Course Descriptions
With the exception of the introductory French class, which is a lower-division 4 unit class, each of the courses offered is classified as upper-division coursework, with credit issued through Santa Clara University. Each class is 5 quarter units for SCU students. Students must enroll in four courses during a semester with the Burkina Faso program, for a total of 19 or 20 quarter units. Students from other universities will be awarded credit according to their institution’s procedures. Course numbers are preliminary and subject to change. African Studies minors will have many of the requirements for the minor satisfied by the program.
FREN 111BF: Literature of Francophone Africa
Instructor: Dr. Alain Sissao, INSS, Ouagadougou
Language of instruction: French
Prerequisite: Two years of French at University level with grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, or equivalent.
A comparative exploration of literary themes developed by men and women in the West African tradition, with special emphasis on changes in form, character, and myth over time. Includes writings by Amadou Hampate Ba (L’étrange destin de Wangrin), Sembene Ousmane (Les bouts de bois de Dieu), Cheik Hamidou Kane (L’aventure ambigue), Nazi Boni (Crépuscule des temps anciens) and others. Students are expected to read and discuss five novels during the first session in Ouagadougou, and then three novels during the second session in the villages, as well as short stories, literary criticism, and films. (Fulfills the Cultures & Ideas 3 requirements)
ECON 129BF: Development Economics in West Africa
Instructors:
Dr. Michael Kevane, Dept. of Economics, Santa Clara University
Dr. Leslie Gray, Institute of Environmental Studies, Santa Clara University
Language of instruction: English & French
Introduction to major issues in development economics relevant to West Africa, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Includes discussion of geography of the region, measuring human development and poverty, policy issues regarding education, microfinance, trade, agricultural investment, etc., and political economy. Emphasis on rural political economy and role of civic organizations (women’s associations, credit groups) in promoting economic development. Several guest speakers from Burkina Faso. Field visits to development projects and organizations. (Fulfills the Social Science Requirement).
ARTS 157BF: Digital Photography
Instructor: Dr. David Pace, Dept. of Fine Arts, Santa Clara University
Language of instruction: English
Introduction to the fundamentals of creativity and craft in digital photography, for B/W and color. Includes shooting and printing assignments, as well as readings and discussion of photography as it relates to African settings. The final project for the course is creating two books of photographs with text appropriate for newly literate adults or young readers in Burkina Faso. (Fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in new Core Curriculum)
INTL 139BF: Community-based Learning in Village Libraries
Instructors:
Dr. Michael Kevane, Dept. of Economics, Santa Clara University
Dr. Leslie Gray, Institute of Environmental Studies, Santa Clara University
Language of instruction: English & French
The second six weeks of the semester are spent living in a rural community. During the village stay, students will carry out two projects: developing and implementing reading programs in small community libraries, and working with rural communities to conceive and produce several “micro-books” designed to foster increased interest in reading. This service-learning or “praxis” activity will be accompanied by directed reflection, readings, and feedback on writing (journals and reflection writing) and will qualify the student for academic credit.The “micro-books” component will also be the project for the Photography course. (Fulfills the Civic Engagement course requirement and the Experiential Learning component of the new Core Curriculum)
FREN 10BF: French in Francophone Africa
Instructor: TBA
Language of instruction: French
Prerequisite: None.
Development of communicative language skills and cultural understanding in the context of spoken French in rural Burkina Faso. The class will involve group sessions and sub-group and individual sessions. For intermediate students, a continuation of the review of the fundamentals of spoken and written French. The focus is on communication for everyday situations. During the village immersion, students will have village schoolteachers as tutors.
