African Studies Programs

African Studies Courses

2011-2012 African Studies course timetable.

African Studies Programs

Specialist program: (11 full courses)

Core course requirements:
  • NEW 150Y1 (recommended in first year).
  • NEW 450Y1 (to be taken in the final year).
Other requirements:
  • Three full course equivalents from Group A, to be cho­sen from at least two different departments/programs.
  • Two full course equivalents from Group B
  • Two full course equivalents from Groups A or B
  • A combination of two language full course equivalents as outlined in Group C
  • Four full course equivalents of the eleven courses must be 300/400 series (including at least one 400-se­ries course) of which at least one must be from Group A and another from Group B

 

Major program: (6 full courses)

Core course requirements:
  • NEW 150Y1 (recommended in first year).
  • NEW 450Y1 (to be taken in the final year).
Other requirements:
  • Two full course equivalents from Group A.
  • Two full course equivalents from Groups B, or NEW 280Y1 and 380Y1
  • At least two full course equivalents from Groups A and/or B must be at the 300/400 level.

Minor program: (4 full courses)

Core requirement:
  • NEW 150Y1 (recommended in first year)
Other requirements:
  • One full course equivalent from Group A
  • One full course equivalent from Group B, or another one from Group A
  • One full course equivalent from Group B or NEW 280Y1, NEW 281Y1 or NEW 380Y1
  • At least one one full course equivalent from Groups A or B must be at the 300/400 level.

Group A

(Courses that deal exclusively with Africa. These include but are not limited to the following): HIS297Y1, HIS383H1, HIS481H1; JNH350H1; JQR360H1; NEW250Y1, NEW258H1, NEW296Y1, NEW322H1, NEW351Y1, NEW352H1, NEW353H1, NEW359H1, NEW450Y1, NEW451H1, NEW452H1, NEW453Y1; POL301Y1, POL488Y1, POL489H1; SMC209H1; an independent studies course approved by the Program Committee

Group B

(Courses that deal with Africa and/or one or more of its diaspora. These include but are not limited to the following): ANT204H1, ANT345H1, ANT363Y1, ANT367H1, ANT426H1, ANT454H1; ARC233H1; DTS200Y1, DTS401H1, DTS402H1; ECO230Y1, ECO320H1, ECO324Y1, ECO459H1; ENG270Y1, ENG277Y1, ENG278Y1, ENG370Y1; ENV221H1, ENV333H1; FCS291H1, FCS392H1; FOR201H1; FRE332H1, FRE334H1, FRE336H1; GGR338H1, GGR419H1; HAJ453H1; HIS106Y1, HIS294Y1, HIS295Y1, HIS296Y1, HIS305H1, HIS359H1, HIS360H1, HIS370H1, HIS381H1, HIS382H1, HIS383H1, HIS393H1, HIS395H1, HIS408Y1, HIS413H1, HIS446Y1, HIS456Y1, HIS475H1, 476Y1, HIS478H1, HIS487H1; HMB202H1, HMB203H1, HMB303H1, HMB323H1, HMB433H1, HMB443H1; HPS375H1, HPS376H1; INI327Y1, INI380Y1; JPR374Y1; NFS490H1; NMC285H1, NMC286H1, NMC343H1, NMC344H1, NMC362Y1, NMC365Y1, NMC374H11, NMC376H1, NMC377Y1, NMC378H1, NMC381H1, NMC393H1; NEW223Y1, NEW224Y1, NEW324Y1, NEW325H1, NEW326Y1, NEW425Y1; PHL336H1, PHL380H1; POL201Y1,  POL349H1, POL403H1, POL417Y1, POL447Y1, POL479H1, POL482H1; RLG203Y1, RLG204Y1, RLG241Y1, RLG251H1, RLG321H1, RLG333H1, RLG351H1, RLG355H1; SOC210Y1; WGS330H1, WGS369H1, WGS380H1, WGS440H1, WGS463H1

Group C:

NEW280Y1, NEW380Y1)/(FSL221Y1, 331Y1/341Y1/ 431Y1/ 362Y1)/(NML210Y1, NML310Y1)/(PRT100Y1/ PRT110Y1, PRT220Y1); or two courses in a major African language approved by the Program Committee

African Studies Courses

NEW150Y1: Introduction to African Studies [48L] A multi-disciplinary study of Africa, emphasizing inquiry and critical analysis. Pre-colonial, colonial and contemporary African history, anthropology, politics, African humanism and society, religion, art, music, race, resistance, gender and Pan-Africanism. DR=HUM; BR=3

NEW250Y1: Africa in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities [48L, 24T] An introduction to the study of Africa as a living place rather than merely a site for intellectual speculation and study. Explores the issues that engage the attention of ordinary Africans, ranging from the dramatic to the seemingly trivial but quotidian concerns that occupy our lives. Topics will include urban life, family networks, kinship and social capital, religion and belief systems, indigenous government, politics, economics, courts and judicial processes, migration, and land tenure. Materials studied will include various African media in Toronto – radio, television, newspapers, literature, religion, politics, sports, music, film and food – as well as BBC World Service, allAfrica and Panapress and several African socio-cultural journals and texts. DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=1+3

NEW258H1: African Expressive Culture: African Drumming and Dancing [48P] Rehearsal, performance and study of West African music. Exclusion: PMU 264 Prerequisite: permission of the African Studies Program Director DR=HUM; BR=1

NEW280Y1: Introductory Swahili [24L, 72T] Introduction to grammar and basic vocabulary of Swahili. Emphasis on comprehension and oral practice. Reading of selected texts. Relation of the language to its East African cultural context. (Offered in alternate years) DR=HUM; BR=1

NEW296Y1: Black Freedom [48L, 24T] People of African descent – from Olaudah Equiano to Angela Davis – have made profound contributions to the intellectual history and political practice of freedom in the Atlantic world. Black writers and historical actors have been at the vanguard of re-conceiving, implementing, and realizing the Enlightenment project of freedom. Exclusion: HIS296Y1 DR=HUM; BR=3

NEW322H1: The Contemporary African Novel (formerly NEW322Y1) [24S] Novels written in the last forty years by English, French and Portuguese-speaking Africans. Ideological views concerning colonialism and neo-colonialism. Tradition, religious and secular; the use of African symbolism. A small number of historical and sociological texts are recommended as essential background reading. Works not written in English are read in translation. (Offered in alternate years) Exclusion: NEW322Y1 DR=HUM; BR=TBA

JNH350H1: AIDS : Challenges and Successes (formerly NEW350H1) [24L] Explores the pandemic of AIDS in Africa through a social science lens. (Given by Human Biology and New College) Recommended preparation: NEW150Y1 Exclusion: NEW350H1 DR=SOC SCI/SCI DR=HUM; BR=TBA

NEW351Y1: African Systems of Thought (formerly NEW252Y1) [48L] The exploration of a range of African cosmologies, epistemologies, and theologies, as well as specific case studies on justice, the moral order, and gender relations. The influence of these richly diverse traditions is traced as well in the writings of African thinkers in the Diaspora. Recommended preparation: NEW150Y1 Exclusion: NEW252Y1, JAP256H1/JAP356H1 DR=HUM; BR=TBA

NEW352H1: International Organizations, NGOs, Development and Change in Africa [24L] Critically explores the role of international organizations such as the World Bank Group, the UN and NGOs in the economic development of Africa. Prerequisite: NEW150Y1, NEW250Y1 or permission of the instructor. DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA

NEW353H1: International Relations of Africa[24L] Explores inter-state relations in Africa, African states’ relations with the West, China, India, Brazil, and international political, economic and financial institutions. Prerequisite: NEW150Y1/NEW250Y1 DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA

NEW359H1: Humanitarianism Industry and Africa [24L] Examines the role of humanitarian actors and organizations in economic development, human rights and democracy promotion, resolution of conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa. Prerrequisite: NEW150Y1/NEW250Y1 DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA

JQR360H1: The Canadian Census: Populations, Migrations and Demographics [24L, 12T] Examines the Canadian population census through the experience of diasporic groups in Canada. Approaches the census as a statistical tool, an historical source and an ideological project of citizenship and nationalism. Uses census data to explore mathematical and statistical concepts and to integrate numerical ways of thinking with qualitative analysis. (Jointly sponsored by African Studies, Diaspora and Transnational Studies, Caribbean Studies, Equity Studies and Latin American Studies). Prerequisite: DTS200Y1, NEW150Y1/NEW224Y1/NEW240Y1, LAS200Y1 DR=SOC SCI; BR=TBA

NEW380Y1: Intermediate Swahili [24L, 72T] Grammar and syntax. Conversation and written composition. Reading of texts: literary, journalistic. Relation of the language to its East African context. (Offered in alternate years) Prerequisite: NEW280Y1 DR=HUM; BR=TBA

NEW450Y1: Advanced Topics in African Studies [24S] A required course for all Specialists and Majors in the African Studies Program, enrolment is restricted to students enrolled in the program in their final year of study. The seminar is taught by the core faculty in the African Studies Program and is designed to build upon the accumulated knowledge of students and the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Topics vary from year to year. DR=HUM; BR=TBA

NEW451H1: Special Topics in African Studies [24L] An upper level course. Topics of study vary from year to year. DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA

NEW452H1: Negotiating Peace in Africa [24S] Examines approaches and styles employed by diplomats to resolve conflicts in Africa. Prerequisite: NEW150Y1, NEW250Y1 or permission of the instructor DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA

NEW453Y1: Language and Postcolonial Education in East Africa [48S] Examines the choice of languages for education in East Africa using critical perspectives. Pays particular attention to the influences of the historical experience of colonialism, the socio-linguistic contours of each country and the strength of linguistic and educational lobby groups in East African countries. Prerequisite: NEW150Y1, NEW250Y1 or permission of instructor DR=HUM; BR=1+3