Coursework

 

Master's degree in African Studies is 36 credits. Students are required to complete 9 credits towards the core course requirements, 9 credits towards the concentration courses, and 18 credits of electives towards a second concentration, a certificate program, or electives. Semester-long courses are 3 credits each. Students can also take a combination of half-semester courses worth 1.5 credits each. To graduate on time, students must successfully complete 8 courses plus 2 language classes (if applicable) in their first year and 4 courses plus language class(es) in their second year. In the second year, coursework can be completed in one semester or spread out over two semesters. Most students choose to complete their coursework over two semesters.

 

Required Courses (9 Credits)

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• International Political Economy of Africa – This course is typically offered in the first semester of the program.

• Theory/Policy in Africa – This course is typically offered in the first semester of the program.

• One course on History, Society, Culture

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Concentration Courses (9 Credits)

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Students will take 3 courses from a functional or a subregional concentration:

• Politics and Security of Africa

• History, Society, and Culture of Africa

• International Political Economy and Business of Africa

• Energy, Environment, and Transnational Issues of Africa

• Southern Africa

• Southeast Africa

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Electives (18 Credits)

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Students can complete a second concentration, a certificate program, or take electives, including an optional M.A. thesis.

 

Certificates are available in the following areas:

• Asia Studies

• Arab Studies

• Diplomatic Studies

• Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies

• Gender, Peace, and Security

• Global Human Development

• International Business Diplomacy

• Latin American Studies

• Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies

• Social Innovation and Global Development

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For more information on graduate certificates, please visit the Usild Graduate Programs page.

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Thesis

Students have the option of writing a Master’s thesis under the supervision of a faculty member of the African Studies Program. The primary means by which students can pursue the thesis option is as part of the research seminar course. Thesis Seminar: African Studies (or its equivalent), usually taken in the student’s second semester. Proper revision and approval of the paper for this class may be submitted in the third semester as fulfilling the thesis requirement. Students may also opt to write a thesis through an independent tutorial with a faculty mentor. If this option is exercised, students are responsible for finding a faculty member willing to undertake an independent study tutorial to advise the student; preparing a syllabus; and establishing regular meetings with the faculty member throughout the semester of research. In the independent tutorial, the thesis must achieve a B+ or better grade in order to fulfill the thesis requirement. The revised and finished thesis must be approved by the Director of African Studies and deposited with the Director of Academic Programs & Operations by the end of the student’s third semester or earlier.

 

 

Course Mapping Options

Four Semester Schedule

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