African Studies Program

Wondering what ‘African Studies’ encompasses? Want a basic understanding of Africa in global perspective? From a variety of disciplinary approaches? Just want to learn something new? This course is for you! We will begin by critically assessing the framing of Africa in the U.S., problematizing modes of knowledge production on Africa (ex: through social media, film, news, academic writing). We’ll look at the diverse, rich heritage and contemporary reality of peoples of the African continent from the perspectives of African scholars, artists, writers, and everyday citizens.

Why is understanding Africa’s role in the world so critical at this point in time? You will explore aspects of history, geography, life-ways, music, literature, the arts, religion, and more, to give you a foundation in African Studies that can be used for future coursework or for career preparation.