Current courses in African Studies and related fields at the graduate level.
Fall 2025
FREN41400/GNSE41401: The Legacy of Fatima Mernissi: Feminism, Islam, and Politics | Khalid Lyamlahy
Moroccan writer and sociologist Fatima Mernissi (1940-2015) is widely recognized as one of the most prominent Islamic feminists, whose legacy continues to be celebrated in North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Through a body of work that encompasses fictional autobiography, historical inquiry, sociopolitical critique, and religious reinterpretation, she engaged in a double critique of patriarchal structures within Muslim societies and Western dominant frameworks, aiming to advance women’s rights, challenge stereotypical representations of gender roles, and promote an alternative reading of Islamic texts and traditions. This course examines her most influential works and considers her intellectual legacy across disciplines.
LANGUAGES
The University of Chicago is an active member of the CourseShare initiative. Course offerings include Zulu, Wolof, Yoruba, Bamana, Mandinka, and Malagasy.
Swahili, including Swahili I, Swahili II, Swahili III, and Intermediate Swahili III. This sequence is designed to help students acquire communicative competence in Swahili and a basic understanding of its structures.
Arabic, including Elementary, Intermediate, High Indermediate Modern, High Intermediate Classical, Advanced, and regional colloquial. This sequence concentrates on the acquisition and mastery of speaking, reading, and aural skills in a variety of types of Arabic.