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Minor in African Languages & Literatures

The African Languages & Literatures minor, offered by the Pardee School of Global Studies, is available to students enrolled in any of BU’s four-year undergraduate schools and colleges. The minor combines language and culture study with the study of written literature and oral traditions in the African context. In-depth knowledge of an African language of the student’s choosing is applied in courses in cultural and linguistic anthropology, sociology of language, history, government, education, literature, international relations, ethnomusicology, and folklore and oral traditions.

This minor is made up of required and elective courses from the African Studies Center, as well as elective courses from other departments. Intended to bolster the students’ disciplinary major, the minor in African Languages & Literatures reflects a specific and highly developed set of language and cultural skills attractive in any international field of work.

Undergraduate Fellowships

The African Studies Center offers financial aid in the form of the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship for undergraduates who enroll in African language and African area studies courses. Several fellowships are available to students who have completed one year of African language study. The competitive awards consist of a scholarship and living stipend.

Requirements

Six 4-credit courses (24 credits total) in African languages, literatures, or linguistics chosen from the list of approved courses or chosen in consultation with an advisor from the African Studies Center.

Required Courses

  • Two years (four courses) of African language study at or above the 200 level (see African Languages list below). Students must possess knowledge of an African language (Amharic, Hausa, Igbo, Mandinka, Swahili, Twi, Wolof, Xhosa, or Zulu, or where appropriate, another African language) through the 312 level (6 semesters) or its equivalent, as demonstrated through testing or coursework.
    • CAS LD 491 and 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics may serve as substitutes if 300- or 400-level language courses are not available
    • If either CAS LD 491 or LD 492 is not offered in a given year, an acceptable alternative may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Electives

Students are required to select two elective courses. The following are representative of those courses that may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.

  • CAS AN 327 Islam in Africa
  • CAS AN 351 Language, Culture, and Society
  • CAS AN 521 Sociolinguistics
  • CAS AN 524 Seminar: Language and Culture Contacts in Contemporary Africa
  • CAS AN 532 Literacy and Islam in Africa
  • CAS AN 593, 594 Seminar: Topics in Cultural Anthropology
  • CAS CI 102 History of Global Cinema 2: 1960s to the Present
  • CAS EN 586 Studies in Anglophone Literature
  • CAS EN 588 Studies in African American Literature
  • CAS ID 116 Africa Today: The Beat of Popular Culture
  • CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics
  • CAS LY 441 1001 Nights in the World Literary Imagination
  • CAS XL 386 Africa on Screen
  • CFA MH 435 Music of Africa

Students can pursue special interests in the format of the Directed Study course, within the scope of the minor.

African Languages

Akan Twi

  • CAS LW 115 Akan Twi 1
  • CAS LW 116 Akan Twi 2
  • CAS LW 215 Akan Twi 3
  • CAS LW 216 Akan Twi 4

Amharic

  • CAS LD 111 Amharic 1
  • CAS LD 112 Amharic 2
  • CAS LD 211 Amharic 3
  • CAS LD 212 Amharic 4
  • CAS LD 311 Amharic 5
  • CAS LD 312 Amharic 6

Amharic 7 and 8 are also available, in a Directed Study format. Interested students should contact the Assistant Director for further information.

Arabic

(See World Languages & Literatures)

  • CAS LY 111 Elementary Modern Arabic I
  • CAS LY 112 Elementary Modern Arabic II
  • CAS LY 139 Intensive First-Year Arabic for Heritage Learners
  • CAS LY 211 Second-Year Modern Arabic I
  • CAS LY 212 Second-Year Modern Arabic II
  • CAS LY 303 Third-Year Modern Arabic I
  • CAS LY 304 Third-Year Modern Arabic II
  • CAS LY 403 Advanced Arabic 1
  • CAS LY 404 Advanced Arabic 2

Igbo

  • CAS LD 119 Igbo 1
  • CAS LD 120 Igbo 2
  • CAS LD 219 Igbo 3
  • CAS LD 220 Igbo 4
  • CAS LD 319 Igbo 5
  • CAS LD 320 Igbo 6
  • CAS LD 419 Igbo 7
  • CAS LD 420 Igbo 8

    Kiswahili (Swahili)

    • CAS LE 111 Swahili 1
    • CAS LE 112 Swahili 2
    • CAS LE 211 Swahili 3
    • CAS LE 212 Swahili 4
    • CAS LE 311 Swahili 5
    • CAS LE 312 Swahili 6
    • CAS LE 411 Swahili 7
    • CAS LE 412 Swahili 8
    • CAS LE 451 Swahili 9
    • CAS LE 452 Swahili 10
    • CAS LE 529 Swahili with a Health Focus 1
    • CAS LE 530 Swahili with a Health Focus 2

    Mandinka

    • CAS LD 113 Mandinka 1
    • CAS LD 114 Mandinka 2
    • CAS LD 213 Mandinka 3
    • CAS LD 214 Mandinka 4

    Wolof

    • CAS LW 111 Wolof 1
    • CAS LW 112 Wolof 2
    • CAS LW 211 Wolof 3
    • CAS LW 212 Wolof 4
    • CAS LW 311 Wolof 5
    • CAS LW 312 Wolof 6
    • CAS LW 411 Wolof 7
    • CAS LW 412 Wolof 8

    isiXhosa

    • CAS LM 111 First-Semester isiXhosa
    • CAS LM 112 Second-Semester isiXhosa
    • CAS LM 211 Third-Semester isiXhosa
    • CAS LM 212 Fourth-Semester isiXhosa

    isiZulu

    • CAS LD 115 isiZulu 1
    • CAS LD 116 isiZulu 2
    • CAS LD 215 isiZulu 3
    • CAS LD 216 isiZulu 4
    • CAS LD 315 isiZulu 5
    • CAS LD 316 isiZulu 6

    isiZulu 7 and 8 are also available, in a Directed Study format. Interested students should contact the Assistant Director for further information.

    Other African Languages and Linguistics

    • CAS AN 524 Seminar: Language and Culture Contacts in Contemporary Africa
    • CAS AN 532 Literacy and Islam in Africa
    • CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics
    • CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
    • CAS LX 391 Linguistic Field Methods

    Related Bulletin Pages

    Beyond the Bulletin