African Languages, Media, and Communication

Major

Important information at a glance

Degree: Bachelor of ArtsLanguage of Instruction: GermanStart of studies: Winter semesterAdmission: Unrestricted admissionCombined subjects: Combined bachelor's degree (major)Standard period of study: 6 semestersSemester abroad: Recommended

Structure and Content

African Languages, Media, and Communication can be studied as a major subject or as a minor subject.

Major Subject

Minor Subject

Mobility and migration between Africa and Europe, practices of digital communication, and increased media coverage have created a growing demand in Europe for expertise on Africa across various professional fields. This expertise must meet new content-related, linguistic, and methodological requirements. The degree program “African Languages, Media, and Communication” (Asmek) is guided by the core idea of providing foundational training in sociolinguistics, media linguistics, and structural linguistics with reference to African languages. A key component of this program is practical language education in two languages, including one African language, over a two-year period to develop essential communication skills. Students also gain important foundational knowledge in various relevant areas of linguistic and cultural production in Africa and the African diaspora. This includes understanding linguistic diversity, key cultural and linguistic historical principles, and especially the current social and technological-media contexts of (offline and online) communication in African languages.

The program aims to equip students with fundamental Africalinguistic analytical methods, ranging from transcription techniques and the evaluation of ethnographic data to the sociolinguistic description of human communication behavior and discourse analysis, as well as intercultural interpretation. The overarching goal of this comprehensive content offering is to connect Africlinguistic practice with relevant topics in sociolinguistics, digital communication, and intercultural communication.

This degree program, which addresses modern societal topics such as digital media and intercultural communication in Africa while combining them with structural linguistic training and the acquisition of African language skills, was developed in cooperation with the Institute for Ethnology and African Studies (IfEAS) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Students participate in courses and earn credits at both universities connected through the established RMU cooperation.

Course of study

Module 1

Foundation Phase

M1: Introduction

Modules 2–5

Consolidation

M2: Mechanisms and Contexts of Knowledge Production
M3: Theoretical Principles
M4: Basic Course Language A
M5: Basic Course Language B

Modules 6–10

Specialization

M6: Language A or B
M7: Cultural Practice, Media, and Communication
M8: Compulsory Elective Module “Methods”
M9: Science and Research in Practice
M10: Open Module

Completion

Final Phase

BA Seminar and Bachelor’s Thesis

African practices of communication, language use, the mediatisation of language, and language-based cultural creation play a central role in the curriculum, complemented by the practical acquisition of two African foreign languages.

The major subject "African Languages, Media, and Communication" comprises 120 credit points. An interdisciplinary introductory module provides an overview of key research areas and methods while teaching academic work techniques. Modules 2 and 3 are foundational modules focusing on knowledge production and theory development. Elective module groups 4 and 5 include introductory courses for two languages to be learned. Module 6 focuses on advancing proficiency in a chosen African language. Module 7 ("Cultural Practice, Media, and Communication") offers various elective opportunities for specialization, with complementary offerings available at GU and JGU. Module 8 is dedicated to acquiring methodological knowledge. Module 9 allows students to engage in research-oriented or career-oriented project work or hands-on training. Module 10, a free-choice module, enables students to broaden their profile by selecting additional courses from related subjects or by choosing previously unselected courses from the African studies offerings at both universities (for example, components from Modules 3 and 7), thereby deepening their education. The course concludes with Module 11, the bachelor module, which includes a bachelor colloquium and the written final thesis.

For more information about the major subject African Languages, Media, and Communication, please visit the department's webpage.

Study Regulations

The study regulations define the structure, organization, and substance of the degree program, as well as the examination system. They form the foundation of your studies at Goethe University.