IS 2300 - Perspectives on Africa (4)

Oakland University, College of Arts and Sciences, International Studies Program

Syllabus

Course Information:
CRN: 14593
Campus: Main Campus
Schedule Type: Lecture

Monday,Wednesday,Friday

10:40 AM - 11:47 AM

Main Campus Campus | Pawley Hall | Room 309

This course introduces you to the diversity of African societies, their history, their constantly
changing way of life, and their contributions to human civilization. Obviously, such a course on
the history of African civilizations represents a daunting challenge. We necessarily have to look
for broad themes, which distinguish and tie together the regions, states, communities, and
cultures of the continent, and we have to make selections of where we study them.

Prerequisites/Comments: Satisfies the university general education requirement in global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement. WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher. (Formerly IS 230)

Professor Information:
Professor: Getnet Bekele
Office: 406 Varner Hall
Phone: (248) 370-3517
E-mail: bekele@oakland.edu
Office hours: TR 11:00am-1:00pm

Learning Outcomes:
1. Students should gain an introductory familiarity with African civilizations via an overview of geography, history, culture (including religion and social institutions) and Africa’s major contributions to and influence by other world civilizations.

2. Students should develop an awareness of how Africa’s diverse social, cultural, and historical experiences have shaped contemporary patterns of thought and practice in the U.S. and beyond in a broad range of areas such as science, economic development, the environment, and crisis management.

Textbooks and Materials:
Eric Gilbert and Jonathan T. Reynolds, Africa in World History: From Prehistory to the Present, 3 rd Edition (New Jersey, 2011).
Vijay Mahajan, Africa Rising: How 900 Million African Consumers offer more than you Think (Pearson, 2009).

Assignments and Grading:
Test 1 50
Test 2 50
Test 3 30
Term project 60
Class Participation 60
Final Exam 100
Total 350*

As a student in this course, you are responsible for all materials covered in class lectures, movies, and in the assigned readings. Major themes and issues are brought out in the lectures and therefore class attendance and note taking are fundamental to understanding course content. Your own notes and the required readings are the best guides when preparing for examinations. In the lecture sessions, I use detailed outlines. You are not required to copy all my notes unless you want to. But you are not entitled to get my notes other than during lecture hours. I will not share lecture-notes with absentees under any circumstances. Dates for exams and lectures themes are given in the course outline below. While every effort will be made to adhere to the schedule, it is possible that some dates and some themes may
change. It is your responsibility to be aware of any such changes. The format and procedure of the exams will be discussed in class. But generally, expect objective questions.

The make-up policy for this class is simple: make-up exams will be given to students who can supply documentation that makes clear a legitimate reason for the absence(s). I expect you to observe appropriate classroom activity. I should mention that talking, sleeping, reading newspapers, making or receiving phone calls, and browsing the internet will not be tolerated in this class.

Term Project
The term project PERTAINS to a five-page (single-space) paper that you will write on globalization’s and the IT revolution’s impact on African populations. Your paper must be based on Mahajan’s assigned book. Additional guidelines will be provided in class in short order.

Classroom and University Policies