SCHOOL OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
AFRICAN STUDIES
The African Studies Programme at the University of Hong Kong offers a Bachelor of Arts Minor in
African Studies, through which students can explore Africa as a study area from interdisciplinary
perspectives.
To obtain a Minor in African Studies students are required to take AFRI1001 “Foundations in African
Studies”, 12 credits from introductory courses, 18 credits from advanced courses totaling 36 credits.
Pre-requisite Course:
AFRI1001.
Foundations in African Studies (6 credits)
This course will present a basic outline of Africa’s geographic location, its political map, history,
languages, peoples, cultures, music, literatures, etc. It will deal with contemporary issues affecting
Africa such as the demands of nation-building, economic challenges, social and political conflict,
health issues, sports, etc, and end with a survey of Africa and its relations to the outside world.
Assessment:
100% coursework
Introductory Courses:
AFRI2003.
Proficiency course in an African language X (6 credits)
Depending on staff and tutor availability, a selection of beginners’ courses in African languages like
Swahili, Hausa, Akan, and Dagaare will be offered during the summer. Students going to a particular
African country in connection with AFRI4001 must learn a language spoken in the area of Africa they
are scheduled to go to.
Assessment:
100% coursework
AFRI2004.
Introduction to African linguistics (6 credits)
This course will cover basic aspects of the phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics of major
African languages, such as vowel harmony, tone, click sounds, the noun class system, verbal
extensions, serial verbs, and other complex constructions. Some sociolinguistic features about various
regions in Africa will also be included.
Assessment:
100% coursework
AFRI2006.
African music (6 credits)
This course will introduce various music cultures and traditions from Africa. The course emphasizes
the acquisition of basic skills and knowledge of the djembe and gahu drum ensembles from Senegal
and Ghana, respectively. Lectures will discuss the music and cultural context of various musical and
performance genres from Western, Southern and Eastern Africa. This will include the griot tradition,
mbalax, high-life, bawa, morna, mbira and isicathamiya. No previous musical experience is
necessary. Students will participate in intensive African percussion workshops and have the
opportunity to learn to play and sing djembe and gahu music. Students will also be expected to
undertake and maintain a logbook that documents independent practice sessions, either alone or with
other participants, and individual progress.
Assessment:
100% coursework
2
Advanced Courses:
AFRI2007.
African Nobel Laureates in literature (6 credits)
This course introduces students to the literature of Africa by way of its Nobel Prize-winning authors.
It is intended that by studying what may be regarded as the very best literature of the continent that
the student will begin, first, to appreciate the rich cultural history of the continent; second, to
appreciate the complex social and political composition of the continent; and, thereby, to develop an
informed sensitivity towards the diversity of African thought.
Assessment:
100% coursework
AFRI3002.
Africa studies workshop (6 credits)
This course involves attending seminars and workshops on advanced topics in African Studies
(including history, literature, linguistics, education, music, law, science, technology, and international
relations) by leading Africanist scholars.
Prerequisite: AFRI1001
Assessment:
100% coursework
AFRI3005.
Africa-China relations (6 credits)
In recent years, Africa and China have renewed their relations to include frequent official visits by
top-level government officials between Beijing and the various African capitals, increased trade and
economic relations, and more especially, increased interactions between ordinary Africans and
Chinese. There are now growing Chinese communities in Africa and growing African communities
in China. This course, based on contemporary research findings by the instructor and by visiting
professors, will introduce students to the dynamics and consequences of these closer relationships and
interactions. Students will be expected to do a field project on an African community in Hong Kong,
Macau or mainland China.
Assessment:
100% coursework
AFRI4001.
Field trip to an African country (6 credits)
In this course, students will be led by an experienced faculty member on a supervised two-week
educational field trip to an African country, such as Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Cameroon, and
Mauritius. The rationale is to closely observe and study an aspect of Africa introduced in one of the
courses on Africa Studies or in a related course. Leading up to the field trip, students must participate
in three weeks of intensive preparation in Hong Kong. After returning to Hong Kong, students will be
required to attend class meetings over one week. In addition, students will also be required to
complete a written report of about 5,000 words based on the experience and knowledge they have
acquired during the field trip.
Assessment:
100% coursework
AFRI4002.
Readings in African Studies (6 credits)
In this course, a student will work with a faculty member to read a selection of primary and secondary
materials in an aspect of African Studies over a semester. Students will be required to complete a
written report of about 4,000 words based on a review of the literature provided.
Assessment:
100% coursework
3
The following non-AFRI introductory courses are also counted towards the minor:
ENGL1044. Introduction to literary theory (6 credits)
LING2064. Language in Africa (6 credits)
SOWK1013. Introduction to social policy and development studies (6 credits)
The following non-AFRI advanced courses are also counted towards the minor:
ENGL2155.
EUST2018.
EUST2019.
SOWK3092.
Literature of the African city (6 credits)
Early modern Atlantic worlds, c. 1500-1800 (6 credits)
Atlantic revolutions, c. 1760-1830 (6 credits)
Migration and mobility (6 credits)
4
AMERICAN STUDIES
The major and minor in American Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of
United States culture, considered in relation to the Americas and in the context of global languages,
cultures, and creative industries represented in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures
(SMLC). Students gain admittance to the programme by taking AMER1050. Foundations of
American Studies, I: The origins of the nation (6 credits). Normally students should take this
course in their first or second years, although they may take it at any time in order to complete the
requirements for the major. There are three more courses required for a major (AMER2021,
AMER2050, AMER3050). For a minor, there are only two more required courses (AMER2050,
AMER3050). The remaining credits that are required to fulfill the total number of credits of a major
or minor will be taken from electives offered (listed below) in the American Studies Programme and
in collaborating departments across the Faculty of Arts.
The Major (72 credits)
In order to ensure reasonable coverage and interdisciplinary understanding, students who intend to
pursue a major in American Studies must, in their second and third years, take a minimum of 72
credits from the list below. Only in exceptional cases may a waiver be granted for a core course.

Prerequisite course (6 credits):
AMER1050.
Foundations of American Studies, I: The origins of the nation (6 credits)

Other Arts Faculty introductory courses to be taken from any Arts programmes (12
credits)

Core courses (12 credits):
AMER2021. On the road again: Field trip in American Studies (6 credits)
AMER2050. Foundations of American Studies, II: Reconstructing the nation (6 credits)

Capstone experience course (6 credits):
AMER3050. Foundations of American Studies, III: Capstone experience (6 credits)

Interdisciplinary electives courses (36 credits):
6 courses from the following list of approved courses including at least 3 American Studies
courses.
{Note:
Not all courses are offered in a given semester; students should check with individual units on
course availability; students should also check on course prerequisites and other enrollment
restrictions.}
American Studies
AMER2002.
AMER2014.
AMER2015.
AMER2022.
AMER2029.
AMER2033.
AMER2035.
AMER2037.
AMER2038.
The road in American culture (6 credits)
A dream in the heart: varieties of Asian American culture (6 credits)
The American city (6 credits)
What’s on TV? Television and American culture (6 credits)
Current perspectives on the U.S. (6 credits)
Asia on America’s screen (6 credits)
Addicted to war? The US at home and abroad (6 credits)
Institutions in American life: home, education, work and play (6 credits)
American film, from Golden-Age Hollywood to New Hollywood and beyond
(6 credits)