Prospectus

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Africa in Cross-Regional Perspective

Course
2021-2022

Admission requirements

This course is obligatory for students in the first year of the Research Master African Studies. Others may be admitted after consultation with the course coordinator.

Description

This course adopts a cross-regional perspective on important issues in African Studies, showing how phenomena like religion, migration, politics, law and governance, take on specific shapes and dynamics in various African regions. Throughout the course, we explore these issues from the perspective of the new generation coming of age in Africa, the youth. The students will be enabled to reflect on regional differences and similarities via literature assignments and lectures, and will practice discussion of these regional issues both in their factual and problem-oriented dimensions.

Course objectives

After this course students have:

  • A profound awareness of the current issues, core concepts and research questions in regional and sub-regional African fields from the perspective of youth

  • The capacity to employ a cross-regional comparative perspective in their research and presentations

  • The capacity to report independently on relevant research that has been carried out according to current academic standards for the field of African Studies research;

  • The ability to write scientific reports in English;

  • The ability to give persuasive oral presentations;

  • The ability to engage in the international academic debate and in non-specialist discussions.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture

  • Seminar

Assessment method

The final mark for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) additional requirements.

Final Assessment based on:
1. Presence at all lectures (PASS)
2. Reading the two/three required articles/chapters (c. 40-50 p. per lecture; i.e., c. 290 p. in all) and giving evidence of having read them. (PASS)
3. Assignments: each session: prepare discussion questions based on literature. In each class, one student will act as discussion chair, leading the discussion on the lecture and literature. (25 %)
4. Writing a final paper of max. 3,000 words (75 hours) on a chosen topic. Advisable for students is to start thinking about a theme as soon as possible and somehow relate it to proposed field research. (75%)

Exam review

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Resit

Rewriting the final paper until a sufficient grade is achieved.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

All literature will be made available timely in pdf or with links by the course organizers, for consultation in the ASCL Library.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats

Remarks

Not applicable