TAFARCS15U Religion, Culture and Society in Africa

Volume 2013/2014
Content
The core of the course is to study religion and culture in Africa in a social context. The course focuses on four general themes which are discussed through a number of specific topics.

The general themes of the course are:
• Religious and cultural development in modern Africa
• The importance of the African cultural heritage for contemporary Africans
• The interaction between local and global religious and cultural trends as they unfold on the African continent
• Connections between religious and cultural movements and the social, political and economic development of Africa

Methodology Lab
In Week 15, several sessions from both Politics Development and Change, and from Religion, Culture and Society, will be dedicated to an intensive Methodology Lab. This is aimed at providing students with an introduction to research methodology in general, as well as in-depth insight into selected methodologies used in African Studies. Invited guest scholars will present their work, drawing on their own experiences to highlight the advantages and challenges of various research methods in practice.

Learning Outcome

The aim is for the student to acquire the following qualifications:

  • Overview and understanding of significant aspects of the cultural, religious and social dimensions of contemporary Africa.
  • Knowledge of and insight into the significance of the African cultural heritage for understanding contemporary social and political conditions with special focus on the changes that African society is undergoing in connection with urbanisation and migration.
  • Insights into the interaction between local African and global religious and cultural developments.
The course is only open for CAS MA students and professional master students.
The course combines lectures and classroom discussions, requiring participation and active engagement.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 56
  • Course Preparation
  • 244
  • Exam
  • 120
  • Total
  • 420
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
June 2014
Criteria for exam assesment

The grade of 12 is given at the exam when the student demonstrates:

  • Good overview of the diversity of Africa’s religious and cultural traditions.
  • Well-developed ability to analyse African religious and cultural phenomena in their societal contexts.
  • Clear understanding of the contemporary significance, utilisation and reshaping of African religious and cultural traditions.
  • Clear understanding of the interaction between local African and global religious and cultural developments.
  • Confident ability to conduct a methodological and theoretical analysis of literature and other material on Africa’s religions and cultures.
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
June 2014
Criteria for exam assesment

The grade of 12 is given at the exam when the student demonstrates:

  • Confident knowledge of the disciplines, history and academic terminology of African Studies.
  • Confident ability to identify, define and consider an issue from an interdisciplinary and critical-analytical perspective.
  • Confident ability to choose, analyse and present the material relevant to the issue in question in an independent and critical manner.
  • Confident command of methodologies and concepts within the key disciplines of African Studies as well as contemporary research discussions.
  • Confident ability to communicate academic material in a clear, concise and well-argued manner.