African Studies Program

"We're not just a group of scholars who happen to be located in one place; we're a real community of people who share a vision for making Africa better known and better understood."
-- Rowland Abiodun, Amherst College

Five College Certificate in African Studies

The Five College Certificate in African Studies is designed to cultivate a holistic and deep understanding of African societies beyond disciplinary boundaries.  The certificate is open to undergraduate students on all five campuses.

Certificate courses introduce students to: ancient, modern, and contemporary histories of African societies, movements, and regions; African epistemologies; urgent literatures, philosophies, and modes of conviviality; African communities and geographies that have shaped global politics, spiritualities and economies for centuries; and countless ancestral and emerging modes of art-making in Africa that have the potential to transform imaginative horizons locally and globally.

Certificate students are supported in shaping an Africa-centered course of study tailored to their individual interests and passions, and benefit from the wide range of faculty and university resources in our consortium, including the Five College Center for World Languages.

Students interested in the Five College African Studies Certificate should contact an African Studies faculty member on their campus and submit a Student Interest Form as soon as possible. Certificate students will meet with their Certificate advisor regularly to discuss their interests and plan course work.

When all requirements have been met, students complete the African Studies Certificate Completion Form, attaching an unofficial transcript acquired from the registrar, and submit both to their campus advisor. Each Certificate Application is reviewed for approval by a subcommittee of the African Studies Council.

Five College African Studies Community Council Dinner

 

On This Page

    Faculty

    Rowland Abiodun | Black Studies; Art and Art Studies | E-mail: roabiodun@amherst.edu

    Rhonda Cobham-Sander | English; Black Studies | E-mail: ccobhamsande@amherst.edu

    Agnes Kimokoti | Five College Center for the Study of World Languages | E-mail: akimokoti@fivecolleges.edu

    Sean Redding* | History; Black Studies | E-mail: sredding@amherst.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    Olufemi Vaughan | Black Studies | E-mail: ovaughan@amherst.edu

    Nell Arnold* | Anthropology, Literary Arts, and African Studies | Email: nkoenings@hampshire.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    Jennifer Bajorek | Comparative Literature and Visual Studies | E-mail: jebHA@hampshire.edu

    Sarah Adelman | Economics | E-mail: sadelman@mtholyoke.edu

    Catherine Corson | Environmental Studies | E-mail: ccorson@myholyoke.edu

    Samba Gadjigo | French | E-mail: sgadjigo@mtholyoke.edu

    Holly Hanson | Professor Emerita (History) | E-mail: hhanson@mtholyoke.edu

    Girma Kebbede | Geology and Geography | E-mail: gkebbede@mtholyoke.edu

    John Lemly | Professor Emeritus | E-mail: jlemly@mtholyoke.edu

    Olabode Omojola* | Music | E-mail: bomojola@mtholyoke.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    Preston Smith II | Politics | E-mail: psmith@mtholyoke.edu

    Lynda Pickbourn* | Gender Studies | E-mail: lpickbourn@mtholyoke.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    Jeffrey Ahlman* | History | E-mail: jahlman@smith.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    Elliot Fratkin | Professor Emeritus (Anthropology) | E-mail: efratkin@smith.edu

    Dawn Fulton | French Studies | E-mail: cdfulton@email.smith.edu

    Colin Hoag | Anthropology | E-mail: choag@smith.edu

    Caroline Melly | Anthropology | E-mail: cmelly@email.smith.edu

    Albert Mosley | Professor Emeritus (Philosophy) | E-mail: amosley@email.smith.edu

    Katwiwa Mule | Comparative Literature | E-mail: kmule@email.smith.edu

    Lucy Mule | Education & Child Study | E-mail: lmule@email.smith.edu

    Gregory White | Government, African Studies | E-mail: gwhite@smith.edu

     

    Judyie Al-Bilali | Theater | E-mail: jalbilali@theater.umass.edu

    Joye Bowman* | History | E-mail: jbowman@history.umass.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    Stephen Clingman | English | E-mail: clingman@english.umass.edu

    Carlene Edie* | Political Science | E-mail: cjedie@polsci.umass.edu
    *Certificate Advisor

    David Evans | Professor Emeritus | E-mail: dre@educ.umass.edu

    John Higginson | Professor Emeritus (History) | E-mail: jeh@history.umass.edu

    Kathryn Lachman | Languages, Literatures, & Cultures | E-mail: klachman@llc.umass.edu

    Mzamo P. Mangaliso | Isenberg School of Management | E-mail: mangaliso@isenberg.umass.edu

    Patrick Mensah | French, Italian Studies | E-mail: pmensah@frital.umass.edu

    Jacqueline Mosselson | The Center for International Education | E-mail: jmosselson@educ.umass.edu

    Léonce Ndikumana | Economics, Political Economy Research Institute | E-mail: ndiku@econs.umass.edu

    Frederic Schaffer | Political Science | Email: schaffer@polsci.umass.edu

    Amilcar Shabazz | Afro-American Studies | E-mail: shabazz@chancellor.umass.edu

    Lindiwe Sibeko | Nutrition | E-mail: lsibeko@nutrition.umass.edu

    Mwangi wa Gĩthĩnji | Economics | E-mail: mwangi@econs.umass.edu

    Certificate Requirements

    Coursework and Language Study

    • Certificate students must take six courses, in any discipline or program, in which at least 50% of materials focus on the African continent. Students should consult the list of approved courses at each registration period (See Note on Courses below)
    • Certificate students are required to engage in serious study of a language spoken on the African continent for a full semester (See Center for World Languages). Note that this requirement can be met in a variety of ways. Students should consult with their advisor.

    Study Abroad

    Students may spend one semester or more in Africa and count up to three courses taken at an African university towards their Certificate . Information about study abroad and other opportunities is available through the international program or global education office at each campus.

    Final Project

    Students are encouraged to complete their certificate program with an independent study project that integrates their course- or fieldwork in African studies. Example: a senior thesis, capstone project, or independent study recognized at any of the Five Colleges.

    Note on Courses

    In courses they intend to count toward the certificate, students must receive a grade of B or above. Hampshire students counting a course taught at Hampshire must receive an evaluation for that course.

    A certificate candidate may present courses taken in Africa, but normally at least three of the required courses must be taken in the Five Colleges.

    Students may petition their campus advisors to count a course that does not appear on the approved list if (1) the course instructor can confirm that at least 50% of materials are focused on the African continent, or (2) a student can document the instructor’s approval of an additional bibliography that focuses the student’s engagement on the continent during the semester in which the course is taken, and, at semester’s end, can show relevant samples of Africa-focused work to their campus advisor.

    Click here to submit African Studies Certificate Program Interest Form
    African Studies Certificate Completion Form

    Courses

    Note that if you don't see classes from all campuses currently listed, they will appear as the campuses release their course schedules for the semester. The five campuses release their schedules on different dates. Visit this page for specific dates.

    Spring 2025 African Studies Courses

    Subject Course # Sect # Course Title Instructor(s) Institution Meeting Times
    BLST 111 01 Intro to Black Studies Cheikh Thiam Amherst College TU/TH | 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM
    BLST 204 01 Afr Pop Music Olabode Omojola Amherst College TU/TH | 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
    BLST 311 01 Precolonial Africa Sean Redding Amherst College TU/TH | 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM
    BLST 322 01 Intro South African Hist Sean Redding Amherst College TU/TH | 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM
    HIST 283 01 Intro South African Hist Sean Redding Amherst College TU/TH | 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM
    MUSI 105 01 Afr Pop Music Olabode Omojola Amherst College TU/TH | 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
    THDA 142H 01 Dance: Intr Contemporary Angelica Monteiro Amherst College
    ECON 213 01 Economic Development Johannes Norling Mount Holyoke College TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM
    FREN 219 01 French Speaking World Samba Gadjigo Mount Holyoke College MW 11:30AM-12:45PM
    FREN 341PA 01 Paris Dans l'Imagin. Africain Samba Gadjigo Mount Holyoke College M 01:30PM-04:20PM
    MUSIC 161 01 Beg.West African Drumming Ens. Faith Conant Mount Holyoke College T 05:00PM-07:00PM
    MUSIC 261 01 Int. West African Drumming Ens Faith Conant Mount Holyoke College T 07:00PM-09:00PM
    DAN 142bc 01 Beginning AfroCuban Smith College TU TH 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
    GOV 227 01 Contemporary African Politics Anna Kapambwe Mwaba Smith College M 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM; W 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
    HST 235 01 Independent Africa Jeffrey S. Ahlman Smith College M W 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
    WLT 266md 01 Colq:S.AfricnLit&Film:T-Modrn Katwiwa Mule Smith College M W 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
    FRENCHST 353 01 African Film Patrick Mensah UMass Amherst TU 4:00PM 6:50PM
    FRENCHST 353 01AA African Film UMass Amherst TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
    FRENCHST 353 01AB African Film UMass Amherst TH 4:00PM 5:15PM
    HISTORY 161 01 Hst-Africa Snc 1500 Elizabeth Jacob UMass Amherst TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
    POLISCI 346 01 Gov&Pol West Africa Carlene Edie UMass Amherst TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
    African Studies Regularly Offered Course List
    Course Lists From Previous Semesters

    African Languages offered by the Five College Center for World Languages

    Swahili students in class

    Swahili

    Beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses are available every semester. Courses include individual tutorials and small group conversation sessions. Sessions meet on all five campuses and are individually scheduled. Instructor: Dr. Agnes Kimokoti (pictured).

    Course Details and Registration Instructions
    Swahili student in class

    Afrikaans, Amharic, Twi, Wolof, Yoruba

    Supervised independent study courses. Beginning and intermediate courses are available. Courses include small group conversation sessions led by native/fluent conversation partners. Sessions meet on the home campus of the conversation partner and are individually scheduled. The availability of languages may vary, and other languages may be added.

    Course Details and Registration Instructions
    Language Center conversation partner talking to student

    Egyptian Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

    Supervised independent study courses. Prerequisite: Two semesters of Modern Standard Arabic or the equivalent. Courses include small group conversation sessions led by native/fluent conversation partners. Sessions meet on the home campus of the conversation partner and are individually scheduled.

    Course Details and Registration Instructions

    Student Resources, by campus

    Frequently Asked Questions

    On each of the campuses of the five college consortium (except Hampshire College), all students are required to develop a major in one particular field and then to complement that with courses drawn from other subjects. Often, the choice of those other courses is dictated by college requirements or by what is available at particular times. The African Studies Certificate Program is not another major, but it represents an important way for students to bring intellectual coherence to selecting courses outside their own majors. Further, by focusing intensely on the continent of Africa, students develop a keen appreciation of the rich connections between history, politics, economics, cultures, and the humanities.
     
    Those students in the past who have earned the certificate point with pride and satisfaction to having selected a group of courses whose focus is Africa, and they have found the possession of the certificate to be a distinct advantage for getting into graduate school or for employment.

    You will need to complete at least 18 credits in various courses which focus on Africa, and you need to demonstrate that you have a working knowledge of a language of Africa either indigenous or official (other than English).

    No campus of the Five Colleges has sufficient teaching resources on Africa to enable you to complete the certificate program, but taken together, the five campuses provide one of the richest resources of African Studies expertise and courses anywhere in America. You will likely need to take courses on at least one campus other than your own in order to complete the certificate program.
     
    Since the mid-1980s, faculty in the Five Colleges with Africa interests have been part of the Five College African Studies Council which coordinates offerings of Africa-related courses, supports the certificate program, and plans seminars, study-in-Africa opportunities, and visits to the area by African scholars and artists. One of the more significant achievements of the Council has been the development and management of the certificate program as a way to strengthen the intellectual accomplishments of students.
     
    When you graduate, having completed your baccalaureate degree, your official transcript will say, "Completed the requirements for the Five College African Studies Certificate."

    Each campus has African Studies Certificate Program faculty advisors who will help you set up your own personalized certificate program. There is no formal admissions process to the certificate program; all you need to do is to declare with a faculty African Studies advisor on your campus your intent to complete the certificate program and to submit the African Studies Certificate Student Interest Form. Characteristically, students take one or two courses on Africa and then decide to complete the program with course selection advice from an African Studies advisor.

    Contact Us

    Council Co-Chairs:

    Judyie Al-Bilali, Professor of Performance and Theater for Social Change, UMass Amherst

    Five College Staff Liaison:

    Ray Rennard, Director of Academic Programs

    Connect:

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