Introduction to African Studies

The course will provide the students with a broad and fundamental knowledge of the African continent. Emphasis will be on giving the students an overview of geographical, social and economic conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the emphasis is on providing students with a brads knowledge of key issues and theories related to various current issues. Central themes to be addressed are: What factors affect population growth? How will population trends affect the development in general? How does climate affect the population and the settlement? And how will climate change affect this? What kind of natural resources do we find and how will the management of these affect the development? Why do we see an increase in the population living in cities and what are the consequences of this?

After completing the course, the students will have conferred broad and fundamental knowledge about the African continent. In addition, they will have an acquired knowledge of selected issues and theories central in the course. Through writing a term paper, students should be able to collect relevant information and account for a further specified topic/question.

One start-up seminar. 4 hour written exam. Teaching will only be given if a sufficient number of students register for the course and if the Department has sufficient teaching resources. See www.ntnu.no/geografi/studentinformasjon for the most recent information on the courses not offered. Information will be made available no later than 10 January in the spring semister and 10 August in the autumn semester.