Degree Programs and Course Catalogs
African Studies and Egyptology
African Studies and Egyptology can be studied together in the B.A. in African Languages and Cultures, the M.A. in African Studies and Egyptology, the M.A. in Culture and Environment in Africa, and as a minor in the B.A. in Geography. Students gain an overview of the cultural studies foundations of African Studies and Egyptology and can choose to specialize in African languages, cultural anthropology, or Egyptology during the course of their studies.
Bachelor's Degree in “Languages and Cultures of Africa”
Program Focus
- How many languages are there in Africa, and what is the relationship between language and culture?
- What to learn about the past and present of African cultures?
- How does the program relate to contemporary African societies?
The African Languages and Cultures program introduces students to the fields of linguistic and cultural studies in African research, including Egypt and Sudan. Course content includes descriptive and comparative African linguistics, ancient studies specializing in the Nile Valley region, and cultural studies focused on Africa.
At least one African language is taught; options include Ancient Egyptian, Swahili, and Hausa. In the advanced modules, students can further specialize by selecting two of the three specializations: African Linguistics, Cultural Anthropology of Africa, and Egyptology.
The academic focus of the Cologne program “Languages and Cultures of Africa” represents an innovation in the German-speaking higher education landscape that builds on international research
by combining the methods and content of African Studies and Egyptology within a single program.
The departments within the Faculty of Arts are connected to other disciplines through subject clusters and teaching and research centers: Regular lecture series and workshops
enable you to view your field within a broader context, thereby benefiting your future professional practice.
Prerequisites & Additional Requirements
- High school diploma (which when it is done in Germany also certifies the German language skills)
- English proficiency at level B2 (CEFR)
- French proficiency at level A2 (CEFR) or proficiency in another modern foreign language
Further Information
MA "African Studies and Egyptology"
Program Focus
The master’s program provides in-depth practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in specific areas of African Studies and Egyptology, as well as training in the methods, theories, and issues of various subfields, including:
- Knowledge of theories and models of African language history
- Understanding of the fundamental processes of language change and language development in Africa
- Knowledge of applied linguistics in Africa
- Ethnolinguistic issues
- Methodological and theoretical approaches in Egyptology as a historical cultural studies discipline with a text- and object-based approach
- Knowledge of the languages, scripts, and archaeology of the Lower and Middle Nile Valley, particularly in antiquity
- Knowledge of cultural studies theories on globalization and localization
- Knowledge of the ethnography of African societies and comparative cultural ethnology
- Critical reflection on the history of African studies and Egyptology
- Critical analysis of self-perceptions and external perceptions of Africa
- Ability to critically apply models of social and cultural theory to ancient Egypt
The goal is to equip students with the skills needed to conduct independent academic research or pursue a career outside the academic field. The program can be pursued as a single-major or double-major master’s degree and offers three specializations:
- Specialization in African Studies and Linguistics
- Specialization in African Studies and Cultural Anthropology
- Specialization in Egyptology
Specialization (3) includes advanced Egyptian language courses. In Specialization (1), students can build on their language skills in EM1. In Specialization (3), students can take advanced language courses and Egyptology courses in Bonn.
Prerequisites
- Completion of a relevant BA program in African studies or Egyptology
- English proficiency at the B1 level (CEFR)
- Proficiency in an African language equivalent to at least 10 hours per week
If language proficiency cannot be proven at the start of the program, it must be achieved during the course of study as a requirement for enrollment.
Further information
- Information page on the study orientation portal for this program
- MA Course Catalog(Single-Major)
- MA Course Catalog (Double-Major)
MA "Culture and Environment in Africa"
The institute is also involved in this interdisciplinary, English-language master’s program, which is offered jointly by the departments of Ethnology, African Studies, Prehistory and Early History, Geography, and Egyptology.
The master’s program provides both detailed regional knowledge of various African regions and advanced methodological, theoretical, and substantive competencies in the field of human-environment research.
Due to the interdisciplinary design of the master’s program, students acquire extensive skills in various social and natural science techniques for data collection, data processing, and data analysis. Another focus of the program is the transmission of current knowledge regarding historical and recent human-environment dynamics on the African continent. A particular strength of the program lies in the integration of insights from various disciplines.
Minor in “Languages and Cultures of Africa” in the B.A. in "Geography"
Admission to the minor program “Languages and Cultures of Africa” within the B.A. program in Geography is granted—upon application—by the Geography Office of Academic Affairs.
Afrikanistik
Die Afrikanistik ist beteiligt am Studiengang
MA "Interkulturelle Kommunikation und Bildung"
Der Studiengang bietet eine Kombination sprach-, sozial- und kulturwissenschaftlicher Zugänge zur Interkulturalität. Über die Zusammenarbeit der Fächer Erziehungswissenschaft, Ethnologie, Linguistik, Psychologie und Sozialwissenschaften wird eine interdisziplinäre Auseinandersetzung mit themen kultureller Dynamik angeboten in den Bereichen
- Kultur
- Bildung
- Sprache und Kommunikation
- Individuum und Gesellschaft.
Ziel des Studiums ist es, einen wissenschaftlichen Zugang zu Gesellschaften der Welt zu erhalten, die durch gegenseitige Beeinflussung von Kulturen wie auch durch die Herausbildung neuer kultureller Identitäten gekennzeichnet ist.
Ägyptologie
Ägyptologie kann als Schwerpunktfach in weiteren Studiengängen studiert werden.
BA "Antike Sprachen und Kulturen"
Die Studienrichtung Ägyptologie im Studiengang Antike Sprachen und Kulturen (ASuK) ist auf Studierende mit Interesse an der Geschichte, den Sprachen und der Literatur des Mittelmeerraumes zugeschnitten. ASuK-Ägyptologie hat einen philologischen Schwerpunkt und kann mit einem zweiten ASuK-Fach oder mit einem anderen Fach kombiniert werden.
BA "Archäologie"
In diesem praxisorientierten Studiengang erlernen Studierende aktuelle Methoden und Techniken der Archäologie und wenden sie auf altägyptische Befunde an. Im 1-Fach-BA werden alle Schwerpunktmodule aus der Ägyptologie (Profil A) oder aus der Ägyptologie und einem archäologischen Fach (Profil B) gewählt. Im 2-Fach-BA wird Ägyptologie mit einem Fach außerhalb der Archäologie kombiniert.
MA "Antike Sprachen und Kulturen"
Die Studienrichtung Ägyptologie im Studiengang Antike Sprachen und Kulturen (ASuK) richtet sich an Studierende mit Interesse an der Geschichte und den Traditionen des Mittelmeerraums, aus dem Europa hervorgegangen ist. Sie kann mit einem zweiten ASuK-Fach oder einem anderen Fach kombiniert werden.
MA "Archäologie"
In diesem praxisorientierten Studiengang kombinieren Studierende Ägyptologie mit einem archäologischen Fach (1-Fach-MA) oder mit einem Fach außerhalb der Archäologie (2-Fach-MA). Sie wenden aktuelle Methoden und Theorien der Archäologie auf altägyptische Befunde an und können Ägyptologie mit der deutschlandweit einzigartigen Studienrichtung Archäoinformatik kombinieren. Im 2-Fach-MA muss kein Sprachmodul belegt werden, doch sind für den Abschluss Kenntnisse des Mittelägyptischen, z. B. aus einem BA-Studium, nachzuweisen.