African Studies Program, University of Washington

HELLO AFRICAN STUDIES FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND FRIENDS!

Welcome to the new school year! We have recently returned from our 2009 Kenya Study Abroad Program and it was a great success! Please check back soon for more information about this year's program and plans for next summer's study abroad program.

Read below for more information about our programs:

Information for Students
ASP News
ASP Achievements and Awards
ASP Study Abroad Program
Other ASP Information

ASP Students: Here is the Autumn 2009 Course List.

If you have questions or comments for the African Studies Program, please contact: Erin Murphy, ASP Program Assistant at 206.616.0998 or africa1@u.washington.edu.

African Studies Student Office Hours

Tuesday and Thursday: 9am-12 pm
By Appointment

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African Studies Program News

SYMPOSIUM

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE:
AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES IN THE NEO‐LIBERAL ERA
 

April 15‐16, 2009
University of Washington

The African Studies Program of the Jackson School of International Studies held a two day symposium on Environmental Justice and Governance: African Perspectives in the Neo‐Liberal Era. Major sponsors of this event included the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Washington, the Graduate School, the Program on the Environment, the University of Washington School of Law and the Asian Law Center.

Interdisciplinary in nature, the symposium explored the inter‐relations between the environment, peace, development, and legal and political governance technologies in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Participants inquired, from cross‐disciplinary perspectives, into whether events in Sub‐Saharan Africa in the last two decades demonstrate the need to prioritize, as a matter of policy, development, and legal intervention, issues related to environmental management, conflict resolution, and peace building over “traditional” economic development.

Please check back soon for podcasts of the speaker presentations!

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ASP Achievements and Awards

The African Studies Program in the Jackson School of International Studies is pleased to announce being awarded the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages (UISFL) Title VI Project, for 2008-2010, by the US Department of Education. A major component of the project comprises extending the reach and depth of African Studies at UW through collaboration with the professional schools. This will be achieved through the development and implementation of a three-quarter sequence designed to provide a foundational opportunity for undergraduates in the professional schools to participate in the African Studies Program, preparing them to engage in practicum-based settings abroad. The course sequence will be on the theme "Health, Human Rights and Social Transformation in the Greater Horn of Africa." The sequence will be launched winter quarter 2009 with the lead course on Health, Human Rights, and Social Transformation in the Greater Horn of Africa. Students will then engage in language instruction and cultural orientation in Swahili spring quarter, and continue on to a summer study abroad (including a ten-week internship) in Nairobi, Kenya.

In keeping with its vision to expand the opportunities for teaching African languages at the University of Washington, during the 2008-09 academic year, the African Studies Program is offering two new languages: Tigrinya and Amharinya (languages spoken in Ethiopia and Eritrea). This will be in addition to first and second year Swahili that is already being offered. Additionally, the UISFL project includes an expanded focus on the Horn of Africa with course development grants for faculty, library acquisitions, and community outreach workshops.

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ASP Study Abroad Program

SUMMER 2009 STUDY ABROAD:
HEALTH, HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN KENYA

June 22 – August 21, 2009
18 credits

Click here to download the ASP Study Abroad Application Form.

The African Studies Program at the Jackson School of International is Pleased to offer a new and innovative three-quarter course of study on Health, Human Rights and Social Transformation in the Greater Horn of Africa. The sequence consists of three components: a preparatory foundational course in health and human rights taken Winter quarter 2009; an introductory Swahili language instruction taken Spring quarter; and a ten-week study abroad (field practicum) in Nairobi, Kenya.

STUDY ABROAD COURSE DESIGN

The first component of the summer field practicum will be placing students in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in areas of health, development, human rights, and/or women rights issues in Nairobi. Students will engage in 24 hours per week of practicum internships, supervised by staff at the agencies in which they are placed.

The second component of the summer field practicum consists of an integrative seminar to equip students to critically reflect on and utilize the various human rights, public health, social work, and development theories and skills they have previously learned . This seminar will meet twice a week and will be led by Profs. Joel Ngugi (Law School) and Nancy Farwell (School of Social Work).

The third component of the summer field practicum will consist of an intermediate level course in Swahili , building on spring quarter’s instruction.

Click here for more details:

http://jsis.washington.edu/africa/current_students/internationalas.shtml

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Other African Studies Information

The Ottenberg-Winans Fund was established to honor the careers of Emeritus Professors Simon Ottenberg and Edgar W. Winans. The purpose of the Ottenburg-Winans fund is to support University of Washington undergraduate and graduate student research in Africa and to support students from universities in Africa who attend UW as part of various exchange programs. The fund is administered by the African Studies Program and housed in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. To make a contribution to the Ottenberg-Winans fund, please click here.

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