The Center for African Studies at the University of Illinois offers several graduate and undergraduate degree programs designed to give students an interdisciplinary perspective on the study of Africa through the mix of area studies, interdisciplinary study, and language training. Graduate degree programs include a Master of Arts in African Studies, a graduate minor in African studies, and a joint degree program.
The Center offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate minor and administers a certificate in global business culture with an African specialization. Additionally, the Individual Plan of Study (IPS) major in African Studies also gives students the flexibility to tailor coursework to their needs and interests. The Center offers a wide range of African studies courses, including our own courses and courses cross-listed with a broad range of disciplines.
The program in African languages is one of the largest and most diversified in the nation. It serves two very distinct students populations: undergraduate students seeking to fulfill their foreign language requirements and graduate students requiring African language instruction for field research. Languages offered include Arabic, Bamana, Swahili, Lingala, Wolof, and Zulu.