Courses

This course is a study of the African identity, personality, and the concept of ¿blackness¿ with particular emphasis on what it means to be black in America. An adequate discourse on the complexities of African American Studies requires a multi-disciplinary approach that considers the expansive nature of the African Experience in North America.

The "Africanity and Pan-Africanism" course offers thoroughly an exploration of African identity, culture, and the Pan-Africanist movement. It examines the historical, social, political, and intellectual dimensions of Africanity and Pan-Africanism, with a focus on their impact on the African continent and its diaspora. The course aims to foster critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the complexities and significance of African identity and the Pan-Africanist ideology.

African Languages I is an introductory course to an African Language such as Wolof, Akan, Swahili, etc. The goal of the course is to master basic vocabulary and grammar in order to start forming sentences and conversation in the target language. Cultural competency is also an essential part of the course. The course is taught in the target language and is interactive with frequent group and pair work for practice. Language offered depends on instructors available and student demand.

African Languages II is the second introductory course to an African Language such as Wolof, Akan, Swahili, etc. The goal of the course is to master more advanced vocabulary and grammar needed to achieve an intermediate level. Students expand on their previous elementary knowledge acquired in the target language in order to be able to formulate more grammatically complicated sentences and conversation. Advanced cultural competency is also an essential part of the course.

Selected novels, short stories, autobiographies, folk tales, drama, essays, films, songs from pre-colonial Africa to the present, including works by Emecheta, wa Thiongo'o, Head, Achebe, Ba, Armah, Laye, Salih, Soyinka, and Abrahams.

Selected novels, short stories, autobiographies, folk tales, drama, essays, films, songs from pre-colonial Africa to the present, including works by Emecheta, wa Thiong o, Head, Achebe, Ba, Armah, Laye, Salih, Soyinka, and Abrahams.

This course is an introduction to the written prose, poetry, and drama of Africa. Literature in both African languages (in translation) and in English will be covered, including representative works and genres from West, East, and Southern Africa.

Study of canonical and non-canonical texts, from a variety of African cultures, in their social, political, and historical contexts, with particular attention to genres, themes, and styles.

Comparative study of texts in a variety of forms and genres from African, Asian, European, and American cultures, with an emphasis on how historical, political, and social factors affect literary representations.

A survey of the major concepts in African philosophy, with emphasis upon their origin and, where applicable, subsequent development.