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The Ohio University African Ensemble and Steel Band perform in 2024.
African Culture Through Music and Dance Undergraduate Certificate

African Culture through Music and Dance Undergraduate Certificate

There is a growing interest and focus on African studies at Ohio University and across the United States. While the College of Fine arts at Ohio University offers selected courses in African performing and visual arts, there is neither a specific undergraduate degree nor a minor in African music, dance and culture. 

The African Culture Through Music and Dance Certificate program, therefore, functions as a specialization studies program in African studies for students who are majoring in African studies, any music or dance program, anthropology, and other majors.

Career Opportunities

The program seeks to expand students’ cross cultural awareness, especially African cultural attitudes toward the performing and visual arts. Music graduates will be better equipped for the emerging multicultural classrooms.

Dance students are provided with new dance structures and movements for their creative works. Other majors are provided with in-depth knowledge of African cultures through music and dance.

Completion of relevant courses and participation in the OHIO African ensembles and African culture through the arts education abroad program in Ghana will provide undergraduate and graduate students with a multicultural foundation, enhanced by personal experiences in African cultures through arts.

Admissions

This certificate is open to all majors, and students must apply for admission by contacting the certificate director for an interview.

Paschal Younge
Co-Certificate Director
Glidden Hall 471D
Phone: 740.593.4244
Email: Youngep2@ohio.edu

Zelma Badu-Younge
Co-Certificate Director
Putnam Hall 107
Phone: 740.593.1852
Email: Badu-you@ohio.edu 

Requirements

Full Requirements and Courses in the Official Academic Catalog

The African culture through music and dance certificate program requires a minimum of 26 hours.

Core Requirements 1

Complete 3 hours from the following courses:

  • MUS 4250 - Music of Africa Credit Hours: 2
  • MUS 4260 - African Music and Related Arts Credit Hours: 2
  • MUS 4930 - Independent Project Credit Hours: 1 - 4

Core Requirements 2

Complete 6 hours from the following courses:

  • DANC 4550 - Dance Ethnography: Intellectualizing the Body’s Motion Credit Hours: 3
  • DANC 4750 - Dance in Non-Western Expressive Cultures Credit Hours: 3
  • DANC 4930 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 1 - 10

Core Requirements 3

Complete 9 hours from the following courses:

  • DANC 1050 - Introduction to African Dance Technique Credit Hours: 1.5
  • DANC 2050 - African Dance Technique II Credit Hours: 1.5
  • MUS 2480 - African Ensemble I Credit Hours: 1
  • MUS 2481 - African Ensemble II Credit Hours: 1

Elective Requirement

Complete one courses. 

  • AH 4331 - Central African Art Credit Hours: 3
  • ANTH 1010 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
  • GEOG 3310 - Geography of Africa Credit Hours: 3
  • HIST 3410 - History of Africa to 1850 Credit Hours: 3

Language Requirement

Complete courses in an African language.