African Studies Course Descriptions

(Study abroad course.)

(Same as Anthropology 150L.) Examination of culture areas, language distributions, and social organization of societies south of the Sahara. Colonialism and modern African issues. Satisfies CER

(Same as History 221.) Provides students with historical background needed to understand contemporary Africa. Focuses on major political, social, economic, and cultural developments from the end of the trans Atlantic slave trade to the present.

(Same as IDS 263.) Introduction to the African humanities and social sciences through in-depth study of three African regions. Explores major historical trends and their impact on culture, including the slave trade, colonialism, and postcolonial international contacts. Content is drawn from literature (both written literature and oral traditions), film, history, religion, anthropology, sociology, and art.

(Same as Art History 282.) Visual arts and architecture of Africa from the Horn to the Cape of Good Hope, with emphasis on the major monuments of early coastal and southern African states, the visual culture of pastoralism and foragers and their associated body arts and rock paintings, and the development of postcolonial art forms in urban and rural areas. Satisfies GER non-Western requirement.

(Same as Anthropology 311.) The course introduces nutritional anthropology as a distinct field of study that draws on methods, theory, and data from anthropology, sociology, gender studies, ecology, biology, medicine, epidemiology, and nutritional science in order to understand the evolution, current diversity, and clinical and social significance of human diet and nutrition in the African region.

(Same as Women's Studies 312.) The varied experience of women in Africa, with attention to the impact of colonization and decolonization on women's lives and cultures.

An introduction to the history and contemporary issues of South Africa designed to prepare students for their summer internship in Cape Town.

(Same as Political Science 334.) Politics of sub-Saharan Africa are examined, with emphasis on the major issues of social and political analysis as well as the African economic predicament and its political implications.

(Same as History 364.) Political, social, economic, and cultural history of sub-Saharan African civilizations from the rise of the Sudanic empires through the impact of the trans-Atlantic Slave trade.

(Same as Art History 355.) Traditional genres of African art with a focus on masks and figure sculpture in west and central African city-states and chiefdoms from 1500 to European colonization.

Impact of colonial and post-colonial development on health and health care in Africa. Health consequences of industrialization, urbanization, agricultural change, and population growth; historical determinants of health care systems.

(Same as History 367.) Origins of apartheid: economic, political, cultural, and religious forces that produced a society founded on the principle of systematic racial segregation. Contemporary South Africa: challenge to Nationalist Party by black and white opposition groups and the international anti-apartheid movement. Current construction of post-apartheid democracy.

(Same as Anthropology 343 and Interdisciplinary Studies 370.) Produced in diverse media and circumstances, African popular culture provides means through which people reflect and comment on a range of issues in their lives. Students will learn about a selection of popular representations produced in and about Africa. Case studies will vary from year to year, drawn from media that include music, popular literature, photography, painting, film, language, architecture, fashion, and cultural display.

(Same as Art History 365.) Treatment of the major issues raised by the new genres of art that have resulted from the African experience of European colonization.

May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

Analysis of economic behavior in low income countries, with attention to factors that promote or inhibit sustainable development, such as local cultural practices, migratory patterns, and foreign investment.

Problem/theme-oriented course that will approach the chosen question from multiple disciplinary viewpoints. It consists of a number 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.

Variable credit (two to four hours). For advanced students who have permission of the instructor. May be repeated for credit.