St. Lawrence University: African Studies

The African studies program enables students to construct a comprehensive knowledge of the African continent and its peoples, including their extensive interaction with many other peoples and regions in the international community. Specialization in African studies is designed to foster knowledge about Africa through an organized plan of study; to promote understanding of the diversity of African people and societies; and to nurture the capacity for interdisciplinary problem-solving approaches to questions and for independent research. Issues addressed include the earliest biological and cultural origins of modern humanity, environmental change, economic growth with equity, development of participatory government and a strong civil society, the relationship between indigenous and non-African cultures, and Diaspora black studies. Background in African studies helps prepare students for graduate work in this interdisciplinary field or in international relations, for careers in international development and business, or for work in the Peace Corps and other service opportunities.

The African studies program offers a multidisciplinary curriculum leading to combined majors and a minor. St. Lawrence also maintains a semester study program in Kenya, and offers a component of study in Africa as part of the program in France, and courses in Swahili taught by Kenyan scholars.

Combined Major
The African studies program offers combined majors with anthropology, economics, government and history. Each combined major consists of five African studies courses plus requirements from cooperating departments. The typical combined major comprises 13 or 14 courses in total. Students are strongly encouraged to begin with either AFS 101 or 102. They must select courses from a range of disciplines. Students are required to complete a capstone experience in one of the following ways: a) AFS 402 (SYE: Seminar on African Development) which is specially designed for this purpose; b) an African studies 400-level seminar; and c) an interdisciplinary independent project approved by the African Studies Advisory Board.

Minor
The African studies program also offers a minor which consists of six African studies courses. As in the combined major, students are encouraged to begin with either AFS 101 or 102, and must select courses from a range of disciplines. Also, they must complete a capstone course from among the following: a) AFS 402 (Seminar on African Development); b) an African studies 400-level seminar; and c) an interdisciplinary independent project approved by the African Studies Advisory Board.

Study Abroad
Courses completed in the University’s Kenya Semester Program (KSP) count toward completion of either the minor or the combined major. Students who apply for the KSP must complete an introductory course in African studies (AFS 101 or 102 are especially recommended). Interested students should discuss their academic plans with one of the coordinators of the program as well as the office of international studies. Students who complete the KSP are encouraged to declare a combined major or minor in African studies.

Participants in the France program have a study trip to Senegal. There are also opportunities for study in Africa during winter break and summer.

The following African studies courses are accepted for the African studies combined major and minor.

A team-taught introduction to fundamental issues in the study of Africa, ranging from historical contexts to economic and political structures to African arts and issues of development. The value of interdisciplinary study and the challenges of moving beyond one’s own framework to study other cultural systems are also discussed. Also offered as History 108.

102. Introduction to African Studies: Environment and Culture.
The physical environment of Africa, with particular emphasis on distribution of water resources. Culture is approached as it relates to environment. The course examines how people of different cultures conceptualize and value water resources, how the indigenous peoples of Africa have coped with frequently variable and unreliable water supplies, and the impact of some controversial water development projects on people’s lives. Also offered as Anthropology 153.

402. SYE: Seminar on African Development.
An interdisciplinary research seminar that focuses on the critical theme of development and requires students to produce a substantial research essay confronting a development question, using the resources and methodologies of more than one discipline. Often, students can extend their investigation of a topic first studied in Kenya.

Students wishing to go on the Kenya program are strongly encouraged to take 101 before they leave. Swahili is a required course on the Kenya Program and is offered at various levels.

Swahili is required, as is AFS 337 (Culture, Ecology and Development in East Africa ), which is offered only on the Kenya Semester Program.

Other courses offered in Kenya vary according to student demand and availability of instructors. Recent offerings:

Environmental Studies-Biology
342. Wildlife Conservation and Ecology in East Africa.

Robert Allen Blewett, B.S., California State Polytechnic; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic
Professor of Economics

Celia K. Nyamweru, B.A., Ph.D., Cambridge (England)
Professor of Anthropology, Co-Coordinator of African Studies

Alice Pomponio, B.A., SUNY Geneseo; M.A., Ph.D., Bryn Mawr
Professor of Anthropology and Chair of Department

Obiora Udechukwu, B.A., M.F.A., Nigeria (Nsukka)
Charles A. Dana Professor of Fine Arts and Chair of Department

Associate Professors
John Webster Barthelme, A.A., Chabot; A.B., M.A., Ph.D., California (Berkeley)
Associate Professor of Anthropology

Erika Liese Barthelmess, B.A., Earlham; Ph.D., Kansas
Associate Professor of Biology and Co-Coordinator of African Studies

John Martin Collins, B.A. Wesleyan; M.A., Ph.D., Minnesota
Associate Professor of Global Studies

Judith A. DeGroat, B.A., M.A., Wisconsin (Milwaukee); Ph.D., Rochester
Associate Professor of History and Chair of Department, and Co-Coordinator of African Studies

David Tyrrell Lloyd, B.A., Eastern Nazarene; M.A., Penn State; Ph.D., UCLA
Associate Professor of History

Assis Malaquias, B.A., Winnipeg; M.A., Ph.D., Dalhousie (Canada)
Associate Professor of Government

Andrea J. Nouryeh, B.A., Wisconsin; M.A., Columbia; Ph.D., New York
Associate Professor of Performance and Communication Arts and Co-chair of Department and Coordinator of African Studies

Assistant Professors
Mehretab Abye Assefa, B.A., SUNY Oneonta; M.A., M.A., Ph.D., Binghamton
Assistant Professor of Sociology

Madeleine Wong, B.A., Mount Holyoke; M.A., Florida Atlantic; Ph.D., York (Canada)
Assistant Professor of Global Studies

Visiting Assistant Professor
Osaore A. Aideyan, B.S., Bendel State (Nigeria); M.S., University of Lagos (Nigeria); M.A., Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
Visiting Assistant Professor of Government

Instructors
Susan Bantu, M.A., Ohio State University
Swahili Teaching Fellow