African Studies

In the African Studies major, students gain a cross-disciplinary exposure to the arts, history, cultures, politics, and development of Africa. In the junior and senior years, students develop analytical ability and focus research in a particular discipline such as anthropology, art history, economics, history, languages and literatures, political science or sociology.

African Studies offers training of special interest to those considering admission to graduate or professional schools, careers in education, journalism, law, management, city planning, politics, psychology, international relations, creative writing, or social work. The interdisciplinary structure of the program offers students an opportunity to satisfy the increasingly rigorous expectations of admissions committees and prospective employers for a broad liberal arts perspective that complements a specialized knowledge of a field.

The program in African Studies consists of thirteen terms of course work including:

• at least one humanities and at least one social science Africa related course;
• unless waived by examination, two years of study in an African language (Arabic, Kiswahili, Yorùbá, or isiZulu);
• four term courses in a concentration (either in a discipline or in an interdisciplinary program or in a field agreed upon with the DUS); 
• One additional course is required that either serves to deepen the concentration or provide methodological tools for the senior essay.

The required courses represent the core of the program and are intended to expose the student to both the interdisciplinary nature of African studies and to the methodologies currently being brought to bear on the study of African cultures and societies. Students are encouraged to include upper-level courses, especially those centering on research and methodology.

Junior requirement: Students must take the junior seminar on research methods, African Studies 401a. This course provides majors with theoretical and methodological bases for their senior year research. Students are expected to focus their studies on research in a particular discipline.

Senior requirement: Each student is required to complete a senior essay. Students enroll in AFST 491 and work under the guidance of a faculty advisor. 

Fee Waiver Program

Eligibility - in order to request a fee waiver you must

• Be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident (Non-U.S. citizens are not eligible to apply for a fee waiver).
• Be a participant in certain fellowship programs or recipient of certain fellowship funds.
• Have attended a specified recruitment event of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or one of the programs sponsoring such an event and have a pre-coded Fee Waiver Request form.
• Be applying as an applicant with demonstrated financial hardship.

With the approval of the director of undergraduate studies, a student may take a double major in African Studies and an appropriate discipline or interdisciplinary program.

Procedure: Students planning to major in African Studies should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies as soon as possible. The DUS is Cheryl Doss. Official Yale College program and course information is found in the Yale College Programs of Study.

Stipend amounts 2500 $.