Effective Fall 2020 - the African Studies Program and all its courses has been moved to the Islamic Studies Institute.
African Studies Department - Islamic Studies Institute
The African Studies Program offers interdisciplinary courses leading to a Minor or Major Concentration for students seeking to acquire a deeper understanding of the African continent and its diverse peoples. Established in 1969, it was the first of its kind in Canada. Students will acquire an appreciation of the contributions of Africa to world culture and civilization, and an awareness of the continent's current struggle to achieve development.
Program options
Major
Program Requirement:
The Major Concentration African Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the African continent.
Students wishing to major in African Studies should consult the Program Adviser at the beginning of their first academic year. In the African Studies Major concentration, students will be encouraged to identify an area within a discipline of the Faculty, taking as many relevant courses as possible in that field.
Required Courses (6 credits)
-
AFRI 200 Intro to African Studies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: The African experience and current approaches to African studies, through adopting multidisciplinary perspectives on topics that include political conflict, governance and democratization, environment and conservation, economic development, rural life and urbanism, health and illness, gender, social change, popular culture, literature, film, and the arts.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Dele Jemirade
-
AFRI 598 Res Sem in African Studies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: An interdisciplinary research seminar on topics of common interest to staff and students of the African Studies Program. As part of their contribution, students will prepare a research paper under the supervision of one or more members of staff.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: an introductory course in any of the disciplines studying Africa
- Restriction: Open to final year Program students, and to others by permission of Program Adviser
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Complementary Courses (30 credits)
30 credits selected as follows:
9 credits from the Group A or "core" course list and
21 credits from the Group B course list drawn from at least 3 disciplines with no more than 9 credits from any one discipline.
If courses listed below are not available in any particular year, modifications to the program may be made with the approval of the Program Adviser.
Students who wish to obtain program credit for other courses with African content should seek approval from the Program Adviser. African content may be found in certain courses offered in Islamic Studies and Religious Studies.
Group A
9 credits from:
-
ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ANTH 202, or ANTH 204, or ANTH 205, or ANTH 206, or ANTH 209, or ANTH 212, or ANTH 227 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 200 Intro to African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 201 Modern African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
POLI 324 Developing Areas/Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
Group B
21 credits from the Group B course lists below drawn from at least 3 disciplines with no more than 9 credits from any one discipline.
African Studies
-
AFRI 401 Swahili Language and Culture 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Basic knowledge of the Swahili language and culture with emphasis on handling circumstances that might be encountered in field research: everyday conversation, developing aural and oral skills and mastering basic grammar rules, understanding cultural norms and practices, issues of culture sensitivity and appropriateness.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Note: Priority to students in the African Studies Program and/or participants of the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program and to students with a demonstrable need related to internship or research. Approval by African Studies Program Adviser required.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Evan K Kirigia
-
AFRI 480 Honours Thesis 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
- Restriction(s): Open only to Joint Honours students.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
AFRI 481 Special Topics 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Supervised reading in advanced special topics in African Studies under the direction of a member of staff.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
AFRI 499 Arts Internship: African Stud 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Internship with an approved host institution or organization.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Note: U2 and U3 students in good standing, normally after completing 30 credits of a 90-credit program or 45 credits of a 96-120 credit program, a minimum CGPA of 2.7, and permission from the departmental Internship Adviser. This course will normally not fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 579D1 Seminar: African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: Readings in and discussion of a theme in African history.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite(s): HIST 200 or HIST 201 or HIST 382 or permission of the instructor.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate students and Honours students or advanced students with permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken HIST 486D1/D2.
- 1. Topics will vary by year.
- 2. Students must register for both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2.
- 3. No credit will be given for this course unless both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 579D2 Seminar: African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: See HIST 579D1 for course description.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite(s): HIST 579D1.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate students and Honours students or advanced students with permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken HIST 486D1/D2.
- 1. Topics will vary by year.
- 2. Students must register for both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2.
- 3. No credit will be given for this course unless both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Anthropology
-
ANTH 212 Anthropology of Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Processes of developmental change, as they affect small communities in the Third World and in unindustrialized parts of developed countries. Problems of technological change, political integration, population growth, industrialization, urban growth, social services, infrastructure and economic dependency.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ANTH 202, or ANTH 204, or ANTH 205, or ANTH 206, or ANTH 209, or ANTH 212, or ANTH 227 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 411 Primate Studies & Conservation 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Critical evaluation of theories in primate behaviour, ecology, and conservation that emphasizes direct observations, research design, and developing field methods.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies, Introductory Biology, or permission of the instructor.
- Restriction: Students must have completed at least two full semesters at their home university. Only open to students in the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 416 Environment/Dev: Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Study of environmental effects of development in East Africa, especially due to changes in traditional land tenure and resource use across diverse ecosystems. Models, policies and cases of pastoralist, agricultural, fishing, wildlife and tourist development will be examined, across savanna, desert, forest, highland and coastal environments.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Restriction: Open only to students in the Study in Africa program, a full-term field study program in East Africa
- Prerequisite: One prior course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Economics
-
ECON 208 Microeconomic Analysis&Applic 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Licun Xue, Paul T Dickinson, Moshe Lander
-
ECON 313 Economic Development 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Eesha Sen Choudhury
- Sonia C Laszlo
-
ECON 416 Topics in Econ Development 2 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): This course gives students a broad overview of the economics of developing countries. The course covers micro and macro topics, with particular emphasis on the economic analysis at the micro level.
Offered by: Economics
- Prerequisite(s): ECON 230 or ECON 250 and ECON 227D1/D2 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
English
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught.
-
ENGL 320 Postcolonial Literature 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): A study of postcolonial literature.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Winter
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ENGL 352 Theories of Difference 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): Introduction to a selection of theories that have influenced thinking about difference across the humanities and social sciences, including gender, sexuality, race, class and hierarchical structures, language, religion, ethnicity, and personal identity.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Fall
- Restriction: Limited to students in English Major and Honours Programs.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ENGL 421 African Literature 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): A study of African literature.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Monica Popescu
Geography
-
GEOG 216 Geography of the World Economy 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Oliver T Coomes, Sébastien Breau
-
GEOG 403 Global Health & Envir. Change 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Major themes and contemporary case studies in global health and environmental change. Focus on understanding global trends in emerging infectious disease from social, biophysical, and geographical perspectives, and critically assessing the health implications of environmental change in different international contexts.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- Prerequisite: GEOG 205 or GEOG 221 or GEOG 321 or GEOG 303 or permission from the instructor
- Restriction: Course not open to students who were registered for GEOG 303 in Winter 2008.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 404 Environmental Management 2 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Practical application of environmental planning, analysis and management techniques with reference to the needs and problems of developing areas. Special challenges posed by cultural differences and traditional resource systems are discussed. This course involves practical field work in a developing area (Kenya or Panama).
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Thomas C Meredith
-
GEOG 408 Geography of Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Examines the geographical dimensions of development policy, specifically the relationships between the process of development and human-induced environmental change. Focuses on environmental sustainability, struggles over resource control, population and poverty, and levels of governance (the role of the state, non-governmental organizations, and local communities).
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Jon D Unruh
-
GEOG 410 Geog of Underdvlpmnt:Cur Probs 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: An examination of the cultural, political, and economic mechanisms and manifestations of contemporary underdevelopment and the response to it from different regional and national peripheral societies within the dominant world economic system.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 216 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 416 Africa South of the Sahara 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: A synthetic overview of physical and cultural geography examining particularly the relation of African peoples to their landscapes, the causes and consequences of environmental changes, and the idea of sustainable development as it applies to African landscapes, resource systems and economies.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Offered in Kenya as part of the African Field Studies semester.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
History
-
HIST 200 Intro to African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 201 Modern African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 381 Colonial Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: An overview of the history of foreign intervention and anticolonial resistance in 19th and 20th century Africa. Topics include: theories of colonialism, the scramble for Africa, colonialism and disease, indirect rule, labour, nationalism and resistance, and changing gender roles.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 382 History of South Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: History of South Africa from precolonial times to the present. Topics include: precolonial societies; British and Dutch colonialism; slavery in colonial South Africa; the Zulu kingdom; mining capitalism; the Boer War; Afrikaner nationalism; apartheid; the anti-apartheid struggle; music, religion, and art; challenges of the post-apartheid state.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 498 Independent Research 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: Exceptionally, and under the direction of a member of staff, advanced and highly qualified students who have an extensive background in the proposed area of study, may pursue this independent study.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite: Written permission from the instructor and the undergraduate program director.
- Restriction: Open to History Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours students only. Not open to students who have taken HIST 413.
- Students may only register for this course once.
- Students may count a maximum of 3 credits of HIST 498 or HIST 499 toward the 6-credits of 400-level or higher courses required for the History Major Concentration.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 528 Indian Ocean World Slave Trade 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: The origins, structure and impact of the Indian Ocean World slave trade from early times to the present day. Enslavement, the trading structure, slave functions, reactions to slavery, emancipation and 'slave' diaspora. Comparisons will be made to the Atlantic slave system.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisites: HIST 200 or HIST 213 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken HIST 467.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Islamic Studies
-
ISLA 221D1 Introductory Arabic 4.5 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, including pronunciation and reading and writing of the Arabic script; and speaking and comprehension of basic sentences, commands, statements in the present tense.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisites: Permission of the Institute required.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ISLA521D1/D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Hala Jawlakh, Shokry A Gohar, David E Nancekivell
-
ISLA 221D2 Introductory Arabic 4.5 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: See ISLA 221D1 for course description.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: ISLA 221D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Hala Jawlakh, Shokry A Gohar, David E Nancekivell
-
ISLA 360 Islam and Politics 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: Assessment of the relationship between Islam and politics in the contemporary Middle East and Africa through various analytic themes, including political economy, social movement and gendered analysis.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
-
ISLA 410 History:Middle-East 1798-1918 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: A study of the Middle East from Napoleon's invasion of Egypt to the end of WWI. Emphasis will be on the emergence of nationalisms in the context of European imperialism; political, social, and economic transformation; religion and ideology; and changing patterns of alliances.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- 3 hours
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Political Science
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught.
-
POLI 227 Developing Areas/Introduction 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: An introduction to Third World politics. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and contemporary dynamics of political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building and national integration, revolution, the role of the military, and democratization.
Offered by: Political Science
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Daniel Douek
-
POLI 324 Developing Areas/Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
-
POLI 522 Seminar: Developing Areas 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: Seminar on developing areas. Topic varies year to year.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: At least one upper-level course in the politics of developing areas.
- Restriction: Open to graduate students, final year honours students, and other advanced undergraduates with permission of instructor; (Note: The field is Comparative Politics in Developing Areas).
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Narendra Subramanian
Sociology
-
SOCI 365 Health and Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Main concepts and controversies linking health to broader social and economic conditions in low income countries. Topics include the demographic and epidemiological transitions, the health and wealth conundrum, the social determinants of health, health as an economic development strategy, and the impact of the AIDS pandemic.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 370 Sociology: Gender&Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Exploration of the main development theories and discussion of how gender is placed within them, analysis of the practical application of development projects and discussion of how they affect gender dynamics, and examination of power relations between development agencies and developing countries. Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America are used.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 446 Colonialism and Society 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Forms that colonialism took, its impact on colonial societies, and its modern legacies, focusing on overseas colonialism between 1600 and the 1970s.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210 or permission from instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Matthew K Lange
-
SOCI 484 Emerging Democratic States 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Focus on the sociological aspects of recent transitions to democracy within developing countries - particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Exploration of why democratization has taken place, to what extent it has been successful and the implications of democratization.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 513 Soc Aspects HIV/AIDS in Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Examination of the social causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gender inequality, sexual behaviours, marriage systems, migration, and poverty are shaping the pandemic as well as how the pandemic is altering social, demographic and economic conditions across Africa.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 550 Developing Societies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Comparison of alternative explanations of underdevelopment: the impact of social stratification, relations of domination and subordination between countries, state interference with the market. Alternative strategies of change: revolution, structural adjustment, community development and cooperatives. Students will write and present a research paper, and participate extensively in class discussion.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Minor
Program Requirement:
The Minor Concentration African Studies is available for those students majoring in a discipline of the Faculty of Arts who wish to acquire interdisciplinary knowledge of Africa.
This program may be expanded to the Major Concentration African Studies.
Required Courses (6 credits)
-
AFRI 200 Intro to African Studies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: The African experience and current approaches to African studies, through adopting multidisciplinary perspectives on topics that include political conflict, governance and democratization, environment and conservation, economic development, rural life and urbanism, health and illness, gender, social change, popular culture, literature, film, and the arts.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Dele Jemirade
-
AFRI 598 Res Sem in African Studies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: An interdisciplinary research seminar on topics of common interest to staff and students of the African Studies Program. As part of their contribution, students will prepare a research paper under the supervision of one or more members of staff.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: an introductory course in any of the disciplines studying Africa
- Restriction: Open to final year Program students, and to others by permission of Program Adviser
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits selected as follows:
3 credits from the Group A or "core" course list and
9 credits from the Group B course list drawn from at least 2 disciplines with no more than 6 credits from any one discipline.
If courses listed below are not available in any particular year, modifications to the program may be made with the approval of the program adviser.
Students who wish to obtain program credit for other courses with African content should seek approval from the Program Adviser. African content may be found in certain courses offered in Islamic Studies and Religious Studies.
Group A
3 credits from:
-
ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ANTH 202, or ANTH 204, or ANTH 205, or ANTH 206, or ANTH 209, or ANTH 212, or ANTH 227 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 200 Intro to African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 201 Modern African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
POLI 324 Developing Areas/Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
Group B
9 credits from the Group B course lists below drawn from at least 2 disciplines with no more than 6 credits from any one discipline.
African Studies
-
AFRI 401 Swahili Language and Culture 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Basic knowledge of the Swahili language and culture with emphasis on handling circumstances that might be encountered in field research: everyday conversation, developing aural and oral skills and mastering basic grammar rules, understanding cultural norms and practices, issues of culture sensitivity and appropriateness.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Note: Priority to students in the African Studies Program and/or participants of the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program and to students with a demonstrable need related to internship or research. Approval by African Studies Program Adviser required.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Evan K Kirigia
-
AFRI 480 Honours Thesis 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
- Restriction(s): Open only to Joint Honours students.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
AFRI 481 Special Topics 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Supervised reading in advanced special topics in African Studies under the direction of a member of staff.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
AFRI 499 Arts Internship: African Stud 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Internship with an approved host institution or organization.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Note: U2 and U3 students in good standing, normally after completing 30 credits of a 90-credit program or 45 credits of a 96-120 credit program, a minimum CGPA of 2.7, and permission from the departmental Internship Adviser. This course will normally not fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 579D1 Seminar: African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: Readings in and discussion of a theme in African history.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite(s): HIST 200 or HIST 201 or HIST 382 or permission of the instructor.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate students and Honours students or advanced students with permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken HIST 486D1/D2.
- 1. Topics will vary by year.
- 2. Students must register for both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2.
- 3. No credit will be given for this course unless both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 579D2 Seminar: African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: See HIST 579D1 for course description.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite(s): HIST 579D1.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate students and Honours students or advanced students with permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken HIST 486D1/D2.
- 1. Topics will vary by year.
- 2. Students must register for both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2.
- 3. No credit will be given for this course unless both HIST 579D1 and HIST 579D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Anthropology
-
ANTH 212 Anthropology of Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Processes of developmental change, as they affect small communities in the Third World and in unindustrialized parts of developed countries. Problems of technological change, political integration, population growth, industrialization, urban growth, social services, infrastructure and economic dependency.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ANTH 202, or ANTH 204, or ANTH 205, or ANTH 206, or ANTH 209, or ANTH 212, or ANTH 227 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 411 Primate Studies & Conservation 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Critical evaluation of theories in primate behaviour, ecology, and conservation that emphasizes direct observations, research design, and developing field methods.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies, Introductory Biology, or permission of the instructor.
- Restriction: Students must have completed at least two full semesters at their home university. Only open to students in the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 416 Environment/Dev: Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Study of environmental effects of development in East Africa, especially due to changes in traditional land tenure and resource use across diverse ecosystems. Models, policies and cases of pastoralist, agricultural, fishing, wildlife and tourist development will be examined, across savanna, desert, forest, highland and coastal environments.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Restriction: Open only to students in the Study in Africa program, a full-term field study program in East Africa
- Prerequisite: One prior course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Economics
-
ECON 208 Microeconomic Analysis&Applic 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Licun Xue, Paul T Dickinson, Moshe Lander
-
ECON 313 Economic Development 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Eesha Sen Choudhury
- Sonia C Laszlo
-
ECON 416 Topics in Econ Development 2 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): This course gives students a broad overview of the economics of developing countries. The course covers micro and macro topics, with particular emphasis on the economic analysis at the micro level.
Offered by: Economics
- Prerequisite(s): ECON 230 or ECON 250 and ECON 227D1/D2 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
English
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught.
-
ENGL 320 Postcolonial Literature 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): A study of postcolonial literature.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Winter
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ENGL 352 Theories of Difference 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): Introduction to a selection of theories that have influenced thinking about difference across the humanities and social sciences, including gender, sexuality, race, class and hierarchical structures, language, religion, ethnicity, and personal identity.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Fall
- Restriction: Limited to students in English Major and Honours Programs.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ENGL 421 African Literature 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): A study of African literature.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Monica Popescu
Geography
-
GEOG 216 Geography of the World Economy 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Oliver T Coomes, Sébastien Breau
-
GEOG 403 Global Health & Envir. Change 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Major themes and contemporary case studies in global health and environmental change. Focus on understanding global trends in emerging infectious disease from social, biophysical, and geographical perspectives, and critically assessing the health implications of environmental change in different international contexts.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- Prerequisite: GEOG 205 or GEOG 221 or GEOG 321 or GEOG 303 or permission from the instructor
- Restriction: Course not open to students who were registered for GEOG 303 in Winter 2008.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 404 Environmental Management 2 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Practical application of environmental planning, analysis and management techniques with reference to the needs and problems of developing areas. Special challenges posed by cultural differences and traditional resource systems are discussed. This course involves practical field work in a developing area (Kenya or Panama).
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Thomas C Meredith
-
GEOG 408 Geography of Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Examines the geographical dimensions of development policy, specifically the relationships between the process of development and human-induced environmental change. Focuses on environmental sustainability, struggles over resource control, population and poverty, and levels of governance (the role of the state, non-governmental organizations, and local communities).
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Jon D Unruh
-
GEOG 410 Geog of Underdvlpmnt:Cur Probs 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: An examination of the cultural, political, and economic mechanisms and manifestations of contemporary underdevelopment and the response to it from different regional and national peripheral societies within the dominant world economic system.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 216 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 416 Africa South of the Sahara 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: A synthetic overview of physical and cultural geography examining particularly the relation of African peoples to their landscapes, the causes and consequences of environmental changes, and the idea of sustainable development as it applies to African landscapes, resource systems and economies.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Offered in Kenya as part of the African Field Studies semester.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
History
-
HIST 200 Intro to African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 201 Modern African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 381 Colonial Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: An overview of the history of foreign intervention and anticolonial resistance in 19th and 20th century Africa. Topics include: theories of colonialism, the scramble for Africa, colonialism and disease, indirect rule, labour, nationalism and resistance, and changing gender roles.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 382 History of South Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: History of South Africa from precolonial times to the present. Topics include: precolonial societies; British and Dutch colonialism; slavery in colonial South Africa; the Zulu kingdom; mining capitalism; the Boer War; Afrikaner nationalism; apartheid; the anti-apartheid struggle; music, religion, and art; challenges of the post-apartheid state.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 498 Independent Research 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: Exceptionally, and under the direction of a member of staff, advanced and highly qualified students who have an extensive background in the proposed area of study, may pursue this independent study.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite: Written permission from the instructor and the undergraduate program director.
- Restriction: Open to History Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours students only. Not open to students who have taken HIST 413.
- Students may only register for this course once.
- Students may count a maximum of 3 credits of HIST 498 or HIST 499 toward the 6-credits of 400-level or higher courses required for the History Major Concentration.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 528 Indian Ocean World Slave Trade 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: The origins, structure and impact of the Indian Ocean World slave trade from early times to the present day. Enslavement, the trading structure, slave functions, reactions to slavery, emancipation and 'slave' diaspora. Comparisons will be made to the Atlantic slave system.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisites: HIST 200 or HIST 213 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken HIST 467.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Islamic Studies
-
ISLA 221D1 Introductory Arabic 4.5 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, including pronunciation and reading and writing of the Arabic script; and speaking and comprehension of basic sentences, commands, statements in the present tense.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisites: Permission of the Institute required.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ISLA521D1/D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Hala Jawlakh, Shokry A Gohar, David E Nancekivell
-
ISLA 221D2 Introductory Arabic 4.5 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: See ISLA 221D1 for course description.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: ISLA 221D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Hala Jawlakh, Shokry A Gohar, David E Nancekivell
-
ISLA 360 Islam and Politics 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: Assessment of the relationship between Islam and politics in the contemporary Middle East and Africa through various analytic themes, including political economy, social movement and gendered analysis.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
-
ISLA 410 History:Middle-East 1798-1918 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: A study of the Middle East from Napoleon's invasion of Egypt to the end of WWI. Emphasis will be on the emergence of nationalisms in the context of European imperialism; political, social, and economic transformation; religion and ideology; and changing patterns of alliances.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- 3 hours
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Political Science
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught.
-
POLI 227 Developing Areas/Introduction 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: An introduction to Third World politics. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and contemporary dynamics of political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building and national integration, revolution, the role of the military, and democratization.
Offered by: Political Science
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Daniel Douek
-
POLI 324 Developing Areas/Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
-
POLI 522 Seminar: Developing Areas 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: Seminar on developing areas. Topic varies year to year.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: At least one upper-level course in the politics of developing areas.
- Restriction: Open to graduate students, final year honours students, and other advanced undergraduates with permission of instructor; (Note: The field is Comparative Politics in Developing Areas).
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Narendra Subramanian
Sociology
-
SOCI 365 Health and Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Main concepts and controversies linking health to broader social and economic conditions in low income countries. Topics include the demographic and epidemiological transitions, the health and wealth conundrum, the social determinants of health, health as an economic development strategy, and the impact of the AIDS pandemic.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 370 Sociology: Gender&Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Exploration of the main development theories and discussion of how gender is placed within them, analysis of the practical application of development projects and discussion of how they affect gender dynamics, and examination of power relations between development agencies and developing countries. Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America are used.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 446 Colonialism and Society 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Forms that colonialism took, its impact on colonial societies, and its modern legacies, focusing on overseas colonialism between 1600 and the 1970s.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210 or permission from instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Matthew K Lange
-
SOCI 484 Emerging Democratic States 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Focus on the sociological aspects of recent transitions to democracy within developing countries - particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Exploration of why democratization has taken place, to what extent it has been successful and the implications of democratization.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 513 Soc Aspects HIV/AIDS in Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Examination of the social causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gender inequality, sexual behaviours, marriage systems, migration, and poverty are shaping the pandemic as well as how the pandemic is altering social, demographic and economic conditions across Africa.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 550 Developing Societies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Comparison of alternative explanations of underdevelopment: the impact of social stratification, relations of domination and subordination between countries, state interference with the market. Alternative strategies of change: revolution, structural adjustment, community development and cooperatives. Students will write and present a research paper, and participate extensively in class discussion.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Joint Honours
Program Requirement:
The Joint Honours program in African Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the African continent.
Students wishing to study at the Honours level in two disciplines can combine Joint Honours program components in any two Arts disciplines. For a list of available Joint Honours programs, see "Overview of Programs Offered" and "Joint Honours Programs". Joint Honours students should consult an adviser in each department to discuss their course selection and their interdisciplinary Honours thesis (if applicable). Joint Honours students are expected to maintain a program GPA of 3.30 and, according to Faculty regulations a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in general.
At least 9 of the 36 credits must be at the 400 level or above.
Required Courses (9 credits)
-
AFRI 200 Intro to African Studies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: The African experience and current approaches to African studies, through adopting multidisciplinary perspectives on topics that include political conflict, governance and democratization, environment and conservation, economic development, rural life and urbanism, health and illness, gender, social change, popular culture, literature, film, and the arts.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Dele Jemirade
-
AFRI 480 Honours Thesis 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
- Restriction(s): Open only to Joint Honours students.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
AFRI 598 Res Sem in African Studies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: An interdisciplinary research seminar on topics of common interest to staff and students of the African Studies Program. As part of their contribution, students will prepare a research paper under the supervision of one or more members of staff.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: an introductory course in any of the disciplines studying Africa
- Restriction: Open to final year Program students, and to others by permission of Program Adviser
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
* Honours Thesis course must be taken for the AFRI Joint Honours component. Students must meet the specific requirements regarding Thesis credits of their second program in addition to the AFRI 480 Honours Thesis.
Complementary Courses (27 credits)
Group A
9 credits from:
-
ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ANTH 202, or ANTH 204, or ANTH 205, or ANTH 206, or ANTH 209, or ANTH 212, or ANTH 227 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 200 Intro to African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 201 Modern African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
POLI 324 Developing Areas/Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
Group B
18 credits from the Group B course lists below drawn from at least 3 disciplines with no more than 9 credits from any one discipline.
African Studies
-
AFRI 401 Swahili Language and Culture 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Basic knowledge of the Swahili language and culture with emphasis on handling circumstances that might be encountered in field research: everyday conversation, developing aural and oral skills and mastering basic grammar rules, understanding cultural norms and practices, issues of culture sensitivity and appropriateness.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Note: Priority to students in the African Studies Program and/or participants of the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program and to students with a demonstrable need related to internship or research. Approval by African Studies Program Adviser required.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Evan K Kirigia
-
AFRI 481 Special Topics 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Supervised reading in advanced special topics in African Studies under the direction of a member of staff.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
AFRI 499 Arts Internship: African Stud 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:African Studies: Internship with an approved host institution or organization.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Note: U2 and U3 students in good standing, normally after completing 30 credits of a 90-credit program or 45 credits of a 96-120 credit program, a minimum CGPA of 2.7, and permission from the departmental Internship Adviser. This course will normally not fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Anthropology
-
ANTH 212 Anthropology of Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Processes of developmental change, as they affect small communities in the Third World and in unindustrialized parts of developed countries. Problems of technological change, political integration, population growth, industrialization, urban growth, social services, infrastructure and economic dependency.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 222 Legal Anthropology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Exploration of dispute resolutions and means of social cohesion in various societies of the world. Themes: dichotomy between law and custom, local definitions of justice and rights, forms of conflict resolution, access to justice, gender and law, universality of human rights, legal pluralism.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Ronald Niezen
-
ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ANTH 202, or ANTH 204, or ANTH 205, or ANTH 206, or ANTH 209, or ANTH 212, or ANTH 227 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 355 Theories of Culture & Society 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Contributions to contemporary anthropological theory; theoretical paradigms and debates; forms of anthropological explanation; the role of theory in the practice of anthropology; concepts of society, culture and structure; cultural evolution and relativity; interpretive anthropology, post-modernism.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisites: one 200-level anthropology course and one other anthropology course at any level
- Restriction: Honours, Joint Honours, Major and Minor students in Anthropology, U2 standing or above
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Margaret E Stevenson
-
ANTH 411 Primate Studies & Conservation 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Critical evaluation of theories in primate behaviour, ecology, and conservation that emphasizes direct observations, research design, and developing field methods.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies, Introductory Biology, or permission of the instructor.
- Restriction: Students must have completed at least two full semesters at their home university. Only open to students in the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 416 Environment/Dev: Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Study of environmental effects of development in East Africa, especially due to changes in traditional land tenure and resource use across diverse ecosystems. Models, policies and cases of pastoralist, agricultural, fishing, wildlife and tourist development will be examined, across savanna, desert, forest, highland and coastal environments.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Restriction: Open only to students in the Study in Africa program, a full-term field study program in East Africa
- Prerequisite: One prior course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ANTH 451 Res in Society & Dev in Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: Instruction focuses on three goals: 1) existing research in selected core thematic areas, 2) participating in interdisciplinary team research, 3) developing powers of observation and independent inquiry. Students will be expected to develop research activities and interdisciplinary perspectives, and to become conversant with advances in local research in their field.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: Open to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite: NRSC 452.
- Restriction: Open only to AFSS students during the year of participation in the field. Not open to students who have taken GEOG 451.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Economics
-
ECON 208 Microeconomic Analysis&Applic 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Licun Xue, Paul T Dickinson, Moshe Lander
-
ECON 313 Economic Development 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Eesha Sen Choudhury
- Sonia C Laszlo
-
ECON 314 Economic Development 2 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Economics (Arts): Macroeconomic development issues, including theories of growth, public finance, debt, currency crises, corruption, structural adjustment, democracy and global economic organization.
Offered by: Economics
- Prerequisite: ECON 313
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Eesha Sen Choudhury
- Franque Grimard
English
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught.
-
ENGL 320 Postcolonial Literature 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): A study of postcolonial literature.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Winter
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ENGL 352 Theories of Difference 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): Introduction to a selection of theories that have influenced thinking about difference across the humanities and social sciences, including gender, sexuality, race, class and hierarchical structures, language, religion, ethnicity, and personal identity.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Fall
- Restriction: Limited to students in English Major and Honours Programs.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
ENGL 421 African Literature 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:English (Arts): A study of African literature.
Offered by: English
- For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Monica Popescu
Geography
-
GEOG 216 Geography of the World Economy 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Oliver T Coomes, Sébastien Breau
-
GEOG 302 Environmental Management 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: An ecological analysis of the physical and biotic components of natural resource systems. Emphasis on scientific, technological and institutional aspects of environmental management. Study of the use of biological resources and of the impact of individual processes.
Offered by: Geography
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Any 200-level course in Geography or MSE or BIOL 308 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Thomas C Meredith
-
GEOG 403 Global Health & Envir. Change 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Major themes and contemporary case studies in global health and environmental change. Focus on understanding global trends in emerging infectious disease from social, biophysical, and geographical perspectives, and critically assessing the health implications of environmental change in different international contexts.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- Prerequisite: GEOG 205 or GEOG 221 or GEOG 321 or GEOG 303 or permission from the instructor
- Restriction: Course not open to students who were registered for GEOG 303 in Winter 2008.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 404 Environmental Management 2 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Practical application of environmental planning, analysis and management techniques with reference to the needs and problems of developing areas. Special challenges posed by cultural differences and traditional resource systems are discussed. This course involves practical field work in a developing area (Kenya or Panama).
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Thomas C Meredith
-
GEOG 408 Geography of Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Examines the geographical dimensions of development policy, specifically the relationships between the process of development and human-induced environmental change. Focuses on environmental sustainability, struggles over resource control, population and poverty, and levels of governance (the role of the state, non-governmental organizations, and local communities).
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Jon D Unruh
-
GEOG 410 Geog of Underdvlpmnt:Cur Probs 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: An examination of the cultural, political, and economic mechanisms and manifestations of contemporary underdevelopment and the response to it from different regional and national peripheral societies within the dominant world economic system.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 216 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 416 Africa South of the Sahara 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: A synthetic overview of physical and cultural geography examining particularly the relation of African peoples to their landscapes, the causes and consequences of environmental changes, and the idea of sustainable development as it applies to African landscapes, resource systems and economies.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Offered in Kenya as part of the African Field Studies semester.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 423 Dilemmas of Development 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Africa seems beset by development problems. Some of these appear to have no clear answer. Such dilemmas present significant barriers to moving forward with durable, effective development in Africa. This course will examine two primary and frequently interlocked dilemmas in East Africa with wide ranging impact - food security, and conflict.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisite: GEOG 310 or GEOG 408 or GEOG 410, or equivalent
- Restriction: Open to students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS) only
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Jon D Unruh
-
GEOG 451 Res in Society & Dev in Africa 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Three intersecting components: 1) core development themes including culture change, environmental conservation, water, health, development (urban and rural), governance and conflict resolution, 2) research techniques for topics related to core themes, including ethics, risk, field methods and data analysis, 3) field documentation, scientific recording and communication.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Prerequisite: Open to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite: NRSC 452.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken, or are taking ANTH 451.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
GEOG 493 Health & Environment in Africa 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Exploration of key diseases of development, as well as patterns and determinants of health and disease in East Africa. Topics will focus on population and environmental health.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisite: GEOG 221, GEOG 303 or permission of instructor
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken GEOG 403. Open to students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS) only.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
* Note: Normally offered as field courses (in African Studies Field Semester)
History
-
HIST 200 Intro to African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Rachel Sandwell
-
HIST 201 Modern African History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 382 History of South Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: History of South Africa from precolonial times to the present. Topics include: precolonial societies; British and Dutch colonialism; slavery in colonial South Africa; the Zulu kingdom; mining capitalism; the Boer War; Afrikaner nationalism; apartheid; the anti-apartheid struggle; music, religion, and art; challenges of the post-apartheid state.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 498 Independent Research 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: Exceptionally, and under the direction of a member of staff, advanced and highly qualified students who have an extensive background in the proposed area of study, may pursue this independent study.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisite: Written permission from the instructor and the undergraduate program director.
- Restriction: Open to History Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours students only. Not open to students who have taken HIST 413.
- Students may only register for this course once.
- Students may count a maximum of 3 credits of HIST 498 or HIST 499 toward the 6-credits of 400-level or higher courses required for the History Major Concentration.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
HIST 528 Indian Ocean World Slave Trade 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:History: The origins, structure and impact of the Indian Ocean World slave trade from early times to the present day. Enslavement, the trading structure, slave functions, reactions to slavery, emancipation and 'slave' diaspora. Comparisons will be made to the Atlantic slave system.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Prerequisites: HIST 200 or HIST 213 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken HIST 467.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Islamic Studies
-
ISLA 221D1 Introductory Arabic 4.5 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, including pronunciation and reading and writing of the Arabic script; and speaking and comprehension of basic sentences, commands, statements in the present tense.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisites: Permission of the Institute required.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ISLA521D1/D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Hala Jawlakh, Shokry A Gohar, David E Nancekivell
-
ISLA 221D2 Introductory Arabic 4.5 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: See ISLA 221D1 for course description.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Prerequisite: ISLA 221D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Hala Jawlakh, Shokry A Gohar, David E Nancekivell
-
ISLA 360 Islam and Politics 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: Assessment of the relationship between Islam and politics in the contemporary Middle East and Africa through various analytic themes, including political economy, social movement and gendered analysis.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
-
ISLA 410 History:Middle-East 1798-1918 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Islamic Studies: A study of the Middle East from Napoleon's invasion of Egypt to the end of WWI. Emphasis will be on the emergence of nationalisms in the context of European imperialism; political, social, and economic transformation; religion and ideology; and changing patterns of alliances.
Offered by: Islamic Studies
- 3 hours
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Political Science
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught. Admission to this course will be subject to the Political Science departmental requirements and approval of the Departmental Honours Adviser. Priority will be given to Political Science students.
-
POLI 227 Developing Areas/Introduction 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: An introduction to Third World politics. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and contemporary dynamics of political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building and national integration, revolution, the role of the military, and democratization.
Offered by: Political Science
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Daniel Douek
-
POLI 324 Developing Areas/Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
- Note: The area in the field of Comparative Politics is Developing Areas.
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Khalid M Medani
-
POLI 522 Seminar: Developing Areas 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Political Science: Seminar on developing areas. Topic varies year to year.
Offered by: Political Science
- Prerequisite: At least one upper-level course in the politics of developing areas.
- Restriction: Open to graduate students, final year honours students, and other advanced undergraduates with permission of instructor; (Note: The field is Comparative Politics in Developing Areas).
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2023
- Instructors
- Narendra Subramanian
Sociology
-
SOCI 365 Health and Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Main concepts and controversies linking health to broader social and economic conditions in low income countries. Topics include the demographic and epidemiological transitions, the health and wealth conundrum, the social determinants of health, health as an economic development strategy, and the impact of the AIDS pandemic.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 370 Sociology: Gender&Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Exploration of the main development theories and discussion of how gender is placed within them, analysis of the practical application of development projects and discussion of how they affect gender dynamics, and examination of power relations between development agencies and developing countries. Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America are used.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 446 Colonialism and Society 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Forms that colonialism took, its impact on colonial societies, and its modern legacies, focusing on overseas colonialism between 1600 and the 1970s.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210 or permission from instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2022
- Instructors
- Matthew K Lange
-
SOCI 484 Emerging Democratic States 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Focus on the sociological aspects of recent transitions to democracy within developing countries - particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Exploration of why democratization has taken place, to what extent it has been successful and the implications of democratization.
Offered by: Sociology
- Prerequisite: SOCI 210
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 513 Soc Aspects HIV/AIDS in Africa 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Examination of the social causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gender inequality, sexual behaviours, marriage systems, migration, and poverty are shaping the pandemic as well as how the pandemic is altering social, demographic and economic conditions across Africa.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
-
SOCI 550 Developing Societies 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Sociology (Arts): Comparison of alternative explanations of underdevelopment: the impact of social stratification, relations of domination and subordination between countries, state interference with the market. Alternative strategies of change: revolution, structural adjustment, community development and cooperatives. Students will write and present a research paper, and participate extensively in class discussion.
Offered by: Sociology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year
Courses
AFRI 200
Introduction to African Studies
AFRI 200 is a required course for the AFRI Major Concentration and Minor Concentration programs.
The African experience and current approaches to African studies, through adopting multidisciplinary perspectives on topics that include political conflict, governance and democratization, environment and conservation, economic development, rural life and urbanism, health and illness, gender, social change, popular culture, literature, film, and the arts.
AFRI 401
Swahili Language and Culture
AFRI 401 is an optional Complimentary course for the AFRI Major Concentration and Minor Concentration programs.
Basic knowledge of the Swahili language and culture with emphasis on handling circumstances that might be encountered in field research: everyday conversation, developing aural and oral skills and mastering basic grammar rules, understanding cultural norms and practices, issues of culture sensitivity and appropriateness.
Note: Priority to students in the African Studies program and/or participants of the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program and to students with a demonstrable need related to internship or research. Approval by African Studies Program Adviser required.
AFRI 480
Honours Thesis
AFRI 480 is an optional Complimentary course for the AFRI Major Concentration and Minor Concentration programs.
Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.
Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration.
Grades
Grades are due one week after end of classes and will be submitted on Minerva by the thesis supervisor. If there are any issues with submitting the grade please contact the ISID Student Affairs office at (514) 398-4804.
AFRI 481
Special Topics 1
AFRI 481 is an optional Complimentary course for the AFRI Major Concentration and Minor Concentration programs.
Supervised reading in advanced special topics in African Studies under the direction of a member of staff.
Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration.
Grades
Grades are due one week after end of classes and will be submitted on Minerva by the thesis supervisor. If there are any issues with submitting the grade please contact the ISID Student Affairs office at (514) 398-4804.
AFRI 499
Arts Internship: African Studies
The AFRI 499 African Studies Intership is an optional complimentary course within the African Studies Major Concentration and Minor Concentration programs.
Students who have attained an Internship through the Internships Office are eligible to take the AFRI 499 Internship course.
The following form must be submitted to the ISID office for approval:
AFRI 499/INTD 499 Application Form
Eligibility Requirements
The Arts Internship is only open to U2 and U3 students in good standing, normally after completing 30 credits of a 90 credit program or 45 credits of a 96 to 120 credit program. A minimum CGPA of 2.7 and permission from the departmental Internship Adviser are required. This course will normally not fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses.
Purpose
The Arts Internship course will provide a vehicle for allowing students who pursue approved internships to gain up to 3 credits towards their degrees. With a university grant, the Faculty of Arts has helped develop departmental data bases listing internship opportunities to be made available on departmental websites, has encouraged the forging of specific internship agreements, and is pursuing fund raising to help finance student internships. Students from each department will be directed to approved internships or will bring other internship opportunities to departmental advisers for approval.
Arts Internships allow students in the Faculty of Arts to gain experience in areas relevant to their fields of study. Arts internships involve a minimum of 150 hours of work in a host institution approved by the student's home department or program.
Work to be Completed
Students must submit the following documentation:
- Summary of internship activities with a description of the host institution (maximum 5 pages).
- A letter from the supervisor at the institution attesting to successful completion of the student's tenure.
- A major topical paper that discusses an aspect of the internship from an academic perspective (maximum 20 pages).
Approval Procedure
The Arts Internship requires approval by the AFRI Program Director. The completed Internship Form must be submitted before the beginning of the internship to the ISID office. The ISID Office will keep a record of approved projects but will leave the responsibility for follow-up and completion with the student and the supervisor. Any changes to topic and/or supervisor must be communicated to a AFRI Program Adviser. Please note that students usually register for AFRI 499, , the term following completion of the internship.
Human Subject Research
Course-based research projects that require students to conduct human subject research must receive ethics review and approval. These projects differ from research in that the intent is for the student to become more knowledgeable about the research process, rather than to contribute to generalizable knowledge. The results of the data are not intended for publication or presentation outside the classroom. The review of these applications may be delegated to the Research Ethics Board (REB) departmental representative and do not normally have to go to the regular REB. This review may not be used for projects carried out as part of a faculty member’s own research. Course projects that involve more than minimal risk, or involve minors or other vulnerable populations, must be reviewed by the REB.
To view the "Policy on the Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Human Subjects" and to complete the necessary paperwork please visit the Research Ethics Board Website.
Please note, no research project, including student research may begin before approval has been obtained from the REB. No research project will be granted retroactive approval.
Submission Deadline and Grades
The deadline for submission of term work (i.e., the final paper is submitted to your supervisor for evaluation) is the last day of classes of the term in which you are registered for the course. This is a Faculty of Arts regulation.
Fall 2014: Due date for final paper is December 4, 2014
Winter 2015: Due date for final paper is April 14, 2015
Grades are due one week after end of classes and will be submitted by the project supervisor on Minerva. If there are any problems regarding the grade submission, please contact the ISID office at (514) 398-4804.
AFRI 598
Research Seminar in African Studies
AFRI 598 is a required course for the AFRI Major Concentration and Minor Concentration programs.
An interdisciplinary research seminar on topics of common interest to staff and students of the African Studies Program. As part of their contribution, students will prepare a research paper under the supervision of one or more members of staff.
Course outlines:
People
Program committee
Program Chair
Professor Khalid Medani
Associate Professor (Department of Political Science and Institute of Islamic Studies)
PhD (University of California, Berkeley)
Program Committee
Professor Gwyn Campbell
Professor (Department of History and Classical Studies)
PhD (Wales)
Professor Colin Chapman
Professor (Department of Anthropology and McGill School of Environment)
PhD (University of Alberta)
Professor Elizabeth Elbourne
Associate Professor (History and Classical Studies)
D Phil (Oxford)
Professor Jan Jorgensen
Associate Professor (Desautels Faculty of Management)
PhD (McGill)
Professor Monica Popescu
Associate Professor (Department of English)
PhD (University of Pennsylvania)
Professor Jon Unruh
Associate Professor (Department of Geography)
PhD (University of Arizona)
Liaison librarian
Sharon Rankin
Liaison Librarian for African Studies
Humanities and Social Sciences Library
McLennan-Redpath Library Complex
Tel: (514) 398-6657
Email: sharon.rankin [at] mcgill.ca
Student association
The African Studies Student's Association (ASSA) of McGill represents the students of the African Studies Program. ASSA has three primary goals:
- To support and represent the students to the African Studies Program by voicing concerns with the program and posing suggestions for improvement.
- To provide social networking on campus for African Studies students and any others interested in African affairs.
- To engage the campus in insightful and interactive discussions on African affairs by organizing events in the form of: panel discussions, conferences, movie screenings and more!
Please assa.mcgill [at] gmail.com (email us) and visit our Facebook Page for more information.