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 peoples 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 many service opportunities such as the Peace Corps.

The program offers a multidisciplinary curriculum leading to combined majors and a minor. St. Lawrence also maintains a semester-long 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 13-14 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 they must select courses from a range of disciplines. Also, they must complete a capstone course from among one of the following: a) AFS 402 (Seminar on African Development), which is especially designed for this purpose; 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 both the minor and 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 the coordinator of the African studies program as well as with 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.

101. Introduction to African Studies: History and Development.
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 course looks at the physical environment of Africa with a 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. 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.

Patricia Ann Alden, A.B., A.M., Ph.D., Stanford
Professor of English and Associate Dean for International and Intercultural Studies

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

Grant Hermars Cornwell, B.A., St. Lawrence; M.A., Ph.D., Chicago
Professor of Philosophy and Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs

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
Fippinger Associate Professor of Biology

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

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

Celia K. Nyamweru, B.A., Ph.D., Cambridge (England)
Associate Professor of Anthropology

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

Instructors
Timothy Mangin, B.A., Bowdoin; M.A., M.Phil., Columbia
Visiting Instructor of Music