The Institute of African Studies (IAS) at Carleton U

The Institute of African Studies builds on Carleton’s long history of expertise on Africa amongst its faculty and graduate students by pulling together the growing number of faculty members and experts in the Ottawa-Gatineau region to provide fresh insight into current and historical dynamics of Africa – from the slave trade that reshaped the continent and the Atlantic world to the richly textured and innovative religious practices and livelihood strategies, from conflicts, refugees, and peace-building efforts to the production and reception of world-renowned and locally-consumed literatures, music and film. Carleton is the only Canadian university to have a stand-alone Institute of African Studies which also offers a degree program. It provides Combined Honours and Minor programs in African Studies, organizes public events and activities concerning the continent and the African diaspora, and highlights and brings together the ongoing research conducted by its faculty and students. Our undergraduate program at the Institute of African Studies offers: Interdisciplinarity Our Combined Honours program in African Studies is built on students taking courses in various disciplines, enabling them to develop a fuller understanding and appreciation of the many dimensions of the continent. Practical Experience African Studies students are encouraged to acquire “hands-on” experience in regards to African Studies through taking a third year placement course, which enables them to carry out work for an organization working on Africa for academic credit, and by going to one of the African universities with which Carleton has an exchange agreement. Engaging with Contemporary Issues In the different courses, African Studies students will be discussing and learning about events and their historical and current contexts that are debated and discussed within Africa and beyond. Students will learn about the effects of slavery on Africa and the question of reparations; African unity and pan-Africanism; authenticity and artistic productions; democratization and human rights; conservation, national parks, and sustainable tourism; justice, reconciliation, and peace-building; music and cultural performances; HIV/AIDS, malaria and government and donor policies concerning health-care; ethnicity, belonging, and citizenship; African cinema and documentary film studies; and globalization and economic sovereignty, amongst others.