The African Studies Center staff, the Dean of International Studies and Programs, Prof. Jeffrey Riedinger, and Prof. Robert Hitchock, chairperson of the Department of Anthropology, warmly welcome Professor James A. Pritchett to MSU as Director of the African Studies Center and full professor in the Department of Anthropology. Prof. Pritchett assumed these positions effective 1 January 2009. You may contact Prof. Pritchett at: pritch41@msu.edu or call the African Studies Center at (517) 353-1700.
Founded in 1960, the MSU African Studies Center (ASC) is one of nine Title VI National Resource Centers on Africa designated by the U.S. Department of Education. The Center’s strength is based upon the 160 MSU faculty who provide broad research, teaching, and service on the continent. MSU can offer instruction in 30 African languages, with 9-12 languages taught each year. Two Ph.D. African studies librarians staff the third largest Africana library in the nation. African Studies at MSU has been distinguished by its focus on Africa’s human needs - poverty alleviation, food security, education for development, environment and development, tropical disease, ethics of development, and gender equity.
For almost two decades, MSU graduate students have produced more Ph.D. dissertations on Africa than any other U.S. university, especially in history, social sciences, economics and agricultural economics, and education. Supported by Title VI FLAS Fellowships, MSU Africa studies graduate students are immensely successful in national competitions for dissertation research awards such as in the Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays DDRA, and other competitions.
The African Media Program (AMP) offers an online, comprehensive database of more than 14,000 films, videos, and other audio-visual materials concerning Africa. Designed especially for teachers at all levels, it includes links to distributors.
The Afrobarometer is an MSU-based project collaborating with African social scientists to conduct surveys in 18 African countries on sociopolitical and economic attitudes in Africa. Its data is shared with decision-makers, civic educators, journalists, and African communities in an effort to increase democratization and civic participation.
The African e-Journals Project offers free access to back issues of 10 African journals, a database of more than 1,900 journals on Africa, tables of contents of contemporary journals, and links to current African journals online.
MSU's faculty and graduate students are conducting research or working for development in 39 of Africa's 54 countries. Beginning in a partnership with Nigerians in 1960 to build one of the first two land-grant, development-oriented universities in Africa, the faculty has built a record of world-class research focused on the human needs of Africa and Africa's unique cultural heritage.
MSU provides undergraduates with a unique opportunity to focus on America’s roots continent - with:
Weekly announcements and listings of fellowships, jobs, and internships.
Upcoming events include:
Annc. & Call for Papers: Third Annual Michigan State Univ. Africanist Graduate Student Conference - Oct. 9-10, 2009. Abstracts due September 1, 2009.
MSU Museum:'Dear Mr. Mandela, Dear Ms. Parks: Children's Letters, Global Lessons'
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See Obama message to Mandela
Third Annual Michigan State University Africanist Graduate Student Research Conference to be held October 9-10, 2009
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Threads of Change: The Transformation of West African Textiles MSU Museum Exhibit, January 18, 2009-August 20, 2009.
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Contact the Center for Outreach Programs on Africa
Mini-Grants for Developing Study Abroad Programs in Africa - Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Michigan State University Program Announcement and Narrative
Explore Africa at MSU - Explore Africa at MSU is a residential program designed for academically talented high school students (entering grades 10, 11, and 12) who would like to become immersed in learning about the tremendous diversity found within the continent of Africa.
Exploring Africa - A rich online curriculum for middle and high school students and teachers.