, inquire from the Graduate Admissions Secretary of the Department where you are applying.
Most Research Universities offer "full fellowships" covering tuition and a living allowance to all admitted
applicants; some will offer a "partial fellowship," which could be covering 80% of tuition fee without any living
allowance; and some will offer a "tuition fellowship," meaning that only your tuition is covered; finally, some will
admit the student without any funding, expecting the student to finance the program by her/'himself. That is why it has
been advised to submit as many applications as possible in order to increase admission possibilities.
