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Minor in African Studies

The minor in African Studies is available to students enrolled in any of BU’s four-year undergraduate schools and colleges. Intended to expose students to disciplinary approaches outside their major, the minor adds area studies knowledge and encourages increased exposure to the continent and its many peoples through a variety of lenses. Minors are encouraged to study an African language, developing a lasting linguistic foundation to serve their work in or related to Africa. With over 100 faculty affiliates across campus, the African Studies curriculum provides ample opportunity and variety to the interested student. Students complete the minor well prepared for further study or work in government, local and international nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector in Africa.

Undergraduate Fellowships

The African Studies Center offers financial aid in the form of the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship for undergraduates who enroll in African language and African area studies courses. Several fellowships are available to students who have completed one year of African language study. The competitive awards consist of a scholarship and living stipend.

Requirements

Requirements are outlined below:

  • Six 4-unit courses (24 units total) must be chosen from three or more disciplines to constitute a coherent program of study. The courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor from the African Studies faculty.
    • Four of the six courses must be outside the discipline of the student’s major.
    • Three courses must be at the 300 level or above.
    • CAS ID 116 Africa Today: The Beat of Popular Culture is required. Students with an unusually good preparation in African Studies may petition to have this requirement waived.
  • A substantial research paper of at least 15 pages, related to African studies. A paper supervised by a faculty member and completed as a capstone, thesis, or research paper that is a major component of a class at the 300 level or above may be used to meet this requirement. The paper must be reviewed and approved by the African Studies Center’s academic advisor for the African studies minor.
  • A grade of C or better is required for courses to be accepted for the minor.

The following courses are representative of those that may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor (all courses are 4 unit hours). This list is not comprehensive, and students should speak with their advisor if they believe that a course that they are taking qualifies.

Interdisciplinary Studies

  • CAS ID 116 Africa Today: The Beat of Popular Culture

African American Studies

  • CAS AA 103 Introduction to African American Literature
  • CAS AA 316 African Diaspora Arts in the Americas
  • CAS AA 385 Atlantic History
  • CAS AA 396 Atlantic Africa and the Slave Trade
  • CAS AA 489 The African Diaspora in the Americas
  • CAS AA 514 Labor, Sexuality, and Resistance in the Afro-Atlantic World
  • CAS AA 588 Women, Power, and Culture in Africa

African Languages

Akan Twi

  • CAS LW 115 Akan Twi 1
  • CAS LW 116 Akan Twi 2
  • CAS LW 215 Akan Twi 3
  • CAS LW 216 Akan Twi 4
  • CAS LW 493 Directed Study: Akan Twi
  • CAS LW 494 Directed Study: Akan Twi

Amharic

  • CAS LD 111 Amharic 1
  • CAS LD 112 Amharic 2
  • CAS LD 211 Amharic 3
  • CAS LD 212 Amharic 4
  • CAS LD 311 Amharic 5
  • CAS LD 312 Amharic 6

Amharic 7 and 8 are also available, in a Directed Study format. Interested students should contact the Assistant Director for further information.

Arabic

(See World Languages & Literatures)

  • CAS LY 111 Elementary Modern Arabic I
  • CAS LY 112 Elementary Modern Arabic II
  • CAS LY 139 Intensive First-Year Arabic for Heritage Learners
  • CAS LY 211 Second-Year Modern Arabic I
  • CAS LY 212 Second-Year Modern Arabic II
  • CAS LY 303 Third-Year Modern Arabic I
  • CAS LY 304 Third-Year Modern Arabic II
  • CAS LY 403 Advanced Arabic 1
  • CAS LY 404 Advanced Arabic 2

    Igbo

    • CAS LD 119 Igbo 1
    • CAS LD 120 Igbo 2
    • CAS LD 219 Igbo 3
    • CAS LD 220 Igbo 4
    • CAS LD 319 Igbo 5
    • CAS LD 320 Igbo 6
    • CAS LD 419 Igbo 7
    • CAS LD 420 Igbo 8

    Igbo is also available in a Directed Study format. Interested students should contact the Assistant Director for further information.

    Kiswahili (Swahili)

    • CAS LE 111 Swahili 1
    • CAS LE 112 Swahili 2
    • CAS LE 211 Swahili 3
    • CAS LE 212 Swahili 4
    • CAS LE 311 Swahili 5
    • CAS LE 312 Swahili 6
    • CAS LE 411 Swahili 7
    • CAS LE 412 Swahili 8
    • CAS LE 451 Swahili 9
    • CAS LE 452 Swahili 10
    • CAS LE 529 Swahili with a Health Focus 1
    • CAS LE 530 Swahili with a Health Focus 2
    • CAS LE 491 Directed Study: Swahili
    • CAS LE 492 Directed Study: Swahili

        Wolof

        • CAS LW 111 Wolof 1
        • CAS LW 112 Wolof 2
        • CAS LW 211 Wolof 3
        • CAS LW 212 Wolof 4
        • CAS LW 311 Wolof 5
        • CAS LW 312 Wolof 6
        • CAS LW 411 Wolof 7
        • CAS LW 412 Wolof 8
        • CAS LW 491 Directed Study: Wolof
        • CAS LW 492 Directed Study: Wolof

        isiXhosa

        • CAS LM 111 First-Term isiXhosa
        • CAS LM 112 Second-Term isiXhosa
        • CAS LM 211 Third-Term isiXhosa
        • CAS LM 212 Fourth-Term isiXhosa

        isiZulu

        • CAS LD 115 isiZulu 1
        • CAS LD 116 isiZulu 2
        • CAS LD 215 isiZulu 3
        • CAS LD 216 isiZulu 4
        • CAS LD 315 isiZulu 5
        • CAS LD 316 isiZulu 6

        isiZulu 7 and 8 are also available, in a Directed Study format. Interested students should contact the Assistant Director for further information.

        Yoruba

        • CAS LO 111 Yoruba 1
        • CAS LD 112 Yoruba 2

        Other African Languages and Linguistics

        • CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics
        • CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
        • CAS LX 391 Linguistic Field Methods

        Anthropology

        • CAS AN 240 Legal Anthropology
        • CAS AN 285 Coping with Crisis in Contemporary Africa
        • CAS AN 312 Peoples and Cultures of Africa
        • CAS AN 323 East Africa: Order & Change
        • CAS AN 327 Islam in Africa
        • CAS AN 351 Language, Culture, and Society
        • CAS AN 520 Nilotic Peoples: African Culture in Depth
        • CAS AN 524 Seminar: Language and Culture Contacts in Contemporary Africa
        • CAS AN 532 Literacy and Islam in Africa
        • CAS AN 585 Seminar: Advanced Readings in African Ethnography
        • CAS AN 593, 594 Seminar: Topics in Cultural Anthropology

        Archaeology

        • CAS AR 205 Origins of Civilization
        • CAS AR 232 Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
        • CAS AR 301 African Diaspora Archaeology

        Earth & Environment

        • CAS EE 394 Environmental History of Africa

        Economics

        • CAS EC 387 Introduction to Health Economics
        • CAS EC 581 Health Economics I

        History

        • CAS HI 237 Reconstructing the African Past
        • CAS HI 238 Modern Africa
        • CAS HI 239 African History through Popular Culture
        • CAS HI 298 Black Freedom Dream: America & the World
        • CAS HI 348 Colonialism in Africa: Impact and Aftermath
        • CAS HI 349 History of Religion in Pre-Colonial Africa
        • CAS HI 350 Atlantic History
        • CAS HI 351 Environmental History of Africa
        • CAS HI 352 Power, Leadership & Governance in Africa and the Caribbean
        • CAS HI 353 Atlantic Africa and the Slave Trade
        • CAS HI 484 Revolutionary Change in North Africa and the Middle East
        • CAS HI 485 Selected Problems in the Modern Middle East
        • CAS HI 489 The African Diaspora in the Americas
        • CAS HI 584 Labor, Sexuality, and Resistance in the Afro-Atlantic World
        • CAS HI 588 Women, Power & Culture in Africa
        • CAS HI 589 Nature’s Past: Histories of Environment and Society
        • CAS HI 595 Morocco: History on the Cusp of Three Continents

        History of Art & Architecture

        • CAS AH 114 Kongo to Cuba: Art, Exchange, and Self-Determination in Africa and Latin America
        • CAS AH 220 Islamic Art and Architecture
        • CAS AH 527 Topics in Art and Society
        • CAS AH 571 Problems in African Diaspora Art History
        • CAS AH 574 Topics in African Art

        International Relations

        • CAS IR 343 African Politics Today
        • CAS IR 351 Africa in International Politics
        • CAS IR 352 International Human Rights: Applying Human Rights in Africa
        • CAS IR 383 Understanding Modern North Africa
        • CAS IR 386 Nation Building & Erosion in Africa
        • CAS IR 430 Africa and Globalization: Opportunities and Obstacles
        • CAS IR 500 Topics in International Relations (sections that are Africa focused)
        • CAS IR 507 Islam and Politics
        • CAS IR 534 Contemporary African Politics
        • CAS IR 569 Race in Africa

        Literature and Film

        • CAS LF 456 The Postcolonial Novel
        • CAS XL 285 Images from Africa: Introduction to African Cinema
        • CAS XL 386 Africa on Screen

        Music

        • CFA MH 435 Music of Africa

        Political Science

        • CAS PO 308 The Politics of Race and Ethnicity
        • CAS PO 378 International Human Rights: Applying Human Rights in Africa
        • CAS PO 570 Politics and Society in North Africa and the Middle East
        • CAS PO 571 Government and Politics of Contemporary Africa
        • CAS PO 572 Political Systems of Southern Africa

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