Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - Institute of Asian and African Studies

B.A. Area Studies Asia/Africa

 

Are you interested in Asia or Africa? Are you enjoying the study of languages? Are you open for new ways of thinking and ready to critically examine your notions on extra-European cultures? Our three-year bachelor's degree program Regional Studies Asia/Africa connects two continents in one study program.

 

In a broad introduction, students receive theoretical and methodological knowledge, which enables them to understand scholarly thinking, deal with sources, analyze texts and write academic essays. At the same time, they are studying regional languages and focus on a particular African or Asian region of their choice. Within the bachelor's degree program, students are asked to undergo an internship and advised to go abroad for a period of time. This training paves the way for either a professional career in a global setting or for the pursue of further studies at our university or other universities worldwide.

 

Courses are taught in English and German. No study fees required.

 

 

Description of Studies

 

Degree

Mono-bachelor: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Combined bachelor: as secondary subject only, without teacher training option.
Please note the ‘Course catalogue’ and the ‘Bachelor’s and Master’s courses at the HU’ FAQ.

Standard time for completing course

6 semesters

Start of study

Course structure

Asian/African Studies is offered as:

Mono-bachelor: 180 CP*
Secondary subject: 60 CP for a bachelor’s core subject from a combined bachelor’s without teacher training course programme (cannot be combined with the core subjects Biology, Chemistry or Physics)

* One credit point is calculated to equate to an average workload of 25 to max. 30 hours for preparation, follow-up and attendance at lectures.

Studies abroad

A study-related visit abroad, preferably in a region covered by the course, is highly recommended and should be planned for after basic studies (1st-3rd semesters) at the earliest.

Course objectives and content

Asian/African Studies is a multidisciplinary and multi-regional B.A. course dealing with the regions of Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. The course content is divided into three thematic areas:

Language/communication – with linguistic, sociolinguistic, communication studies and philological topics;
Culture/identity – literary studies, religious studies, cultural studies and ethnological questions;
Society/transformation – historical, social studies and ethnological perspectives.

An introduction to scientific work and regional studies debates, teaching methods and discussing current topics in Africa and Asia form an integral part of the course. The students acquire the ability to apply regional studies methods to individual or multiple regions of Asia and Africa. The course provides an awareness of the relevant theories, corresponding language skills and a basic knowledge of the relevant specialised areas and regions. Students acquire theoretical and methodological skills, an ability to detect problems, conduct research and analysis and compose texts, as well as presentation techniques and practical experience. They become qualified for professional activities in non-academic fields, as well as for international partnerships, journalism, management and political consulting or environmental and cultural work, as well as further academic education.

The best place to find information about course content is the annotated university calendar (u.hu-berlin.de/vorlesungsverzeichnis). You’ll find the module descriptions, the course curriculum and other details in the course and examination regulations, available online at www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 98/2014.

Languages/choice of language

You will learn the basic language skills: assured communication in standard situations, basic free communication skills, good reading comprehension, basic written expression skills, and more advanced skills in communication culture and the handling of specialised texts. The primary objective of the language training is the ability to apply regional studies to three areas: society/transformation, culture/identity and language/communication.
The first study semester begins with a mandatory introduction week, which includes a more detailed presentation of the languages on offer. You will find advance information on the current languages on offer in the annotated university calendar and at the Language Centre web page. Courses are offered subject to a minimum number of participants.

At the Department of Asian and African Studies, we teach the following languages:

Region of concentration

Language

Africa

Hausa, Northern Sotho, Swahili, Amharic2, Bambara2

East Asia

Chinese (modern & classic), Japanese1

Southeast Asia

Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Vietnamese, Khmer2, Myanmar2, Tagalog2

South Asia

Hindi, Telugu, Urdu2, Arabic3

Central Asia

Dari Persian, Mongolian, Tajik, Tibetan, Uzbek, Pashto2, Kazakh2, Uighur2

1 If you choose Japanese, we recommend acquiring a knowledge of the Hiragana and Katakana alphabets before beginning the course (see http://iaaw.hu-berlin.de/japan/studium/zum-studienbeginn).
2 Not permanent available.
3 Offered in collaboration with the language centre and recognised as an external language course on the B.A.

Students can register for one of the available African or Asian languages online during the introduction week via the ‘AGNES - Online Study and Examination Portal’ (http://agnes.hu-berlin.de). (Skills in an additional Asian of African language may be acquired as part of the career-related additional qualification.)

Study Counselling in the relevant sector (see below) informs students who already know an African or Asian language about the recognition procedure.

Why study Asian/African Studies at HU?

Thanks to the Asian/African Studies bachelor’s course, Humboldt-Universität is the only university in Germany to offer a basic course combining a wide-ranging introduction with the ability for in-depth study in the field of regional studies for Asia and Africa.
The course at the Department of Asian and African Studies provides a theoretical and methodological foundation. It enables the study of relevant regional languages, providing the skills for the detailed treatment of a region and a subsequent, discipline-oriented master’s course.
In job market, it also opens up the opportunity to enter trans-regional fields and to specialise in a particular cultural area.

What special skills and interests do you need for this subject?

The course primarily targets theoretical and methodological approaches which are relevant for examining Asia and Africa. You should be interested in at least one of the regions of concentration and enjoy learning languages. You have knowledge of the regions or countries (e.g. geographic, cultural) or will find out about them during the course. Future students should also be prepared to critically question perceptions of non-European cultures and be open to new ideas.

Mono-bachelor structure (180 CP)

Mandatory modules (120 CP)

1. Core curriculum

Module 01: Introduction (10 CP)
Module 02: Society/Transformation basic course (10 CP)
Module 03: Culture/Identity basic course (10 CP)
Module 04: Language/Communication basic course (10 CP)

2. Language training

Students must complete 4 consecutive language modules of one of the languages offered at the department of Asian and African Studies. The language can be changed, under the condition that no examination was not finally passed.

Module 05: Language course I (10 CP)
Module 06: Language course II (10 CP)
Module 07: Language course III (10 CP)
Module 08: Language course IV (10 CP)

3. Advanced curriculum

Module 09: Methods (10 CP)
Module 10: Project module Asian/African current affairs (10 CP)
Module 17: Free choice (5 CP)

4. Graduation

Module 18: Closing module (18 CP)

Mandatory elective modules (30 CP)

1. Advanced curriculum
Students must choose 2 modules

Module 11: Society/Transformation advanced course (10 CP)
Module 12: Culture/Identity advanced course (10 CP)
Module 13: Language/Communication advanced course (10 CP)

2. Practical experience
Students must choose 1 module

Module 14: Internship (10 CP) - support is provided by: catapult - Praktika an der PhilFak III
Module 15: Practical orientation/ Language training (10 CP)
Module 16: Complementary language training (10 CP)

General elective modules (30 CP)

In addition to specialised study, Students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 30 CP. The general elective modules can be chosen from the module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions (see: http://agnes.hu-berlin.de/)

Secondary subject structure (60 CP)

Mandatory module (10 CP)

Module 01: Introduction (10 CP)

Mandatory elective modules (50 CP)

1. Core curriculum

Students must choose one module

Module 02: Society/Transformation basic course (10 CP)
Module 03: Culture/Identity basic course (10 CP)
Module 04: Language/Communication basic course (10 CP)

2. Advanced curriculum

Students can choose between two options:

1. Up to four modules from the mono bachelor's course catalogue (modules 02-04, 09, 11-13)
2. Up to four language modules (modules 05-08)

General elective course offerings for students coming from other courses of studies

Module 02: Society/Transformation basic course (10 CP)
Module 03: Culture/Identity basic course (10 CP)
Module 04: Language/Communication basic course (10 CP)
Module 19: Asian/African languages I (10 CP)
Module 20: Asian/African languages II (10 CP)
Module 21: Asian/African languages III (10 CP)
Module 22: Asian/African languages IV (10 CP)
Module 23: Introduction to classical chinese and China's traditional written culture I (10 CP)
Module 24: Introduction to classical chinese and China's traditional written culture II (10 CP)
Module 25: Classical chinese China's traditional written culture: Reading and Practice I (10 CP)
Module 26: Classical chinese China's traditional written culture: Reading and Practice II (10 CP)

Master

As advanced master’s courses for the Asian/African Studies BA, the Department of Asian and African Studies offers: African Studies (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 66/2014), Modern South and Southeast Asian Studies (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 65/2014) and Central Asian Studies (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 118/2014). Please also note the Global History master’s course (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 25/2012). For further master’s courses, see the ‘Course catalogue’.

Important addresses

Department of Asian and African Studies: Invalidenstr. 118, http://iaaw.hu-berlin.de/, Tel. +49 30 2093-66001
Course Advisory Service and classification and recognition of studies and qualifications:

  • Africa: (Surnames A-L) Dr. Pesek, R. 406, Tel. +49 30 2093-66088,
    habari[at]arcor.de; (Surnames M-Z) Dr. Wetter, R. 411, Tel. +49 30 2093-66006, andreas.wetter[at]hu-berlin.de
  • China: Alice Trinkle, Johannisstr. 10, R. 206, Appointments via Moodle
  • Japan: Dr. Salomon, Johannisstr. 10, R. 305, Tel. +49 30 2093-1169, harald.salomon[at]rz.hu-berlin.de; for language practice: Ms. Borchert, Johannisstr. 10, R 205, Tel. +49 30 2093-66927, jutta.borchert[at]rz.hu-berlin.de
  • South Asia: Dr. Robotka, R. 216, Tel. (030) 2093-66058, bettina.robotka[at]rz.hu-berlin.de
  • Southeast Asia: Mr. Baumann, M.A., R. 116, Tel. +49 30 2093-66039, benjamin.baumann[at]staff.hu-berlin.de
  • Central Asia: Dr. Baldauf, R. 502, Tel. +49 30 2093-66051, ingeborg.baldauf[at]rz.hu-berlin.de; Prof. Dr. Huber, R. 503, Tel. +49 30 2093-66062, toni.huber[at]staff.hu-berlin.de

Applications: www.hu-berlin.de/studium/compass/wie
Links to job market: careers information centre (http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/web/content/DE/BuergerinnenUndBuerger/ArbeitundBeruf/Berufswahl/Berufsinformationszentren/index.htm) , employment market reports (http://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Arbeitsmarktberichte/Akademiker/Akademiker-Nav.html), Federal Employment Office Berufenet (http://berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de/berufe/), Hochschulteam calendar of events (http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/web/content/DE/dienststellen/rdbb/berlinmitte/Agentur/BuergerinnenundBuerger/Akademiker/index.htm)

Version: July 2015