African Verbal and Visual Arts: Languages, Literatures, Media and Art, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Africa is a continent with a thousand and one facets. We offer this innovative, multidisciplinary and market-oriented bachelor’s programme as a solid starting point towards understanding the dynamics of the African continent and building expertise in African studies. Our curriculum enables students to acquire knowledge in four key branches of African studies: Languages; Literatures (in African languages as well as Anglophone and Francophone African literatures); Media; and Arts (both modern and contemporary). We equip our students with theoretical, methodological and practical tools for study, thereby preparing them for critical engagement with the full diversity of African cultural milieus, ideas and forms of expressions.

Structure of the Bachelor’s Programme

The programme is organised into modules reflecting the multiplicity of African cultural affairs. Compulsory course modules introduce methods of art studies, media studies, literary studies and linguistics. A practice-oriented project, an overview of the linguistic landscape in Africa and an interdisciplinary module provide students with both academic and practical skills.

Elective compulsory course modules cover different fields of specialization and advanced seminars. The students will choose one of the disciplines in which they envisage writing their BA thesis. In addition, they will have to take at least one advanced seminar from one of the other disciplines.

Your individual profile - the minor.

Right at the beginning of your studies, when you enroll in the bachelor's program "African Verbal and Visual Arts: Languages, Literatures, Media and Art", you select a combination subject worth 49 credit points. This is fully integrated into the course of study. Minors promote the interconnection of basic scientific knowledge and practice-related knowledge or are aimed at broadening subject-specific competencies.

For the bachelor program "African Verbal and Visual Arts: Languages, Literatures, Media and Art" you can choose from the following minors:

• Arabic & Islamic Language & Culture Studies (Arabische und Islamische Sprach- und Kulturstudien)
• German as a Foreign Language (Deutsch als Zweitsprache)
• English & American Studies (Anglistik/Amerikanistik)
• German Studies (Germanistik)
• Intercultural German Studies (German as a Foreign Language) (Interkulturelle Germanistik (Deutsch als Fremdsprache))
• Interdisciplinary African Studies (Interdisziplinäre Afrikastudien)
• Social & Cultural Anthropology (Sozial- und Kulturanthropologie)
• Sociology (Soziologie)
• Study of Religion (Religionswissenschaft)
• Theatre Didactics (Theaterdidaktik)
• Curators' Track (English language)
• Study Abroad (English language)

Whilst the AVVA programme fosters early interdisciplinary awareness, intellectual independence and personal development, it also enhances the student’s ability to utilise the relevant theoretical and methodological tools as practical assets. Graduates of AVVA are prepared for a career in exciting fields such as cultural and intercultural work, international cooperation, intercultural communication, intercultural mass media, creative entrepreneurship and international consulting in African affairs.

The focus on teaching in English medium advances our internationalization strategy and enables fruitful links between the research hub in African Studies at the University of Bayreuth and institutions situated elsewhere.

Upon completion of the B.A. programme, candidates may also enrol in the master’s programme African Verbal and Visual Arts: Languages, Literatures, Media and Art.

Specific features & further information

• Part-time study is possible

  
  

• Contents & Structure

• Iwalewahaus

Semester fee

The University of Bayreuth does not charge tuition fees. However, every student must pay the semester fee. This includes the fees for the Studentenwerk Oberfranken and the semester ticket for the use of public transport in the cities of Bayreuth and Kulmbach and in many parts of the regional transport system.

We are looking forward to welcoming candidates with an interest in African cultural issues who are ready to interact with people from all corners of the globe on a lovely campus of a University recognised worldwide for its strong emphasis on the field of African Studies.

The module handbook provides an overview of the various modules that must be taken in a degree programme. It contains all the important explanations on the requirements and types of module examinations as well as on the intermediate or final examinations and serves as a kind of study guide for orientation.

Examination regulations define the content and structure of a particular degree programme in a legally binding manner. They must be approved by the Ministry of Science or accredited by an accreditation agency.