African Studies
africanstudies.northwestern.edu
In 1948, the distinguished scholar Melville J. Herskovits organized the Program of African Studies at Northwestern University. Since then, the program continues to be globally recognized as a leader in conducting and facilitating Africa-focused research, scholarship, and arts. Through sponsorship of multidisciplinary courses with African content, language training, and promotion of Africa-based study, it supports and enlivens the undergraduate study of Africa while serving as the University’s “headquarters” for formal and informal interaction among interested students, faculty, and visitors. The program brings undergraduates studying Africa together with faculty and other experts in many areas of inquiry—across disciplinary boundaries and regional specializations—for lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, and research programs.
Over the years the program has remained in active contact with its counterparts in Africa and elsewhere, while expanding its role in the University and off-campus communities. Northwestern University's Program of African Studies, is committed to a decolonized approach to African Studies on many fronts; Structural, epistemic, and relational among others. We remain committed to this approach as we promote awareness of, study of, research and application of knowledge from and about Africa across interdisciplinary networks of partners and communities of research and learning on the continent as well as across the diaspora.
The program offers both an adjunct major and a minor. Although there is no formal language requirement for either, students are strongly encouraged to study a non-English language that is spoken in Africa or its diaspora, such as Swahili, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish. Competence in a foreign language can facilitate individual research projects, widen understanding of particular topics, and increase study abroad opportunities.
African Studies Learning Objectives
- Increased awareness of the particular social, cultural, and historical contexts of people of African descent on the continent and the diaspora.
- Hone critical thinking and analytical skills through analyzing complex social, political, and cultural issues from multiple perspectives.
- Gain and be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of intellectual currents (foundational, historical, contemporary, and predictive) .
- Gain and apply research skills (including library and archival) and the skills of articulating informed positions, generate research questions, deploy procedures for gathering research data, analyzing the data, and writing results and conclusions.
- Engagement in effective communication and present research results in clear and professional delivery.
African Studies Courses
AFST 101-7 College Seminar (1 Unit) Small, writing and discussion-oriented course exploring a specific topic or theme, and introducing skills necessary to thriving at Northwestern. Not eligible to be applied towards a WCAS major or minor except where specifically indicated.
AFST 101-8 First-Year Writing Seminar (1 Unit) Small, writing and discussion-oriented course exploring a specific topic or theme, and focused on the fundamentals of effective, college-level written communication. Not eligible to be applied towards a WCAS major or minor except where specifically indicated.
AFST 276-0 African Literature in Translation (1 Unit) Continental African literature. Content varies. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Taught with COMP_LIT 270-0; may not receive credit for both courses with same topic. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area
AFST 360-SA Culture, Language, and Identity in South Africa (1 Unit) Introduction to South African populations and cultures through direct experience and representations in history, art, literature, languages, and customs. Discussions of South African cultures and ethnicity, language use and policy, and identity. Restricted to students in Northwestern's South Africa program. Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
AFST 390-0 Topics in African Studies (1 Unit)
A general examination of topics relevant to African studies. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. Restricted to students in Northwestern's South Africa program.
AFST 390-SA Topics in African Studies (1 Unit) A general examination of topics relevant to African studies. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. Restricted to students in Northwestern's South Africa program.
AFST 392-1 Herskovits Undergraduate Research Award (1 Unit) 2-course sequence required for recipients of the Herskovits Undergraduate Research Award. Consecutive enrollment required in AFST 392-2.
AFST 392-2 Herskovits Undergraduate Research Award (1 Unit) 2-course sequence required for recipients of the Herskovits Undergraduate Research Award. Prerequisite: AFST 392-1.
AFST 395-0 Senior Research Seminar (1 Unit) Capstone seminar addressing both techniques of research and the substance of a significant issue in African studies. Students develop skills at formulating a research topic and organizing research.
AFST 399-0 Independent Study (1 Unit) May be repeated for credit with change of topic.
Swahili Courses
SWAHILI 111-1 Swahili I (1 Unit) Basic literacy skills and interactive proficiency; Swahili in cultural and historical context.
SWAHILI 111-2 Swahili I (1 Unit) Basic literacy skills and interactive proficiency; Swahili in cultural and historical context. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 111-1 or equivalent.
SWAHILI 111-3 Swahili I (1 Unit) Basic literacy skills and interactive proficiency; Swahili in cultural and historical context. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 111-2 or equivalent.
SWAHILI 111-SA-1 Swahili I (1 Unit) Basic literacy skills and interactive proficiency; Swahili in cultural and historical context.
SWAHILI 121-1 Swahili II (1 Unit) Development of literacy and interactive proficiency skills; introduction to verbal arts. In Swahili. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 111-3 or equivalent.
SWAHILI 121-2 Swahili II (1 Unit) Development of literacy and interactive proficiency skills; introduction to verbal arts. In Swahili. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 121-1.
SWAHILI 121-3 Swahili II (1 Unit) Development of literacy and interactive proficiency skills; introduction to verbal arts. In Swahili. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 121-2.
SWAHILI 121-SA-1 Swahili II (1 Unit) Development of literacy and interactive proficiency skills; introduction to verbal arts. In Swahili. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 111-3 or equivalent.
SWAHILI 216-1 Introduction to Swahili Literature (1 Unit) Swahili verbal arts in the oral tradition. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 121-3 or equivalent. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area
SWAHILI 216-2 Introduction to Swahili Literature (1 Unit) Classical Swahili literature. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 216-1. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area
SWAHILI 216-3 Introduction to Swahili Literature (1 Unit) Standard Swahili literature. Prerequisite: SWAHILI 216-2. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area
SWAHILI 399-0 Independent Study (1 Unit) For students who have advanced with distinction beyond the regular course offerings in Swahili. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.