M.A in African Studies:
The African Sustainable Communities Track
The 21st century is an era of immense transformations throughout Africa. Economic, political, and social developments are rapidly changing local communities, providing new opportunities and creating new uncertainties. African Sustainable Communities is an MA program that brings together students from around the world, creating a unique learning environment to tackle the complex issue of sustainability in community development. We are preparing you for the rapid changes we are seeing across Africa, through a multidisciplinary approach. You will take part in a vibrant conversation examining the complex circumstances influencing lasting change.
Rationale and Goals
The degree places African communities at the center and analyzes the political, economic, cultural, and social factors impacting their initiatives over the long term. Our aim is to provide students with the theoretical background, analytical skills, and practical perspectives that are needed for realizing individual and communal endeavors across a broad spectrum of fields. We believe that community interventions, whether they are in the social, cultural, or more applied fields of science, agriculture or economics, should reflect knowledge of history, politics, economics, social and cultural studies.
Program Duration and Structure
There are two tracks - the Thesis Track and the Applied Track. Students in both of the tracks are required to take the Core courses, the Project Workshop, and to conduct a Research Project or an Applied Project in a local community in Africa. Students in the Thesis Track are required to write a Thesis based on the Research Project. Students in the Applied Track are required to write a Project Report or a Policy Paper upon completion of the Applied Project.
The MA in African Sustainable Communities is a year and a half long program (three semesters), plus another semester for writing up the final submissions. The first year is dedicated to formal study and coursework at BGU. Students must finish their required and elective classes over the course of two semesters during this first year. During the third semester, students must spend a minimum of three months on a local project in Africa. Students on both tracks will then have to submit their thesis, project report, or policy paper by the end of the fourth semester.
A Sampling of Classes
– Deconstructing Development: Theory, Practice, and Critique
– Economics, Politics, and Society in Africa of the 20th Century
– Studying Sustainability
– Sports and Development in Africa
– The Politics of Global Health
– A Planet of Slums? Informal Settlements and the Transition to Formality and Planning
– Liberation Theology and Religious Movements in Africa
– Youth in Africa
Admission Requirements and Application Process
Applicants will have a Bachelor's degree with at least an 80-grade point average for the Applied Track or with at least 85-grade point average for the Thesis Track, in any field of study.
Scholarships
Scholarships (Full and partial) are available to qualifying candidates. Please contact us for more information.
Dormitories
The Marcus Campus dormitories are home to a vibrant student community and are offered
based on availability.
Contact Us
For additional details, please see our full website:
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/humsos/African-Studies/Pages/default.aspx
You can also email us: africama@bgu.ac.il or call: +972-8-6428262
