Undergraduate Studies

For students interested in focusing their area studies on Africa, the African Studies Center offers two minors for undergraduates.

Minor in African Studies

The undergraduate minor in African Studies is meant to encourage students to gain an interdisciplinary knowledge of Africa. The minor is open to all undergraduates who fulfill the following requirements:

  • Six courses (24 credits) from three or more disciplines; four of the six courses must be outside the student’s major
  • CAS ID 116 is required of all students (students at an advanced level may petition to have this requirement waived)
  • Three courses must be at 300 level or above
  • Completion of a substantial research paper is required
  • Students must receive a grade of C or better in all minor courses

Minor in African Languages & Literature

The African Languages & Literature minor combines language and linguistic 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, language in government and education, literature, and folklore and oral traditions. This minor concentration is made up of required and elective courses from the African Studies Center, as well as elective courses from other College of Arts & Sciences departments.

Required Courses:

  • One year of 400-level study of an African language (two courses)
  • Or, alternatively, one year of 300-level and CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics

Electives

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

  • CAS AN 351 Language, Culture & Society
  • CAS AN 593, 594 Seminar: Topics in Cultural Anthropology
  • CAS 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics
  • CAS LX533 The Structure of Creole Languages

Students can pursue special interests in the format of the directed study course, within the scope of the minor concentration.

For further information

For further information about these minors, contact Peter Quella or Michael Diblasi, African Studies Center, 232 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-7306.