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76544-01 - Colloquium: African Studies (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every semester |
| Lecturers | Elisio Macamo (elisio.macamo@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This seminar introduces students to the craft of research in and on Africa. It begins with the foundations of social science methodology understood as epistemology: what counts as knowledge, how research questions are framed, and how reasoning structures research design. The seminar then addresses key issues such as ethics in African contexts and the balance between basic and applied research. Through exercises, students develop their own research questions and refine their project ideas. The second half of the seminar provides a platform for research-in-progress presentations by invited guests (advanced students, researchers, or practitioners). This exposes students to diverse research approaches and creates a collaborative space to test arguments, methods, and interpretations. |
| Learning objectives | Facts: Students learn the main steps of research design — epistemology, research questions, reasoning structures, ethics, types of research (basic/applied). Ideas: Exposure to primary methodological debates (positivism vs. interpretivism; deductive vs. inductive reasoning; positionality; ethics of representation). Skills: Develop the ability to frame a researchable question, articulate the logic of inquiry, identify ethical dilemmas, critically discuss peers’ work, and translate methodological principles into their own projects. |
| Comments | Sessions 1–7: Core concepts and skills for research design. Sessions 8–14: Guest presentations and critical discussion. |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 17.02.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 24.02.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Tuesday 03.03.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 10.03.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 17.03.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 24.03.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 31.03.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 07.04.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 14.04.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 21.04.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 28.04.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 05.05.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 12.05.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 19.05.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 26.05.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Modules |
African Studies: Recommendations (PhD subject: African Studies) Doktorat Soziologie: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Sociology) Modul: Ungleichheit, Konflikt, Kultur (Master's degree subject: Sociology) Module: Changing Societies Lab (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Module: Europeanization and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Module: Research Skills (Master's degree program: African Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Participation & Preparation (30%): Active engagement, weekly notes. Research Exercises (30%): Draft research questions, reasoning maps, ethics reflection. Final Assignment 40%): A short research proposal (8–10 pages) outlining question, reasoning, method, ethics, and contribution. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Soziologie |