The mission of the Department of African Cultural Studies is to research and teach the languages and expressive cultures of Africa and Africans around the world. Our faculty specialize in literature, history, music, film, critical applied linguistics, drama, diaspora studies, communications and new media. Our undergraduate program emphasizes the development and application of analytical, linguistic, and research methods that enable students to work effectively and imaginatively across regions, languages, cultural forms, fields, and disciplines. A student majoring in African Cultural Studies is prepared for careers across the globe!
Undergraduates study one of six languages offered by the department — Arabic, Hausa, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu — and combine their language study with popular courses in the humanities, literature, and ethnic studies. Students can also enroll in academic self-driven study for less commonly taught African languages. The department offers a wide range of course topics, including African literature and theater, contemporary cinema and music, Afro-Futurism, gender and sexuality, and internet and media studies.
Majors are encouraged to study abroad in Africa during their undergraduate careers. Study abroad programs sponsored by UW–Madison include semesters or full years in Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, and other African nations. Other programs are available through different institutions. Learn more about studying abroad with the African Cultural Studies’ Major Advising Page.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | None |
| Other | None |
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | Complete either:
|
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Natural Science, Biological Science, or Physical Science designations, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
The African Cultural Studies major consists of a combination of literature and culture courses and two semesters of an African language for a minimum of 32 credits. The major requirements are divided into three areas: Language, Literature and Culture, and Capstone Course.
Language
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following language options: | 8-10 | |
| First Semester Arabic and Second Semester Arabic | ||
| First Semester Swahili and Second Semester Swahili | ||
| First Semester-A Language of Southern Africa and Second Semester-A Language of Southern Africa | ||
| First Semester Summer Arabic and Second Semester Summer Arabic | ||
| First Semester Hausa and Second Semester Hausa | ||
| First Semester Yoruba and Second Semester Yoruba | ||
| First Semester-A Language of West Africa and Second Semester-A Language of West Africa | ||
| Total Credits | 8-10 | |
Literature and Culture
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core course: | 3 | |
| Introduction to African Cultural Expression | ||
| Intermediate/Advanced Literature and Culture: | 12 | |
| Africa: An Introductory Survey | ||
| African Literature in Translation | ||
| Arabic Literature and Cinema | ||
| African Literature and Visual Culture | ||
| Soccer in Africa | ||
| Third Semester Arabic | ||
| Fourth Semester Arabic | ||
| Fifth Semester Arabic | ||
| Sixth Semester Arabic | ||
| Third Semester Swahili | ||
| Fourth Semester Swahili | ||
| Third Semester Summer Arabic | ||
| Fourth Semester Summer Arabic | ||
| Fifth Semester Summer Arabic | ||
| Sixth Semester Summer Arabic | ||
| Islam: Religion and Culture | ||
| Third Semester Yoruba | ||
| Fourth Semester Yoruba | ||
| Third Semester-A Language of West Africa | ||
| Fourth Semester-A Language of West Africa | ||
| Directed Study of an African Language | ||
| Theory of African Literature | ||
| Topics in African Literature | ||
| Topics in African Languages | ||
| Everyday Religion in Africa | ||
| Topics in US and Global Black Music Studies | ||
| Contemporary African Fiction | ||
| Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama | ||
| Islam in Africa and the Diaspora | ||
| Fifth Semester Swahili | ||
| Sixth Semester Swahili | ||
| African/Francophone Film | ||
| Technology and Development in Africa and Beyond | ||
| Lusophone African Literature | ||
| Muslims and Jews | ||
| Advanced Topics in African Cultural Studies | ||
| Advanced Topics in African Literature | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History | ||
| Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | ||
| The Caribbean and its Diasporas | ||
| Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | ||
| Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | ||
| Prehistory of Africa | ||
| Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | ||
| Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | ||
| Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | ||
| Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Africa, South of the Sahara | ||
| Africans in the Americas, 1492-1808 | ||
| Introduction to Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literature | ||
| In Translation: The Art of Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen | ||
| Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Literature and Culture Electives: | 6 | |
| Introduction to African History | ||
| Africa on the Global Stage | ||
| Introduction to African Literature | ||
| Introductory Topics in African Cultural Studies | ||
| Introductory Topics in African Literature | ||
| Introductory Topics in African Languages | ||
| Introduction to African Linguistic Practices | ||
| The African Storyteller | ||
| Introduction to African Popular Culture | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Francophone Topics | ||
| HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal | ||
| Introduction to Yoruba Life and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Arabic Literary Culture | ||
| Global HipHop and Social Justice | ||
| African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | ||
| Introduction to Black Women's Studies | ||
| Introduction to African Art and Architecture | ||
| Artistic/Cultural Images of Black Women | ||
| Introduction to African Art and Architecture | ||
| Introduction to Black Women's Studies | ||
| Artistic/Cultural Images of Black Women | ||
| Afro-Atlantic Histories and Peoples, 1791-Present | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Capstone Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Theories of African Cultural Studies | ||
| Topics in African Cultural Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all AFRICAN and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits, taken in residence 1
- 15 credits in AFRICAN, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the African Cultural Studies Major in consultation with the African Cultural Studies undergraduate advisor. To earn Honors in the Major in African Cultural Studies students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 overall university GPA
- Earn 3.300 GPA in all AFRICAN and major courses
- Complete 15 Honors credits in the major, in residence, that includes:
a. 9 credits in courses numbered 200 and above
b. A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in AFRICAN 681 and AFRICAN 682, for a total of 6 credits.
Footnotes
- 1
Courses with Intermediate or Advanced level are considered upper level in this major.
Learning Outcomes
- (Content) Recognize canonical authors and texts, historical forms, genres, and structures, and recognize aesthetic and cultural concerns in Africa and its diasporas.
- (Content) Demonstrate their understanding of major theories, approaches, concepts, and current and classical research findings in African and diaspora literary and cultural studies.
- (Content) Develop a level of proficiency in the different “ways of knowing” Africa and the diaspora through language, literatures, and cultures.
- (Research Skills) Understand their own learning processes and possess the capacity to intentionally seek, evaluate, and learn from information, and recognize and reduce bias in their thinking.
- (Research Skills) Effectively retrieve and comprehend primary sources in English and African languages, and secondary sources from a range of disciplines.
- (Communication Skills) Develop or improve speaking, listening, writing, reading skills in an African language, and integrate these skills to communicate effectively.
- (Communication Skills) Communicate effectively through essays, oral presentations, and discussion, so they may share their knowledge, wisdom, and values with others across social and professional settings.
- (Communication Skills) Show knowledge of conventional rhetorical strategies, and integrate research by other authors while distinguishing between their own ideas and those of others.
- (Communication Skills) Write and speak across disciplinary boundaries with regard to existing research about Africa and the diaspora in the humanities and social sciences.
- (Analytical Skills) Discuss cultural texts from various theoretical and critical perspectives, formulate ideas and make connections between literary/cultural concepts and themes.
- (Analytical Skills) Demonstrate command of the terminology and methodology of cultural studies, construct complex arguments, and use primary and secondary sources to support arguments.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| First semester AFRICAN language | 5 | Second semester AFRICAN language | 5 |
| AFRICAN 100 | 3 | AFRICAN/AFROAMER 233 or 2971 | 3 |
| Communication Part A (complete during first year) | 3 | Quatitative Reasoning Part A (complete during first year) | 4 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | Physical Science Breadth | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AFRICAN 201, 202, 203, or 2042 | 3 | One AFRICAN or related course at Intermediate level | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Quantitative Reasoning Part B | 4 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Continue language study for BA/BS OR Elective | 3-4 | Continue language study for BA OR Elective | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| One AFRICAN or related course at Intermediate level | 3 | One AFRICAN or related course at Intermediate level | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| One AFRICAN or related course at Intermediate level | 3 | AFRICAN 403 or 405 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
Fulfills Ethnic Studies, Social Science OR Humanities requirement
- 2
Fulfills Communication Part B, Literature OR Humanities requirement
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Major
Please follow the process described on the African Cultural Studies website.
Advising
If you like to plan, seeing your major advisor is very important; it can make the difference between fitting in Contemporary Arabic Literature and Culture and South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission before you graduate. Many students also try to complete more than one major or certificate, and discussing how you might be able to reach this goal is another primary role of your major advisor. Advisors can speak to you about course content, which courses fit best with your interest areas, and what kinds of courses might work best with your learning style. Any and all of these discussions can occur during your advising appointment.
In addition to discussing the major, advisors also know a lot about:
- General Education requirements
- Breadth requirements
- Interpreting university policies and deadlines
- Connecting majors to careers
- Getting involved with campus organizations
- Finding volunteer and/or internship opportunities
- Talking about your academic challenges and difficulties
- Connecting with tutors
- Picking a study abroad program
- Practicing for interviews
- Talking about graduate school
- Proofreading résumés and cover letters
Careers
Humanities majors develop a wide variety of skills and talents, so they're prepared for just about any type of career or educational pursuit. Our coursework builds the critical thinking and communication skills needed to succeed in careers ranging from politics and education to business and law.
One of the more significant skills African Cultural Studies students develop is language acquisition. We offer a number of funding opportunities to support language study, small class sizes with more opportunity for participation and cultural exchange, unique study abroad and international internship experiences, and instructors who are primarily native speakers with a keen interest in teaching. Plus, UW–Madison ranks #1 in the nation for students earning a bachelor's degree in language other than English!
In addition to the valuable language training and cultural competence an African Cultural Studies major gives you, consider what you learn in the classroom as well as what you do each day to be a successful student. The skills you develop are equally important in the workplace:
- critical reading, reflection, and analysis
- expanded world view and exposure to new ideas/ways of thinking
- effective teamwork to advance a common project/purpose
- effective time-management and self-motivation to complete projects independently
- demonstrated writing proficiency in short and long essay format
- discussion and debate strategies
- proper research design and methodology
- broader knowledge of career and graduate-study options
Count on being well-prepared for an exciting and rewarding career!
Visit our website for more information.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
Resources and Scholarships
One of the most valuable resources for students interested in language study is the Language Institute and its website, Languages at UW–Madison.
Learn more about scholarships and other opportunities for funded language study.
ACS partners with the campus’ African Studies Program, a federally-funded language and resource center for those doing research in Africa. See their offerings, grants and fellowships here.