Geography of Africa

Catalog description

This course explores Africa as a world region although greater emphasis is placed on Sub-Saharan Africa, the part of Africa that lies south of the Sahara Desert. Africa is most commonly portrayed as a crisis-ridden continent, plagued by underdevelopment, disease, political disorder, warfare, hunger, economic strife, etc. Some have even referred to it as ‘the dark continent’. In so doing, the vitality, richness of cultures, achievements, and the vibrance of African societies and peoples are often overlooked. This course, thought by an African, provides students with a more balanced understanding of Africa including its history, cultures and traditions, diversity, innovations, and developmental challenges. The course examines both the physical and the human geographies of Africa. Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.