The combined Bachelor's/Master's degree programs allow students to complete 12 graduate credit hours while still undergraduates. These 12 graduate credit hours will count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Undergraduate students majoring in African and Black Diaspora Studies apply to the Critical Ethnic Studies MA program in spring of their junior year; interested students should contact the Critical Ethnic Studies (CES) graduate director. Students in this program take twelve graduate credit hours in their senior year; these graduate courses apply toward both undergraduate African and Black Diaspora Studies and graduate Critical Ethnic Studies requirements.

Once the student has graduated with their undergraduate BA in African and Black Diaspora Studies, they will matriculate into the MA Program. As MA students, students will take the remaining nine courses toward the MA degree. Usually, students will take three graduate courses per quarter in order to complete the MA in the one additional year. Students may also wish to take one of these courses during the summer.