ABSTRACT

This chapter documents author's experiences at an HBCU for graduate education and discusses how institution cultivated academic ability. Given author's desire to earn a master's degree in public administration, several options to consider for graduate school. Through the search, Howard University and North Carolina Central University (NCCU) became author's top two choices. The author selected NCCU for several reasons, which included the cost of attendance because it was a public in-state institution and the fact that it has a liberal arts foundation. This institution has a cadre of masters and professional degree programs, including a renowned School of Law. Placing a critical eye on the number of graduate and professional degree programs that NCCU has, the institution has been actively involved in the education of Blacks at the graduate level for many years. The history of Black colleges and universities is a unique chapter in the development of American higher education, particularly when one considers the area of graduate education.