African Studies University of Basel

Overview

The African Studies Master's program at the University of Basel provides students with in-depth knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scientific work with Africa. The focus is on five thematic focal points, with the Center for African Studies Basel (ZASB) particularly interested in   the city in Africa and the rapidly advancing urbanization on the continent.

• Media and Imagination : How are the increasingly visually oriented information and communication technologies changing societies in Africa? Which fears, hopes, goals and dreams of people are articulated in the media and images?
• Knowledge Production and Transfer : How is knowledge generated, concentrated, negotiated and passed on in the African context? Do cities form a hub for the development of an African knowledge society?
• Governance and Politics : How is political rule reproduced in a rapidly changing context? How is the everyday practice of political administration and service in Africa designed?
• Public Health and Social Life : What are the health care challenges in Africa? How do people deal with health systems? What is their resilience to crises based on?
• Environment and Development : How do the natural law factors of global change affect the built environment? Which requirements have to be fulfilled in order to guarantee a sustainable use of urban and rural living spaces?

Course structure

The master's is the second degree after the bachelor's degree and comprises a total of 120 credit points (CP). The master’s course in African Studies is a so-called mono course, which is studied without further subjects for 108 CP. In addition, there is the free elective area (12 CP). One ECTS credit point corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work.The master’s degree in African Studies is designed across subjects and faculties and is studied without a second subject.

Career opportunities

The training opens up a field of science that is young for Switzerland and a newly emerging international job market. This requires a large number of specific knowledge and skills related to the African continent, which are usually not taught in a coherent way in university teaching and are a prerequisite for further practical training.

In combination with relevant internships, trainee positions or further training, the master’s degree in African Studies opens up access to the following professional fields: Multi- and bilateral organizations, migration and integration, museums, exhibitions, libraries and archives, governmental or non-governmental development cooperation, contract research , Environmental projects, diplomatic service, tourism, business, science, journalism and intercultural communication. In addition, the master’s degree opens up the possibility of a doctorate .