Bachelor's degree African Studies (BA)

During the first year, students acquire basic knowledge and skills in the academic fields of African Linguistics, Literature and History through completion of courses of the introductory and orientation period STEOP. In their second or third semester, they choose one of the three before mentioned fields as their special field in which they will need to write two Bachelor’s theses in the third year of study:

• African Linguistics involves the description of linguistic structures, the categorisation of languages and the analysis of the connection between different languages. Furthermore, this academic field studies communication problems as well as the relationship between society and language.
• African Literary Studies analyse the work of African writers and their function in African and non-African societies. Moreover, they examine African Literature in different social spheres as media, education or development cooperation.
• The special field African History and Societies provides an overview of certain historic topics, either diachronically or synchrolically, and encourage the analysis of politicals structures, cultural expression and social change in Africa.

In addition to the skills developed in your special field, you will develop active competence in one or two African language(s). At the moment, the department offers Hausa, Swahili and Zulu.

Language requirements: A proficient command of German (C1) is not only a prerequisite to follow most of the courses at the department of African Studies, but also an official entry requirement for Bachelor's degree programmes at the University of Vienna: Information on proofs of German language proficiency (University of Vienna website) However, the majoritiy of the academic literature on African Studies is not provided in this language. This is why a good command of English is also required. In addition, the command of French or of another European language may be an asset. Students are encouraged to complete parts of their studies abroad in order to acquire additional qualifications.

First-year information event Propädeutikum: At the beginning of every semester, an information event is hosted to facilitate the start for first-year students by providing support in how to structure the studies at our department and an opportunity to socialise with fellow students.