- African Studies B.A. Combined Honours
- African Studies B.A.
- Minor in African Studies
- BGInS with Specialization in Africa and Globalization (Honours)
- BGInS Stream in Africa and Globalization (15.0 Credits)
- First Year Seminars
- Institute Language Requirement
Carleton offers a Combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in African Studies. You can do your African Studies Honours degree combined with an Honours degree in any other B.A. program offered at Carleton. You will need 20 credits for the degree, 7.0 credits of which will be designated for African Studies. In addition to taking two Introduction to Africa courses and a fourth year capstone seminar in African Studies, you will have a choice of courses in African history, African politics, anthropology of Africa, African cultural and disapora studies as well as in international development and race and ethnic studies. In addition, we offer every year in May a study abroad course taught by a Carleton faculty member in an African country. Finally, you also are able to take a placement course that enables you to carry out research and other academic activities at an organization (typically based in Ottawa) working in Africa, which is a superb opportunity to allow you to gain important hands-on experience.
African Studies B.A. Combined Honours
The BA (Honours) adds a fourth year of advanced study during which students take seminars and conduct research under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Combined Honours programs in African Studies are possible in conjunction with any other discipline in the B.A. (e.g. Political Science, History, Law, Music, Anthropology, English, French, Economics, Sociology, Film Studies). Students wishing to pursue a Combined Honours degree between African Studies and Journalism must already be accepted into the Journalism Honours Program.
A total of 20.0 credits are required to successfully complete the Combined Honours degree. Of the 20.0 credits, 7.0 credits are required in African Studies Major CGPA. The BA (Honours) degree provides students with the option of pursuing graduate work. Since most universities in North America are moving towards 4-year degrees, students with sufficient CGPAs are encouraged to enroll in the Honours program. The Honours program includes the option of completing a major research essay for credit, but this may only be undertaken with the permission of a faculty member willing to supervise the project.
African Studies B.A.
The BA provides a sound introduction to African Studies. The African Studies B.A. is normally completed in three years. Graduation requires a total of 15.0 credits, including 6.0 credits in African Studies.
Minor in African Studies
Undergraduate students with a major in other programs can also take a Minor in African Studies. The minor program requires 4.0 credits in African Studies, to be completed along with the requirements of your major discipline. In addition to the required courses, Introduction to African Studies I and II, students will choose one course from each of the following categories: African history; African politics; African anthropology; and African and diaspora cultural studies. The Minor is not open to students in the African Studies major in the B.A or to students in the specialization or stream in Africa and Globalization in the B.G.In.S. degree.
BGInS with Specialization in Africa and Globalization (Honours)
Students can also study Africa within the Bachelor of Global and International Studies degree. The 20.0 credit Honours B.G.In.S. degree has four components:
- A 4.5 credit core course sequence, mandatory for all students in the degree;
- 13 Specializations of 7.5 credits each to choose from, including a Specialization in Africa and Globalization;
- A language requirement; and
- An overseas experience requirement.
The 7.5 credit Specialization in Africa and Globalization allows you to focus your studies within the B.G.In.S. degree on Africa. The backbone of the Specialization is a set of AFRI courses offered by the Institute of African Studies across the four years of the program: two Introduction to Africa courses in first year, a choice of two courses focused on the regions of Africa in second year, two courses exploring different themes in African Studies in third year, and finally a capstone seminar in African Studies in fourth year. The rest of the Specialization offers a selection of courses in African history, African politics, anthropology of Africa, African literature and culture, and African diaspora studies.
Complete course listing for the B.G.In.S. Specialization in Africa and Globalization.
BGInS Stream in Africa and Globalization (15.0 Credits)
The Stream in Africa and Globalization allows the student to focus within the B.G.In.S. degree on Africa. This option includes 8.0 credits in the Major CGPA divided between the core courses and Africa.
First Year Seminars
All first year BA students are encouraged to take a first year seminar (FYSM), which is a small enrollment (maximum 30) course focused on a particular subject area. FYSM usually also devote considerable attention to helping students develop the research, writing and presentation skills necessary to succeed at university. The Institute of African Studies FYSM 1901 which focuses on a different topic related to Africa every year is not currently on offer this year. A list of all first year seminars available across the university can be found here.
Institute Language Requirement
The Institute requires Honours students to demonstrate proficiency in at least one language relevant to Africa other than English.
The Institute maintains a list of languages suitable for meeting this requirement. Students may demonstrate proficiency either through the completion of any first-year course (or its approved equivalent) in a relevant language offered at Carleton or through passing a language proficiency test administered by the Institute.
In the case of the language proficiency test, availability of the test in a given language will depend upon faculty resource availability.