At which campus can I study this program?
Requirements for a minor may be completed at any campus location offering the specified courses for the minor. Students may not change from a campus that offers their major to a campus that does not offer their major for the purpose of completing a minor.
Program Description
The minor in African Studies is designed for students interested in exploring the political, historical, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects of Africa. The minor provides students with the opportunity to examine both the totality of Africa and/or specific geographical and cultural regions from several disciplinary perspectives.
What is African Studies?
Africa is a vast continent that is now transforming politically and economically at an unprecedented pace. Its rich history, resources and spirit of creativity makes it more than ever the continent of hope and opportunity that will see rapid development in the years to come! African Studies will help students develop their understanding of various aspects of the African continent, including topics such as Africa in World History, Africa and the Global Political Economy, Africa and International Relations, Africa and International Development, peace studies, and conflict resolution. We also have courses that emphasize the diversities of culture, race, ethnicity, and religion on the continent. The program utilizes historical, cultural, geographical, economic, and political approaches to equip students with skills to undertake research on issues pertinent to Africa and to prepare themselves for careers in a range of professions as well for post-graduate studies.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You’re passionate about gaining skills to think critically, and speak and write articulately about Africa and its peoples.
- You’d like to explore the world through study-abroad opportunities to countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Ghana and Tanzania.
- You’d like to learn more from our faculty who actively teach, conduct research and publish in such topics as African history, politics, art, literature, economics, geography, linguistics, African feminism, demography and health.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| AFR 110 | Introduction to Contemporary Africa  | 3 |
| AFR 191 | Early African History | 3 |
| AFR 192 | Modern African History | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 9 credits (including 6 credits of AFR courses at the 400 level) of the following: | 9 | |
| Environments of Africa: Geology and Climate Change | ||
AFR/WMNST 202 | ||
| Poverty in Africa | ||
| South Africa Today | ||
| African Studies Methodologies | ||
| Introduction to African Literatures | ||
| War and Development in Africa | ||
| Globalization and Its Implications | ||
| Ethnic Conflict in Africa | ||
| Government and Politics of Africa | ||
| Culture and World Politics | ||
| Extractive Industries in Africa | ||
| Internship | ||
| Independent Studies | ||
| Foreign Studies | ||
| African Drama | ||
| African Novel | ||
| Economic Growth and the Challenge of World Poverty | ||
| Migration and Development | ||
| African Literature of French Expression | ||
| Geographic Perspectives on Global Urbanization | ||
| African Resources and Development | ||
| Global Political Economy | ||
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information need to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
http://starfish.psu.edu
http://www.la.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-students/education/majors-and-minors
Career Paths
Students with Liberal Arts degrees and minors in African Studies have found careers in a wide array of fields. These include US government, international business firms, international think tanks, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations that operate in a wide array of activities in Africa including primary and secondary education, the arts, religion, drought mitigation, wildlife management, and community development. Some students continue on to Graduate School, so our program also aims to help train graduate students, who will have a comparative advantage for African Studies-related employment in academia, bilateral and multilateral agencies.
Contact
University Park
AFRICAN STUDIES PROGRAM
133 Willard Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-5406
jle1@psu.edu