Students can 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 Specialization, of 7.5 credits each, including a Specialization in Africa and Globalization;
- A language requirement; and
- An overseas experience requirement.
Specialization in Africa and Globalization
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 disapora studies.
Complete course listing for the B.G.In.S. Specialization in Africa and Globalization.
Find the African Studies (AFRI) courses as they are listed in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Language Requirement
All B.G.In.S students must achieve a level of language proficiency in a language other than English equivalent to two years of university language study. Students may satisfy this requirement either by taking the required courses or, for those students who already possess second language skills upon entry, demonstrating prior language proficiency. Prior language proficiency may be demonstrated either by producing suitable documentation or by taking a language test. Students in the Africa and Globalization Specialization must fulfill the language requirement with a language relevant to the study of Africa. The B.G.In.S. Program Director will maintain a list of acceptable languages. In the case of the language proficiency test, availability of the test in a given language will depend upon faculty resource availability.
Full details on the B.G.In.S. language requirement.
International Experience Requirement
All B.G.In.S. Honours students must satisfy the international experience requirement. Students in the Africa and Globalization Specialization must satisfy this requirement either by taking the African Studies course abroad (AFRI 3100) or by doing a placement course related to Africa (AFRI 3900). The study abroad course is taught by a Carleton faculty member every May in an African country. The placement course enables you to carry out research and other academic activities at an organization working on Africa, which is a superb opportunity to allow you to gain important hands-on experience.
Full details on the B.G.In.S. international experience requirement.
First Year Seminars
All first year BGInS 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 offers FYSM 1901, which focuses on a different topic related to Africa every year. Here is the first year seminar homepage, which includes a listing of all the FYSM available in the university.