African studies is one of the regional specializations offered within the International Studies major program. The specialization seeks to offer students a degree in the languages, history, politics, and cultures of Africa. This interdisciplinary degree will provide students the chance to study the languages of French, and Arabic as well as the history, politics, and economics of Africa. Students are required to study abroad for a minimum one semester, though they are not required to study abroad in Africa.
This specialization is an excellent choice for students interested in future work in African affairs and fields such as international development, health, and security.
If you do not have a specialization listed in PAWS, complete a Specialization Declaration Form and submit it to Dr. Zakiya Adair, IS Program Director. If you have any questions about which specialization to choose, please set up a meeting with your advisor.
Major Requirements – 12 Course Units
Only 1 course at the 100-level may be counted toward a specialization.
INT 200 / International Studies – 1 Course Unit
ECO 102 / Principles of Macroeconomics
Foreign Language – 2 Course Units at 200 Level or Above
French
Arabic
History – 1 Course Unit
HIS 352/AAS 208: Colonial and Modern Africa
Humanities – 1 Course Unit
AAS 346: African Art History
AAS 365: African Cinema
AAS 390: Advanced Research in African Studies
ARA 171: Contemporary Arab World
HIS 351/AAS 351: Ancient and Medieval Africa
HIS 354: South African History
HIS 456: Readings Seminar: Modern Africa
HIS 457: Readings Seminar: Early Africa
LIT 499: Seminar in Research and Theory (if relevant)
WGS 375: Global Feminisms
WGS 377: Gender Politics of Development in Africa
Political Science – 1 Course Unit
POL 250: Politics and Society in Developing Countries
POL 352: Comparative Political Economy of Development
Social Science – 1 Course Unit
ANT 205: Human Evolution
POL 130: International Relations
POL 250: Politics of Developing Countries
POL 335: International Organization
POL 337: International Law
POL 345: Human Rights in International Relations
POL 352: Comparative Political Economy of Development
POL 370: Topics in Political Science (if relevant)
POL 380: International Political Economy
Business – 1 Course Unit
INB 260: Multinational Firms
BUS 360: Issues in International Business
ECO 120: European Economic History
ECO 210: History of Economic Thought
ECO 310: Money, Credit and Financial Mark
ECO 335: Economics of Development
ECO 340: International Economics
ECO 345: Comparative Economic Systems
FIN 335: Capital Flows and Currency Crises
FIN 340: International Finance
African Studies Electives – 2 Course Units
AAS 201: African and African Diaspora Religious Traditions
AAS 365: African Cinema
AAS 390: Advanced Research in African Studies
ANT 205: Human Evolution
ARA 171: Contemporary Arab World
ARA 301: Advanced Arabic
FRE 201: Intro to African Francophone Literature
FRE 305: Maghrebian Literature and Culture
HIS 187: Topics: World History (when relevant)
HGS 200: Genocide and Human Rights
HGS 210: Non-Violence and Peace Action
HIS 230: Modern World History & Geography (when relevant)
HGS 370: Topics in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (if relevant)
HIS 351/AAS 351: Ancient and Medieval Africa
HIS 354: South African History
HIS 456: Readings Seminar: Modern Africa
HIS 457: Readings Seminar: Early Africa
LIT 316/WGS 376: Global Women Writers
LIT/CMP 337: Postcolonial and Anglophone Literature
LIT 499: Seminar in Research and Theory (if relevant)
POL 130: International Relations
POL 150: Comparative Politics
POL 200: Political Analysis
POL 250: Politics and Society of Developing Countries
POL 335: International Organization
POL 337: International Law
POL 345: Human Rights in International Relations
POL 352: Comparative Political Economy of Development
POL 370: Topics in Political Science (if relevant)
POL 380: International Political Economy
SOC 315: Racism, Power, and Privilege
WGS 260: Women of African Descent in Global Perspective
WGS 375: Transnational Feminisms
WGS 377: Gender Politics of Development in Africa
INT 498 / Senior Seminar in International Studies – 1 Course Unit
Plus minimum of 1 semester study abroad experience (includes some courses which will fulfill above requirements). Courses in relevant African languages taken during study abroad (not offered at TCNJ, such as Swahili, Wolof, etc.) will be counted as electives toward this specialization. Topics courses must have a relevant topic to count towards the major.