Undergraduate Certificate

Develop your interest in Africa…
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, you have the opportunity to study several African languages, take classes taught by leading specialists on subjects ranging from history to politics to art, and get involved with student groups such as the African Students Association or Engineers Without Borders. You can also study abroad in Africa for an academic year, summer, or semester.

Undergraduate certificate in African Studies

To further support an interest in African Studies, undergraduates can earn a certificate in African Studies.

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Requirements

15 credits from the African Studies core curriculum:

Declare

Meet with African Studies Program advisor Dr. Aleia Ingulli McCord and complete a declaration form.

Make an appointment with Aleia:

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Aleia’s email is advising@africa.wisc.edu

Courses

What is a Core Course?

Core courses contain more than 66 percent Africa-related content and fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate certificate in African Studies. Credit toward the certificate should be applied automatically in a student’s DARS report.

What is an Extended Core Course?

Extended core courses contain at least 25 percent African content but cannot be used towards the certificate without special approval from Lauren Parnell Marino, the African Studies Program advisor. The course’s instructor must also agree to allow the student to complete the course’s most substantial assignment on Africa, increasing the total amount of Africa-related course content for the student.

Requests must be made and approved by the second Friday of the semester in which the course in question will be taken. Download the  Extended Core Course Approval form.

Upon completion of the course, students must submit the Africa-related course project to Aleia McCord before the DARS credit exception can be made.

FAQs

Q. I have not graduated yet, but DARS indicates that I completed my African Studies certificate. When will I get my certificate?

A. The Registrar will record the completion of the Certificate in African Studies when you graduate. The certificate will not be awarded until you fulfill requirements of a B.A. or B.S. degree in an established major in a school or college of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Q. How can I find out which courses count for the certificate in African Studies?

A. Refer to the African Studies core curriculum.

Q. What is the difference between core and extended core courses?

A. Core courses contain more than 66% Africa-related content and fulfill the requirements of the Undergraduate African Studies certificate. Extended core courses contain at least 25% African content, but cannot be used toward the certificate without special approval from Lauren Parnell Marino, the African Studies Program advisor. Requests must be made and approved by the second Friday of the semester in which the course in question will be taken. Students must submit the final extended core course project to Lauren Parnell Marino before a DARS exception can be made.

Q. I just came back from a UW-sponsored studying abroad program in Africa. The Africa-related courses I took abroad show up on my DARS, but they are not counting toward the certificate in African Studies. What can I do?

A. DARS is not recognizing your Africa-related courses you took in Africa. Make an appointment with Aleia McCord, the African Studies Program advisor to request an update to your DARS report.