About

Welcome to our
AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER.

The African Studies Center (ASC) at Boston University is one of the nation’s oldest leaders in promoting African language and area studies since its founding in 1953, with federal funding from the US Department of Education as a Title VI National Resource Center.

As a center for excellence for researching, learning, and teaching about Africa, the ASC provides opportunities for students and scholars across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to pursue rigorous academic study and research engaging Africa, to learn African languages, and to participate in diverse programming outside of the classroom.

Students on the Zanzibar Summer Study Abroad program pose during their trip
Students pose during their Zanzibar Summer Study Abroad program

Academic Programs

More than 100 faculty across over 40 departments at BU engage in research and teaching related to Africa. Students across a variety of fields of study at BU can pursue rigorous academic programs at the ASC, including undergraduate minors in African studies, a major in Linguistics and African Languages, and a graduate certificate in African Studies. Learn more about academic programs here.

Events, Funding, and Other Opportunities

Beyond our degree programs, the ASC offers an array of opportunities and resources on and off campus, such as:

  • Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships for students to support intensive language study in the US and across Africa in 9 African languages
  • The K-16 Education Outreach Program provides workshops, opportunities, and resource development for K-16 teachers and pre-service educators
  • The African Studies Library at Mugar Library is home to special collections, books, pamphlets, and other materials, as well as a dedicated staff of African studies librarians
  • The Walter Rodney Seminar Series has showcased established and young scholars from a variety of fields touching on African studies for over 40 years
  • Our Publications Program publishes the latest research with series of working papers and the peer-reviewed International Journal of African Historical Studies
  • Additional events like the CineMAfriq Film Series, the Morse Distinguished Lecture, and African Language Theater Night posted to our Calendar

    Stay abreast of the latest news, event announcements, and opportunities by subscribing to our email Weekly Brief.

    Explore our site using the navigation tabs at the top of this page. And contact us at ascinfo@bu.edu with any questions.

    African Union Ambassador to the US Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao speaks to BU students at the African Studies Center in 2018
    African Union Ambassador to the US Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao speaks with students at the ASC