Institute of African Studies Program
The Institute of African Studies offers an interdisciplinary major and minor focusing on the histories, societies, and cultures of the peoples of Africa. Both major and minor emphasize mastering empirical knowledge about Africa as well as theories and methods central to its study.
Faculty
- Chair/Director
- Clifton CraisP0203174Professor
Education
- BA, University of Maryland, 1982
- MA, Johns Hopkins University, 1984
- PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1988
Departments
- History, Core Faculty
- African Studies, Core Faculty
Academic Interests
- African history
- comparative and cross cultural history
- history and theory
- Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Clifton CraisP0203174Professor
Education
- BA, University of Maryland, 1982
- MA, Johns Hopkins University, 1984
- PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1988
Departments
- History, Core Faculty
- African Studies, Core Faculty
Academic Interests
- African history
- comparative and cross cultural history
- history and theory
- Core Faculty
- Clifton CraisP0203174Professor
Education
- BA, University of Maryland, 1982
- MA, Johns Hopkins University, 1984
- PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1988
Departments
- History, Core Faculty
- African Studies, Core Faculty
Academic Interests
- African history
- comparative and cross cultural history
- history and theory
Corinne KratzP7065445ProfessorEducation
- BA, Wesleyan University, 1977
- MA, Wesleyan University, 1977
- PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 1988
Departments
- Anthropology, Core Faculty
- African Studies, Core Faculty
Peter LittleP9342163ProfessorEducation
- PhD, Indiana University, 1983
Departments
- Anthropology, Core Faculty
- African Studies, Core Faculty
Academic Interests
- agrarian (pastoral) production systems, marketing, and social organization in East Africa
- social dimensions of environmental degradation and political ecology
- social effects on rural communities of economic restructuring, globalization, and development
Kristin MannP9327894ProfessorEducation
- BA, Stanford University, 1968
- MA, Stanford University, 1970
- PhD, Stanford University, 1977
Departments
- History, Core Faculty
- African Studies, Core Faculty
Academic Interest
- African history
Courses
- African Studies 100-Level Courses
- AFS 110: African Language Studies IGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Study abroad course
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- variable
- AFS 150: World CulturesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionExamination of culture areas, language distributions, and social organization of societies south of the Sahara. Colonialism and modern African issues.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 190: Frsh Seminar: African StudiesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- FSEM
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Seminar
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- African Studies 200-Level Courses
- AFS 221: The Making Of Modern AfricaGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionTraces the gradual incorporation of Africa into an expanding world economy and examines the impact of this incorporation on the development of African societies and modern nation states.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 263: Intro to African StudiesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionIntroduction 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 270: Topic SeminarGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Seminar
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 270W: Topic SeminarGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GERs
- WRT
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Seminar
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Writing Requirement
- Yes
- AFS 280R: Anthro. PerspectivesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionAnthropological perspectives on the people and cultures on different regions of the world. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. HSC, may be repeated when topic changes.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Additional Course Plus Component
- Not Applicable
- AFS 281: Art Of Africa Nat Amer&PacificGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 282: Arts Of East & Southern AfricGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionVisual arts and architecture of Africa from the Horn to the Cape of Good Hope with emphases 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Additional Course Plus Component
- Not Applicable
- African Studies 300-Level Courses
- AFS 306: Symbolic AnthropologyGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionCulture is viewed as distinctive symbolic patterns through which a worldview is built. Human behavior as symbolic action; human knowledge as partly a creation of cultural patterns.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Additional Course Plus Component
- Not Applicable
- AFS 311: Nutritional AnthropologyGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionIntroduction to the evolution, diversity, and social significance of human diet and nutrition.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Additional Course Plus Component
- Not Applicable
- AFS 312: Women In AfricaGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionThe varied experience of women in Africa, with attention to the impact of colonization and decolonization on women's lives and cultures.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 334: Contemporary African PoliticsGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionPolitics 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 364: Afric Civilztn Transatl SlaveGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionPolitical, 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 364W: Afric Civilztn Transatl SlaveGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GERs
- HSCW
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionPolitical, 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Writing Requirement
- Yes
- AFS 365: African Art & Arch.after 1500General Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionTraditional 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. May be repeated for credit when topic changes, up to a maximum of twelve hours.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Additional Course Plus Component
- Not Applicable
- AFS 366: Development Issues for AfricaGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionThis course is designed to provide students the opportunity to explore issues in economic development viewed from the perspective of sub-Saharan Africa from the impact of slavery and colonialism to the modern era of globalization.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 366W: Development Issues for AfricaGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GERs
- HSCW
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionThis course is designed to provide students the opportunity to explore issues in economic development viewed from the perspective of sub-Saharan Africa from the impact of slavery and colonialism to the modern era of globalization.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Writing Requirement
- Yes
- AFS 367: The Making of South AfricaGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HSC
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionEvolution of South Africa from a society based on the principle of systematic racial segregation to a multiracial democracy. Origins of racial segregation and apartheid, nationalist struggles, challenges of post-apartheid development.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 370: African Popular CultureGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionProduced 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 371: VoodooGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 385: African Art/Arch after 1500General Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 386: Colonial/Contemp African ArtGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- HAP
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionTreatment 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 changes, up to a maximum of twelve hours.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Additional Course Plus Component
- Not Applicable
- AFS 389: Special Topics:African StudiesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionMay be repeated for credit when topic varies.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 389W: Special Topics:African StudiesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionMay be repeated for credit when topic varies.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- Writing Requirement
- Yes
- AFS 398: Dir Reading:African StudiesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Directed study
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- variable
- African Studies 400-Level Courses
- AFS 468: Economic Development in AfricaGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionAnalysis 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.
Contact Hour Information- Course Type
- Lecture
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 490R: Senior Sem in African StudiesGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Seminar
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- 150
- AFS 495A: Honors ThesisGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- None
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- None
- AFS 495B: African Studies HonorsGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 8
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Independent Honors research
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- variable
- AFS 495BW: African Studies HonorsGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 8
- GERs
- WRT
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Independent Honors research
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- variable
- Writing Requirement
- Yes
- AFS 498R: Supervised ReadingGeneral Information
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GERs
- None
- Variable GER
- None
Course DescriptionContact Hour Information- Course Type
- Directed study
- Weekly Contact Minutes
- variable
Honors Program
See “Honors Program” under the curriculum section of the catalog, and consult the department for further details.
For more information, see Honors Program | Academic Policies & Regulations.
Study Abroad
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in study or research abroad through one of Emory's approved programs in Africa: the St. Lawrence program in Kenya, Emory's South African summer internship, CIEE Senegal semester/year program in Dakar, SIT Development Studies in Uganda, SIT Post-Conflict Studies in Uganda/Rwanda, African studies in London at the SOAS, Human Rights at the University of Witswatersrand, and African studies at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. To ensure acceptance of credit for study abroad, a student must take at least one course on Africa at Emory prior to leaving, as well as seek approval in advance of courses to be taken and counted towards the major or minor. For approved programs, students may count up to 16 credit hours of courses per semester towards the major, or a total of 12 semester hours towards the minor.
Independent Research and Study
The Institute for Developing Nations (IDN) at Emory offers scholarships for independent student research projects in Africa in partnership with CIPA and its study abroad programs.
Other Departments
- African American Studies
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