BA in African Cultural Studies - (CLS) in Madison United States | University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Department of African Cultural Studies is dedicated to exploring and educating about Africa's diverse languages and cultural expressions, as well as those of African communities worldwide. Our expert faculty focus on various disciplines including literary studies, musical traditions, cinematic arts, applied linguistics, theatrical performance, diaspora research, and digital media. The undergraduate curriculum focuses on cultivating critical thinking, language proficiency, and interdisciplinary approaches, equipping students with versatile skills for global career opportunities.

Students pursuing this major engage with one of six available languages—Arabic, Hausa, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, or Zulu—while complementing their linguistic studies with courses in humanities, literary analysis, and ethnic studies. Our course offerings span numerous subjects, from traditional African storytelling and performance arts to modern film and music, Afro-Futurist concepts, gender and sexuality studies, and digital media analysis.