African Studies Major and Minor

Completing an African Studies major or minor is an excellent way to develop geographically focused international expertise, to enhance a second major concentration, and to learn about the fascinating diversity of Africa's 54 nations. African Studies is an ideal companion major or minor for students in journalism, environmental studies, political science, economics, business, linguistics, film studies, anthropology, art history, history, religion, English or French. Students preparing for careers in international health or medicine may wish to combine an African Studies major or minor with a major in biology or another science, or with the minors in either Science, Culture and Society (IDS) or Global Health, Culture and Society.

Requirements for the Major

A total of nine courses is required, of which six must be courses with wholly African content. The remainder may be courses that feature a theoretical or thematic focus with 1/3 to 1/2 African content as case studies or other examples. Students are encouraged to strengthen their work in the major by participating in study or research abroad through one of Emory's approved programs in Africa. Courses taken as part of study abroad that meet the above content requirements are accepted, with the approval of the Director of African Studies, as credit for the major.

Of the six Africa-focused courses, one must be selected from each of the following three requirements:

Requirement 1:

Requirement 2:

Requirement 3:

The Senior Seminar is a problem/theme-oriented course that approaches a question from multiple disciplinary viewpoints. It consists of a number of weeks of reading and discussion combined with the selection of a research topic by each student and the research and writing of a major paper.

Note: In addition to the course requirements, students are required to demonstrate competence (as a minimum through the 102 level) in a language other than English that is widely used in Africa. Emory currently offers three such languages: French, Portuguese and Arabic. We encourage students to study abroad in Africa and take a course in an African language there. Students who already know an African language may petition to demonstrate competence through testing.

Requirements for the Minor:

Five courses are required for the minor in African Studies. At least four must be courses with wholly African content. In addition, occasional special topics courses with some or all African content are offered that may be used in fulfilling the minor requirement, with the approval of the Director of African Studies. Students have the option of taking one course from a set of related comparative and thematic courses with substantial African material. It is recommended that students take Cultures of Africa or Introduction to African Studies early in their coursework to develop a framework for their minor, though neither course is technically required for the minor.

Students are encouraged to strengthen their work in the minor by participating in study or research abroad through one of Emory's approved programs in Africa. Up to 8 semester hours of credit may be earned toward the minor in Study Abroad programs. Before leaving Emory, students need to seek approval of courses to be taken and counted towards the African Studies minor.