The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation have created the Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute to encourage minority students and others with an interest in African-American and African Diasporan Studies to pursue graduate degrees, especially PhDs, in the humanities.

The program, which is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, offers a six-week session for 10 rising seniors (juniors in spring 2014, entering their senior year in fall 2014, graduating in 2015).

The Institute, with the help of renowned scholars, will develop and nurture the students' interest in the appropriate disciplines, and provide them with the requisite intellectual challenges and orientations needed to pursue humanities careers and to reach their full potential.

Eligibility 

• Students entering their senior year in fall 2014
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• 3.0 GPA or higher

If you do not meet ALL eligibility requirements your application will not be considered.

Program Details 

• Daily sessions, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All sessions are mandatory
• Seminars by distinguished scholars
• Assigned readings
• Viewings and discussions of relevant documentaries
• Research
• Development of a personal research prospectus
• Graduate school information workshop
• Writing sessions
• Graduate Student mentors
• $3,000 stipend. Students who are enrolled in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program are NOT eligible for the stipend. They are eligible for transportation and housing.
• Out-of-state transportation costs covered
• Free housing-at International House-and free meals

Theme
The Global Black Experience in the 20th and 21st Centuries
In the past one hundred years, Africa and the African Diaspora have faced tremendous challenges and gone through decisive changes: from colonial subjugation, legal segregation, and social and cultural derision to independence and participation in the global political, economic and cultural scene.

In particular, the second half of the 20th century has seen a flurry of struggles, achievements and tragedies linked to independence, the conquest of civil rights, the Cold War and colonial legacies; while the beginning of the 21st Century has been marked by the extension of the political, cultural, and economic globalization, and the rise of what is referred to as post-colonial and post-racial identity, politics, and cultures.
The Summer Institute, with the help of multi-disciplinary seminars by eminent scholars, will help students understand the events and the trends of these past sixty years.

Modules

Comparative Ethnic Studies
As a complement to Africana Studies and in a comparative perspective, the program will offer seminars on the main issues in other ethnic studies. These seminars will help students get a better understanding of the larger world and the place of the Africana experience within it.

Building Research and Writing Skills
Students will have weekly workshops on research and writing

Graduate School Preparation
Students will be offered a seminar on the application process.
 
Personal Project
Drawing upon the Schomburg Center's extensive collections of manuscripts, photographs, art, and other resources relevant for the study of the peoples of African descent, the students will prepare a research prospectus that could be the basis for their senior thesis or a major research paper.

Application Requirements 

• Completed application form
• Official academic transcript
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty
• Written statement explaining why you want to pursue graduate studies in the Humanities (900 words maximum)
• Resume (include honors, awards, and other recognitions)

If you do not provide ALL required materials your application will not be considered

Application deadline
Applications must be post-marked April 1, 2014 at the latest. Selected students will be informed by email by April 15.

If you need more information:
Email Dr. Sylviane Diouf, sylvianediouf@nypl.org  

Click here for the application.