Embracing 54 countries and 748 million people, Africa is a vast continent of 30 million square kilometers, and one of the culturally and ecologically richest areas in the world. With a history and a future integrally connected to both the Americas and Europe, the African continent represents a prime area for study and research in the decades ahead. Some suggest that the 21st century will be the Century of Africa.
Recognizing Africa's importance in the international arena , and the growing interest among Colby students to study abroad in Africa, Colby inaugurated an African Studies Program in 2001. The African Studies Program offers a minor that is both flexible and interdisciplinary, and can be combined with a wide range of majors. In particular, it supports and complements majors in anthropology, French, environmental policy, history, government, and international studies. Students who are concentrating on Francophone Africa will take a number of courses in French, both on campus and abroad. Other students will do their class work in English. Students may want to undertake the study of Swahili, Arabic or other African languages using audio programs in the Language Resource Center.
