Africa is the continent where humanity began and where it's future will be determined. Princeton’s minor in African Studies provides opportunities to all Princeton students, regardless of major, to learn about the continent.
Students will learn a variety of methods, interdisciplinary approaches and perspectives that will enrich them with critical and analytical tools for engaging with Africa. These perspectives will aid them in their studies generally, enhancing skills used across all disciplines. The minor is devoted to the study of the Histories, Cultures, Religions, Literature, Languages, and Arts of Africa. Classes in Africa’s politics, economic life, social history and ecology are offered each semester. The minor also offers classes in Africa’s vibrant art scenes, past and present, where literature, music and art have come to define a new postcolonial African cosmopolitanism. Opportunities to learn Swahili and Twi are offered in the fall and spring on campus and internationally each summer. The Program in African Studies is uniquely situated to teach students ethical approaches to the study of Africa that will serve them well in all areas of study.
Questions?
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Goals for Student Learning
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- Students gain knowledge of the fundamental principles of research and study as they relate to the African continent and explore how these principles interact with each other across disciplines.
- Students develop skills in policy and historical analysis, critical thinking, arts and cultural literacy, and ethical reasoning as applied in the study of Africa and its diaspora.
- Students acquire analytical research skills and mastery of interdisciplinary approaches to ideas, theories and issues pertinent to Africa.
- Students gain understanding and knowledge of real-world challenges and prospects facing Africa, and its regions and countries, through coursework and experiential learning hosted on the continent, such as the global seminars, international language study and summer internships.
- Students develop relationships with an interdisciplinary and international cohort and faculty, and thus acquire the experiential and knowledge-based resources necessary for work and life in Africa, as well as for global outlook and citizenship.
- Students acquire cultural diversity awareness and competencies through Africa-focused courses, student-run events and programs organized jointly by the Program in African Studies, Africa World Initiative and African Humanities Colloquium.
- Students appreciate the emergence of African Studies out of the continent’s struggle for independence from European imperialism, and the imperative of moving the field away from its colonial and racist roots.
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Prerequisites
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Students should have at least one core course completed by the spring of their junior year. One 200- or 300-level course administered or cross-listed by the Program in African Studies will serve to fulfill this requirement.
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Admission to the Program
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Undergraduates should enroll in the minor for African Studies in the spring of their junior year by contacting the program's manager. Students are asked to submit a letter of intent to the administrator of the Program in African Studies. Once the student is actively enrolled in the minor, they will be scheduled to meet with a member of the African Studies faculty to discuss their future course of study.
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Program of Study
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Five courses are required for the minor — one core course and four electives. Students are expected to take one course in the humanities, one African language course (Twi, Ge’ez or Swahili) and one course in the social sciences (History, Politics, Sociology or Anthropology). Any courses cross-listed with the Program in African Studies are preapproved to count toward fulfillment of the minor. Courses not cross-listed with African Studies, but devoting significant course time to issues on the continent, may be submitted for review by the program director for credit.
The requirement of African languages can be fulfilled by one semester of an African language on campus or intense study with a summer program (SWA 103K or TWI 103G). Two courses counting toward the student’s major field of concentration may also be counted (or double counted) toward fulfilling the minor in African Studies. All courses for the PAS minor must be taken for a grade, not pass/D/fail.
With prior approval from the director of the Program in African Studies, a student may satisfy the requirement of one elective by spending six or more weeks working on a project or with a program on the continent.
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Minor Courses
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A variety of courses are offered throughout the academic year. Course descriptions can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
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Language Requirements
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One semester of an African language course is required for the minor. The requirement can be fulfilled by one semester of an African language on campus or intense study with a summer program.
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Independent Work
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In addition to the coursework, the student will submit a paper dealing with Africa. The student may submit the senior thesis or junior paper or another substantial piece of original research that meets the same standards of relevance to Africa.
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Additional Requirements
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The Program in African Studies Executive Committee will independently review each student’s JP or thesis and full academic record before approving fulfillment of the minor.