Since its inception in 1974, the African Studies Program has been an interdisciplinary program providing students with the opportunity to combine their interest in Africa with a proficiency in a given discipline. The purpose of this Program is to enable students interested in Africa to pursue this interest through a series of courses offering a variety of approaches to the area in a number of different disciplines. As well, the Program is aimed at students primarily concerned with mastering a specific discipline who would like to apply their knowledge to Africa. The core course of the Program, (AS/SOSC 2480 9.0), required for majors, deals with six major themes: Africa's social organization and cultural heritage; the history of Africa's conquest in the era of slavery and colonialism; the creation of a Diaspora; the struggle to create economically and politically viable nation-states in the post-colonial era; gender relations in the past and present; and African social thought and cultural and expressive production. These major themes also constitute reference points for other and more detailed contribution from the participating departments. The fourth-year required seminar -AS/SOSC 4510 6.0 African Popular Culture (formerly AS/SOSC 4990N 6.0) presents students with the opportunity to engage in an advanced synthesis of the knowledge they have obtained during their studies.

This course investigates the multiple dimensions of African popular culture through looking at forms of cultural productivity: music, film, literature, theatre, cartoons, sport, leisure, and aspects of material culture. It also explores ways in which cultural productivity is linked to various social relations, ethnic identities and the politics that have characterized nationalist and post-independence politics in Africa. Our thematic concerns and our diversity of course offerings, together with the Program's concern for the material and cultural well-being of the people of Africa, constitute an exciting, interdisciplinary enquiry into Africa's historic and contemporary role in world affairs.

Students may participate in this Program in three different ways: by (1) formally majoring or (2) taking a minor in the subject (as explained below), or (3) by taking whatever Program courses are of interest, while keeping the student's own Ordinary or Honours degree Program requirements. Other majors interested in Africa are encouraged to consult with the Coordinator.

Students can declare a Double Major or minor in either the traditional linked Programs OR have an Interdisciplinary Linked Program. This means that students now may combine their African Studies degree with one of a number of York's free-standing interdisciplinary Programs such Religious Studies, East Asian Studies, Classical Studies or Creative Writing. In addition Students are able to double major in International Development Studies (IDS).