The Center for African Studies offers a wide variety of courses across multiple disciplines.
Course Descriptions
AFS 2002 The African Experience: An Introduction to African Studies
Introductory study of African society and culture that examines the richness, diversity, and time-depth of African civilizations. (S and N)
AFS 3300 Poverty and Development in Africa
Contemporary study of development issues in Africa, their challenges and possible solutions; theme based and includes economic development, agriculture and the environment, social issues and gender equality, and democracy and political development.
AFS 3352 Culture, Health and Arts in Sub-Saharan Africa
Explores Sub-Saharan African cultures, health issues and belief systems related to health and the arts. Also provides a framework to better understand health and health care systems in other cultures.
AFS 3500 History of Islam in Africa
Introduces the role of Islam in African history, with particular attention to the religion’s place in economic and political systems.
AFS 3800 Childhood in African Literature and Cinema
Explores African conceptions of childhood through the mediums of literature and film; examines how childhood is represented in diverse African cultures.
AFS 4240 The African Family
Understanding African societies south of the Sahara through the study of the functions, roles and meanings of households and families. Emphasizes diversity within and commonalities among the myriad forms of African families.
AFS 4260 Africans Abroad
Examines lives of Africans and formation of African communities in contemporary Western settings. Also addresses the relationship between Africans in the contemporary Diaspora and their home communities in Africa.
AFS 4315 Critical Issues in Contemporary Africa
Upper-division seminar that discusses perspectives on conflict resolution, corruption, economic development, environmental management, food security, governance, international assistance and public health in contemporary Africa. In addition, enhances skills in analysis, discussion and debate.
AFS 4330 Women and Politics in Africa
Introduces historical and contemporary roles of women in African political systems, from local to national governance.
AFS 4335 Women in Africa
Explores issues of gender, development and culture through memoirs, ethnographies, narratives and films about women in Africa.
AFS 4340 Community Conservation and Rural Development in Africa
Examines the practicalities and theoretical foundations of community conservation in Africa, with particular attention to the relationship between conservation and rural development issues. Main themes include property rights, governance and local-global relations.
AFS 4345 Political Economy of Conservation in Africa
Analyzes effectiveness of diverse approaches to natural resource preservation and uses. Case studies are primarily from southern and eastern Africa and readings focus on political and economic aspects of conservation strategies.
AFS 4350 HIV / AIDS in Africa
Utilizes the social science literature on AIDS in Africa to explore the social, economic and broad cultural impacts of the epidemic.
AFS 4365 Urban Africa Today
Interdisciplinary seminar incorporates scholarship from anthropology, geography, history, political science, sociology and urban planning to understand African cities, their rapid growth and their future development.
AFS 4905 Individual Work
Individual study and research for topics not covered in other courses.
AFS 4911 Undergraduate Research in African Studies
Provides firsthand, supervised research in African studies. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in African studies.
AFS 4935 African Studies Interdisciplinary Seminar
Seminar on a selected interdisciplinary theme. Rotating topics may include:
African Women Writers
Swahili Texts and Context
African Language Worldview
African Oral Literature
Anthropology of Modern Africa
Women/Politics in Africa
Laughter in Africa
Gender and Development in Africa
Islam in Africa
Global Africa
Diasporas of Africa
African Economic Development
African Business Culture
For further information or consultation, please contact:
Dr. Todd Leedy
Undergraduate Coordinator
Email: tleedy@ufl.edu