undrgrad-tb

THE UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR & MINOR

Major or minor candidates may apply at any time, including the beginning of their freshman year, by making an appointment with the Director of the African Studies Center who will select a faculty advisor according to the student's specific interests.

Applications, program information and curriculum advice is available during regular office hours from the Program Coordinator at the African Studies Center, Room 645, Williams Hall, or by calling 215-898-3883 (e-mail: lloose@sas.upenn.edu) for an appointment.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The requirement for a Major in African Studies is:

A pre-requisite of two semesters of an African language at the elementary level, to be taken before or at the time the student applies for the major.

12 required courses:

a) Introduction to African Studies 1 c.u.
b) Senior Thesis 1 c.u.
c) Two semesters of an Intermediate level African Language 2 c.u.
d) 8 courses from the African Studies curriculum (two may be Africa-related) 8 c.u.

Students who have demonstrated proficiency in an African language prior to declaring a major in African Studies will be excused from the pre-requisite, in the event they pass the exam at the elementary level.

Sample Program for Satisfying the Major:

Pre-requisite:

AFST 180, 181 - Elementary Swahili*
(fulfills School of Arts & Sciences language requirement)

Required Courses:

AFST 100 - Introduction to African Studies 1 c.u.
AFST 280, 281 - Intermediate Swahili* 2 c.u.
AFST 300 - Senior Thesis 1 c.u.

8 Curriculum Courses (two may be Africa-related)

AFST 075 - Africa Before 1800 1 c.u.
AFST 076 - Africa After 1800 1 c.u.
AFST 257 - Contemporary African Politics 1 c.u.
AFST 225 - African Language & Culture 1 c.u.
AFST 231 - African Cinema 1 c.u.
AFST 305 - Interpreting African Women's Lives 1 c.u.
AFST 403 - Music & Performance of Africa 1 c.u.

MINOR REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate Minors are required to take a minimum of six (6 c.u.) course units as follows:

Each minor is required to take Introduction to African Studies (1 c.u.). Topics vary from year to year.

Students are required to take five (5 c.u.) additional Africa-focused or Africa-related courses, that should be divided proportionately between the humanities and the social sciences, depending upon the emphasis each student chooses. Only one Africa-related course will be allowed.

Writing a senior thesis (1 c.u.) under the supervision of an African Studies faculty member will be optional for students who minor in African Studies.

Sample Program for Satisfying Minor:

Required Course:

AFST 100 - Introduction to African Studies 1 c.u.

5 Curriculum Courses (one may be Africa-related)

AFST 018 - African Worlds 1 c.u.
AFST 257 - Contemporary African Politics 1 c.u.
AFST 225 - African Language & Culture 1 c.u.
AFST 355 - Women & Rituals in Africa 1 c.u.
AFST 455 - African Folklore 1 c.u.