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Master of Arts in African Verbal and Visual Arts:

Languages, Literatures, Media and Art

Contents
The Master’s programme African Visual and Verbal Arts is a development from the former Master’s
programme African Language Studies, which had an exclusive focus on African Linguistics and Swahili Studies.
The new programme enables a broader and more interdisciplinary approach including Media, Arts and
Curational Studies, Literatures in African - as well as European - Languages in Africa. The programme is
conceptualized as a continuation and immersion of the specialization fields offered in the Bachelor Programme
African Visual and Verbal Arts (Languages, Literatures, Media and Art) at Bayreuth University. These are African
Linguistics, Swahili Studies, Literatures in African Languages, and Media/Arts and Curational Studies in Africa.
In addition to gaining knowledge in African languages and linguistics, the programme now also focuses on a
deeper understanding of conditions and norms of language(s) in use; also in its mediated forms and social
contexts. Hence, it is the primary goal of this programme to convey an enhanced comprehension of culturally
encoded knowledge in its various applications and expressions in Africa.

Organisation
In commencing the two year Master’s programme, which is organised in modules, students already
bring profound interdisciplinary knowledge on Africa from a relevant Bachelor’s programme; e.g.,
African Verbal and Visual Arts (Languages, Literatures, Media and Art) (B.A., Bayreuth University).
During the second semester by the latest, students can choose to apply this knowledge in a field of
specialization: 1 African Linguistics; 2 African Literatures; 3 Arts, Curational Studies and Media in
Africa; 4 Swahili Studies; or 5 Multidisciplinary Studies (this option allows for an interdisciplinary
immersion in several of these specialization fields).
Interdisciplinary modules compulsory to everyone include theories, methods, and courses in two
African languages (Bambara, Hausa, Swahili or Arabic) that provide students with both academic and
communicative skills.

Course Objectives
The Master’s programme enables students to develop and specialize in their knowledge and critical
thinking in the fields of Linguistics, Literatures, Media, Arts and Curation in Africa. They further
deepen their knowledge in academic work routines and current research trends. In a final Master’s
thesis, they will work on an individually chosen research topic in a field of specialization and thus
prove their professional and methodological competence.
Graduates of this Master’s programme qualify for further studies on PhD level in African Language
Studies, Literatures in African Languages, and Media and Curation Studies in Africa. Besides a
university career, the programme also prepares for working in applied areas especially within
intercultural cooperation’s and cultural work (e.g., Goethe Institutes, foundations, museums); in the
media (journalism and PR), in developmental work and in Africa-related businesses.
The focus on teaching in English carries forward the internationalization strategy and enables
productive links to the Research Hub in African Studies at Bayreuth University.

For further enquiries please feel free to contact the programme coordinator Prof. Dr. Gabriele
Sommer: gabriele.sommer@uni-bayreuth.de

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Overview: Compulsory (C) and specialization modules (E)

Modules Type HPW Credits Examination


C (compulsory modules):
African Languages (C1-C6), Approaches to
African Verbal and Visual Arts (C7-C9), Master
Modules (C 10-11)
C 1 Language 1: Initial course Ex 4 5 written examination

C 2 Language 1: Basic course Ex 4 5 written examination

C 3 Language 1: Intermediate course Ex 4 5 written examination

C 4 Language 1: Advanced course Ex 4 5 written examination

C 5 Language 2: Initial course Ex 4 5 written examination

C 6 Language 2: Basic course Ex 4 5 written examination

C 7 / C 8 Interdisciplinary Seminar 1: Methods S


presentation and
Interdisciplinary Seminar 2: Theory 4 8
module paper

C 9 Research Colloquium S oral presentation


2 5
(with grade)
C 10 Thesis Development/Colloquium AS oral presentation
2 7
(with grade)

C 11 MA Thesis 22

Total C modules 32 72
E (fields of specialization):
E 1 African Linguistics,
E 2 African Literatures,
E 3 Arts, Curational Studies and Media in Africa,
E 4° Swahili Studies,
E 5 Multidisciplinary Studies

E 1.1/ E 2.1/ E 3.1 S/S/S 2 8 oral exam


E 1.2°/ E 2.2°/ E 3.2° S/S/AS 2 8 module paper
E 1.3/ E 2.5/ E 3.6 S/S/AS 2 8 module paper

E 1.4°/ E 2.3°/ 3.4° AS/Ex/ presentation and


2 8
AS module paper

E 1.5/ E 2.6/ E 3.5 AS/AS/ presentation and


2 8
S module paper
E 1.6°/ E 2.4°/ E 3.3 Ex/AS/ written report
AS
(literature review,
2 8 festival/conference
report, exhibition
critique)
Total E modules 12 48
TOTAL 44 120

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