“The African-American and African Studies curriculum encourages a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the experiences of African peoples, and students who study abroad have an excellent opportunity to learn about those experiences firsthand by engaging with local communities. We strongly encourage students to take advantage of the university’s many learning abroad programs.”
Departmental Advisor
Academic Planning Recommendations
You can take classes across the Diaspora and in Africa on music, fine arts, race/class/gender, public policy, human geography, and community and national development. Moreover, American studies courses taken in another country can offer challenging perspectives on the African American experience. Relevant internships may also be considered for major credit.
In addition to learning abroad opportunities, National Student Exchange (NSE) offers study at another US institution. A dozen HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) belong to NSE. Other universities with strong African American and/or African Studies programs may also be of interest. You earn transfer credit rather than resident credit through NSE.
Liberal Education Requirements
Search the U Credit Abroad Search. You may also submit any liberal education course not yet evaluated for approval online.
Major and Minor Requirements
Most major requirements may be satisfied through appropriate courses taken abroad, however, Afro 1012, 4105, and 4557 usually must be taken here because there are few counterparts outside the University of Minnesota.
College of Liberal Arts Language Requirement
Courses taken abroad for the CLA Language Requirement (for BA degrees) must be at least 4 credits. CLA college advisers can approve courses that are clearly identified in a syllabus or online course description as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-semester language courses. If a course level is not explicitly stated, you must work with your CLA adviser to have the course evaluated by the appropriate language department. Advisers cannot approve these courses.
Who will advise me and help me with course approvals?
Learning Abroad Center advisers can help you find program and course information to help you prepare for your study abroad academic planning discussion with your academic adviser. Once you have narrowed down your program options contact your academic adviser to use the Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form to structure your academic planning.
College/Department Scholarships for UofM Students
CLA students can apply for CLA Study Abroad Scholarships in addition to other Learning Abroad Center scholarships.
Programs
Africa & the Middle East
Botswana
University of Botswana (offered through ISEP Botswana)
- Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year.
- Located in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana and has a student body of 18,000.
- Botswana is a country with political freedom that ensures that frank and intense debates occur on a regular basis concerned with issues related to economic, social and political development.
- The University of Botswana is widely known for African studies, environmental science, humanities and social sciences.
- Instruction is in English; no prior study of an African language is required.
Ghana
University of Ghana (available through ISEP Ghana)
- Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year.
- Comprehensive university on the outskirts of the capital, Accra, one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa.
- ISEP students can also take advantage of local language classes, volunteering, independent study & research opportunities as well as excursions planned for ISEP students.
- ISEP students studying in Ghana thrive in fields such as African studies, business, geography and resource development, agriculture, social sciences and public health.
- English is the official language of Ghana and instruction is in English.
Senegal
- Fall and spring semester
- Take classes and do an internship or research project focused on public and community health in Senegal
- Live with a homestay and take classes in French, to improve your language skills
- Fall and spring semester
- Take classes and do an internship or research project focused on human rights policy and practice in Senegal
- Live with a homestay and take classes in French, to improve your language skills
MSID: Sustainability in Senegal
- Fall and spring semester
- Take classes and do an internship or research project focused on sustainable development and climate change
- Live with a homestay and take classes in French, to improve your language skills
South Africa
University of Cape Town (offered through IES South Africa)
- Program type: University Study
- Fall or spring semester, academic or calendar year.
- Post-Apartheid South Africa is attempting one of history’s most dramatic transformations in race relations; yet class inequality remains vexing even as racial inequality begins to diminish.
- UCT and UKN are both strong in African archaeology, history, literature, political science, sociology; UCT also in religious studies and African languages, UKN in art history and geography.
- Instruction is in English; no prior study of an African language us required.
Europe
France
IES France—Paris French Studies
- Program type: Study Abroad Center (plus University Study)
- Language and area studies program whose course offerings include some on the Francophone world. Also available: internships and courses in Paris universities.
- Sample courses: The Maghreb & Arab World; Francophone Paris; France & Francophone Africa; Contemporary France; Gender Relations in the Francophone World.
- Instruction is in French; two years prior college language study required.
- Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year.
Language & Culture in Southern France
- Program type: University Study and Study Abroad Center (two tracks)
- UofM program in Montpellier, a city with large West and North African immigrant populations. Permits a mix of center courses, regular Université Paul Valéry courses, and internships.
- Students in the University Study track may also take language and culture courses from the Center track; these include some civilization and culture courses, although no courses on Africa.
- Instruction is in French; one year French prerequisite for center track, two for university study track.
- Fall or spring semester, academic year, or a summer intensive language program.
United Kingdom
University Study in the UK: Queen Mary University of London
- Program type: University Study
- QM’s academic departments, library, students’ union, and administrative buildings are all on one campus in the multicultural East End, making it unique among the traditional London colleges.
- Most remarkable about Queen Mary is the extraordinary diversity of both the campus and the surrounding East End community, which include many people with African or West Indian roots.
- Academic year (summer also available through IFSA United Kingdom).
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (available through IFSA United Kingdom)
- Program type: University Study
- Located in the heart of London, SOAS was founded in 1916, at the height of the British Empire, and has become one of the worlds’ great centers of expertise on Africa/Asia/Middle East.
- Many departments offer African courses, including Anthropology, Art/Archeology, Economics, History, Music, Languages/Cultures (7 African languages taught), Law, Political Studies.
- Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year.
Additional Options to Consider
- 3-week, 3-credit programs at the 3000-level led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff over winter break or May session.
- Explore an exciting location and topic, Fulfill Liberal Education requirements, or earn major/minor credit.
- Check out additional LAC Instructor-led Seminars that might run over winter break, spring break, May, and summer sessions. They vary in length, dates, and content so students can find one that best fits their academic and professional goals.
- Begin your language study or work toward completing requirements for a language minor.
- Complete a semester of language on a short-term program or explore options to complete two or more semesters of language on semester-long program.