Minor in African Studies

The Schools of Modern Languages; Economics; International Affairs; Literature, Media and Communications; and Public Policy offer a minor in African Studies. This interdisciplinary minor connects studies of all African regions and countries (North, West, Central, East, South), their languages, their cultures, and their peoples — both concurrently in their national and international relationships as well as longitudinally — over the course of history. This minor is designed for undergraduates who will enter a wide range of careers that can lead directly or indirectly to interactions with the people, social organizations and businesses, and governments of Africa, both abroad and in the U.S.

For further information please email the minor’s advisor, Chris Ippolito (cippolito6@gatech.edu).

Requirements

View minor requirements for the African Studies minor in the Georgia Tech Course Catalog.

Students wishing to declare a minor should submit the minor declaration form to Mirla Gonzalez to allow us to track their progress and gain priority registration.

Featured Spring 2026 Courses

  • Courses in English
    • Required:
      • ARBC/FREN/WOLO 3420: Intro to Africa. MW 5-6:15 PM. This interdisciplinary course will use a variety of approaches to study significant aspects of contemporary Africa’s societies, cultures, and representations. Taught in English. Optional: Spring Break 2026 study abroad program in Rwanda (Sustainable Development in Rwanda, embedded in this course)
    • Other courses in English (Electives): up to two courses (6 credits) on topics related to African, African-American, and other African diasporas:
      • Understanding Arab Culture - ARBC 1501
      • VIP: Africa: Serve, Learn, Sustain
      • Including one course maximum (3 credits) on topics/skills essential to understanding/working in Africa:
        • Global Enterprise – ECON 4311
        • Environmental Economics – ECON 4400
        • Human Rights – INTA 3031
        • Global Politics of Tech – INTA 3044
        • International Political Economy – INTA 3301
        • Democracy-Global South – INTA 4241
        • Ethnicity American Cult – LMC 3210
        • Tech Communication – LMC 3403 (several sections)
        • Video Production – LMC 3406 (several sections)
        • Climate Policy – PUBP 3320
        • Politics and Policy – PUBP 3510
        • Energy, Efficiency and Sustainability – ISYE 4501
        • Energy Technology and Policy – ISYE 6701
        • Fundamental of Geographic Info Sys – CP 4510
  • Courses in foreign languages
    • All Arabic and French courses (elementary [1000 level], intermediate [2000 level], advanced [3000/4000 levels]) including this semester:
    • Francophone Cinema – FREN 4105 / FREN 8803 (more than 50% of Films on Africa)
  • Optional: Spring Break 2026 study abroad program in Rwanda (Sustainable Development in Rwanda, embedded in the following Spring 2026 courses:
    • FREN/ARBC/WOLO 3420 – Introduction to Africa
    • CP 4510 – Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems
    • ISYE 4501 – Energy, Efficiency and Sustainability
    • ISYE 6701 – Energy Technology and Policy
    • VIP – Africa: Serve Learn Sustain
    • Directed Studies (individual courses: research or special topics)