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Courses

Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.

Required Courses

CAS FR 342/343 Field Placement I/II
Students work independently on a project while placed in a development agency, educational institution, or other setting. Students are required to keep daily logbooks and write final papers. Placements are contingent upon the student’s past experience, language ability, and available opportunities in any given semester, so flexibility is essential. Students spend six to ten hours per week at their field placements for approximately the final ten weeks of the semester. Past placements have included the following organizations: the National Museum, Global2000, AFRICARE, the Peace Corps, Niamey City Hall, CARE, the National Hospital, and with an independent newspaper. Fall/spring semester. Rosenfeld, Taylor, 4 cr. Syllabus

Students choose one of the following core courses:

SED IE 490 International Development Studies
Acquaints students with different perspectives on development and educational policies and strategies as development tools. Offered in English and in French. 4 cr. Taylor Syllabus Chako Syllabus

CAS NG 305 Class Status and Social Change
Explores the issues and factors that affect social change and compares the experiences of Niger and the United States. Students become familiar with basic concepts such as class, status, and culture, and they explore the influence of factors such as gender, age, and ethnicity. This course is taught in English with some readings in French. Taylor. 4 cr. Syllabus

Elective Courses

Students choose two elective courses from the following list, or from the list of language courses below, for a total of eight credit hours.

CAS FR 340 Culture and Society of Niger
Focuses on the following themes: geography and history of Niger; women and family life; the economic situation; industry and commerce; agriculture and the possibility of food self-sufficiency; religion and life cycles; ethnicity; educational reform; health, medical services, and population issues; democratization; and traditional occupations in Niger. This course uses a guest speaker format with student presentations, group discussions, reading assignments, and field trips. Taught in French. Mamadou. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS FR 344 The Performing Arts of Niger in the West African Context
Focuses on the traditional musical and theatrical arts as they manifest themselves in the Niamey area. In addition to academic work, students are required to specialize in performance on a traditional Nigerien musical instrument and to apprentice themselves to a musician during the semester and/or join a Nigerien traditional dance troupe. Taught in French. Dogo. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS FR 400 Francophone Literature of West Africa I
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level French, or placement exam results.
A chronological survey of West African Francophone literature. The first half of the semester is devoted to African folktales. Authors and works covered include l’Enfant Noir, Camara Laye; Coups de Pilon, David Diop; Une Si Longue Lettre, Mariama Bâ; Sous L’Orage, Seyou Badian. Taught in French. Tandina. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS FR 401 Francophone Literature of West Africa II
A chronological survey of West African literature focusing on drama. Taught in French. Tandina. 4 cr.

CAS AN/PH 434 African Systems of Thought (fall semester)
Analyzes the texts of African philosophers to promote understanding of the cultural logic that underlies them. Concepts such as liberty, cosmic harmony, and the sacred as well as the relationship between tradition and modernity, the problem of education, and the role of the individual in society are examined. Taught in French. Talibi. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS FR 440 History of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa
A historical survey of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa. Students present an ethnographic study on an aspect of Islam in Niger. Taught in French. (Pending approval by CAS; offered spring semester.) Alio, 4 cr. Syllabus

Language Elective Courses

CAS LA 111 First-Semester Hausa
Introduction to conversational Hausa using orally oriented approach with immersion techniques. Taught in Hausa with explanations in French. Dambagi or Ousseini. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LA 112 Second-Semester Hausa
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level Hausa, or placement exam results. Continuation of CAS LA 111. Reading and writing introduced. Taught in Hausa with explanations in French. Dambagi or Ousseini. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LA 211 Third-Semester Hausa
Prerequisite: LA 112. Taught in Hausa with explanations in French. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LA 212 Fourth-Semester Hausa
Prerequisite: LA 211. Taught in Hausa with explanations in French. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LD 111 First-Semester Zarma
Introduction to conversational Zarma using orally oriented approach with immersion techniques. Taught in Zarma with explanations in French. Aboubacar, or staff. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LD 112 Second-Semester Zarma
Prerequisite: one semester college-level Zarma, or placement exam results. Continuation of CAS LD 111. Reading and writing introduced. Taught in Zarma with explanations in French. Aboubacar. 4 cr.

CAS LF 111 First-Semester French
Main patterns of grammar, conversation practice, written exercises, directed compositions. Offered only when exceptional students who do not meet the language requirement are accepted to the program. Amani, 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LF 112 Second-Semester French
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level French, or placement exam results. Continues CAS LF 111 grammar, conversation, and compositions, with additional readings. Offered only when exceptional students who do not meet the language requirement are accepted to the program. TBA. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LF 211 Third-Semester French
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or placement exam results. Reinforces and extends skills in grammar and conversation. Literary readings, with discussions in class. 4 cr. Syllabus

CAS LF 212 Fourth-Semester French
Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level French, or placement exam results. Continuation of CAS LF 211. Grammar review, conversations, and composition. Selections from contemporary literature, with discussions in class. 4 cr.

CAS LF 303 French Composition & Conversation I
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or placement exam results. Development of sophistication in handling the spoken and written language in social and academic situations. Grammar review, writing, pronunciation, comprehension, conversation, and vocabulary building. Madi. 4 cr. Syllabus

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Faculty

All Nigerien faculty hold adjunct positions with Boston University.

Aissa Aboubacar studied English at Universite Abdou Moumouni in Niamey, Niger. A former Peace Corps language instructor, Aissa now teaches English in Niamey.

Illia Addoh studied leatherwork in Italy. A former head of the cooperative of artisans at the National Museum, Illia, a master leather artisan, also works with the Ministry of Finance.

Laouali Amani received his Maitrise in Linguistics from University Abdou Moumouni in Niamey, Niger. He is the director of the Hausa section of Curriculum Development for the Ministry of Education.

Cherif Chako received his Doctorate in Economics in France. A former Minister of Equipment, Cherif is a member of the Economics department of University Abdou Moumouni in Niamey, Niger.

Chaibou Dambagi received a degree in Physics and Chemistry from University Abdou Moumouni. A former Peace Corps language instructor, he is a physics/chemistry high school teacher and school administrator in Niamey.

Yazi Dogo graduated from La Salle College in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He is one of the founders of primary schools in national languages and well known throughout Niger, and the sub-region, as a comedian, educator, and actor.

Alio Mahaman received his Doctorate in History at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigera. He is a member of the History Department of University Abdou Moumouni.

Amina Kaza Mamadou received her CAPES from l'Ecole Normale Superieure in Porto Novo, Benin and her Maitrise in Lettres Modernes from l'Universite Nationale d'Abomey in Calavi-Cotonou,
Benin. A former Peace Corps language instructor, she now works for the Ministry of Education.

Hassiya Madi Mayaki received her teaching certification from University Abdou Moumouni in Niamey, Niger. A former Peace Corps language instructor, she now teaches English in Niamey.

Hamidou Talibi Moussa received his Doctorate in Philosophy at Universite Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal. He is a member of the Philosophy Department of University Abdou Moumouni.

Issa Ousseini studied in Niamey and trained in hotel management. A former Peace Corps language instructor, he is now a private language teacher of French, Hausa, and Zarma.

Ousmane Mahamane Tandina received his Doctorat du Troisieme Cycle from University Cheick Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal. He is a member of the French Department ('Lettres Modernes') at University Abdou Moumouni.

Deborah Taylor received her MA in African Studies from Kumasi University and Legon University in Kumasi and Legon, Ghana. A private development consultant, she also oversees a small British NGO.

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