Back to selection
76544-01 - Colloquium: African Studies (3 CP)
| Semester | fall 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 | English |
| 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 15.09.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.002 |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 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 (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Changing Societies Lab (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Europeanization and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Module: Global Modernity and Difference (Master's degree program: Changing Societies) Module: Research Skills (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Societal Conflicts: Inequality, Institutions, Discourse (Master's degree subject: Sociology) Module: Societal Transformations: Ecology, Technology, Global Society (Master's degree subject: Sociology) |
| 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 |