phd in swahili language

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Kiswahili Studies

1.1Philosophy Kiswahili PhD programme is designed at providing an in-depth understanding of the various areas in linguistics and literature. The program facets and the literary aspects are aimed at helping learners in achieving the national, regional and global developmental goals for the common good. This way participants will acquire Kiswahili language skills that will enable them to interact easily in all spheres of life. 1.2Rationale The Department of Kiswahili at The University of Nairobi recognizes that, constitutionally, Kiswahili is a national and official language. It is also an African language that is spoken across East African States. Kiswahili is one of the official languages of the East African Community and the African Union. Given the multiple roles the language plays in the world, there has been great interest in learning and mastering of this language globally. The Undergraduate Kiswahili syllabus is meant to update and improve the existing knowledge in the areas of Kiswahili linguistics and literature for it to be a better training tool. In view of the importance of Kiswahili as Kenya’s official and national language, PhD degree programme is designed to train candidates that will be able to teach, research and publish their findings in this subject at all levels of learning.

Within a few years of graduation, the graduates of Doctor of Philosophy in Kiswahili at the University of Nairobi will:

• Practice the profession of Doctor of Philosophy in Kiswahili, make progress toward conducting research, teach at the university and venture in translation and interpretation avenues.
• Serve society and the Swahili profession through involvement in community and professional organizations.
• Pursue life-long education through professional training and/or independent inquiry and study.
• Possess the expertise that allows graduates to make judgment-based decisions with confidence.

Application Information

Applications for admission are open throughout the year through the online platform. The requirements for submitting your application are detailed in the link provided  https://application.uonbi.ac.ke/

Schedule of Intakes 

The Department admits new students at the beginning of every academic calendar year (which is usually September).

Mode of Delivery

• Face-to-Face Mode

This is through lectures and tutorials using notes, electronic presentations, instruction manuals, group discussions, practical laboratory demonstrations and fieldwork.

• Open, Distance Learning and e-Learning

In case of delivery through ODeL, special arrangements shall be made to learn online. Where not feasible alternative arrangements will be made to do them on campus. 

• Blended Learning
• This is a hybrid of face to face with Open, Distance Learning and e-learning.

Notable Alumni 

1. Mhe. Mary Seneta- Seneta na mbunge wa zamani

2. Hon. Sabina Chege - Mbunge mteule

3. Mr. Kamau Kiarie CEO, EAEP

4. Prof. Rayya Timammy - Assoc. Dean,

5. Prof. John Habwe- Renowned award winning author,

6. Prof. Kyallo Wamitilla - Renowned award winning author, Prof. Kisw, UoN

6. Prof. Mwenda Mbatia - Renowned award winning author, Prof. Kisw, UoN

7. Ms. Margaret Mwachanya - Former commissioner, IEBC

8. Prof. Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha - chairman CUE

9. Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia-Director General, NMK

10. Prof. Ken Walibora - Renowned award winning author

11. Prof. Kitula King'ei - Renown award winning author

12. Prof. Kimani wa Njogu - CEO, Twaweza Communications

13. Prof. Naomi Shitemi (late) - Former DVC, Moi University

14. Hon. Tola Kofa - Former Assist Minister,

15. Dr. Assumpta Matei  - KNEC

16. Prof. Miriam Bageni Mwita - Former VC, Baraton University

17. Dr. Mungania UoN

18. Ngulamu Mwaviro - KBC

19. Mwandawiro Mghanga - Taita County & Former MP 

20. John matiangi - National Treasurer KNUT

21. Jacktone Winstone Nyonje,

22. Prof. Iribe Mwangi - Chairman, Kiswahili Dept. UoN

23. Prof. Kineene Wamutiso - Prof. of Kiswahili UoN

24. Dr. Sarah Ngesu - Lec Kisw, SEKU

25. Dr. Hannah Mwaliwa - Lec Kisw, UoN

26. Dr. Mary Ndung'u - Lec Kisw, UoN

27. Dr. Samson Ongarora - Lec Kisw, UoN

28. Dr. Rose Kawira - Lec Kisw, SEKU

29. Dr. Jefwa Mweri - Lec Kisw, UoN

30. Dr. Priscah Jerono - Lec Kisw, UoN

31. Dr. Ayub Mukhwana - Lec Kisw, UoN

32. Prof. Mbuthia - Prof. of Kisw, UoN

33. Prof. Tom Olali - Prof. of Kisw, UoN

Department of Kiswahili

P.O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi 

Email:  [email protected]   

Website:  kiswahili .uonbi.ac.ke

Tell: 0204913251

Physical location: 1st Floor, Rm 101, 8.4.4 Building

Find us on  Google Maps

(a)The Doctoral programme shall normally consist of Research and Thesis.

(b) Where a doctoral student is found further deficient in areas necessary for Ph.D research work, the student shall be required to select relevant courses from level 8 courses.

(c) The student in consultation with the department shall select relevant level 8 courses for the student’s specialization.

(d) In consultation with their advisors/supervisors students will select a topic on which to carry out library guided reading, and research and present the results of their work at a series of seminar.

MAOMBI YA KUJIUNGA KAMA MWANAFUNZI KATIKA KIWANGO CHA UZAMIVU (PhD)

Ili kujiunga katika somo la uzamivu unahitaji kutuma maombai kupitia tovuti ya Chuo Kikuu cha Nairobi ( www.uonbi.ac.ke ). Utapata mwongozo unaofaa kufuata hatua kwa hatua. Katika ombi lako unafaa kuambatisha:

• Nakala ya Cheti chako cha Kidato cha Nne kama ulipata alama ya C+ au bora zaidi, au

nakala ya Cheti chako cha Kidato cha Nne na cha stashahada kama ulipata alama ya C,

nakala Cheti chako cha Kidato cha Nne, stashahada na cheti kingine kama ulipata alama ya C-

• Nakala ya Cheti chako cha Shahada ya kwanza (Ni lazima uwe ulisoma Kiswahili katika shahada hiyo, kama ulipata Kiwango cha Pili (chini) Unafaa kuwa umekamilisha miaka miwili tangu kufuzu.
• Nakala hizo lazima ziwe zimethibishwa kuwa nakala za Cheti asili.
• Pendekezo la utafiti.

The programme of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Kiswahili Studies seeks to strengthen the knowledge base of Kiswahili scholars, enabling them to undertake critical analysis of important Linguistics and Literary issues, to conduct and co-ordinate multi/inter-disciplinary research, and to disseminate information and data for sustainable use of the language. The knowledge gained by those specializing in Kiswahili Studies will enable adequate Analysis, Translation, Research, teaching and examination of the language leading to effective rehabilitation and restoration of Kiswahaili as a National and International language.

© University of Nairobi 2024.  All rights Reserved.

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The Swahili Language

No Prior Language Study Required

Swahili, often referred to as Kiswahili, is the national language of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the lingua franca for as many as 150 million people in Central and East Africa. It is also one of the official languages of the African Union and the East African Community. For centuries, Swahili has been a key language of trade and culture across East Africa and continues today to be the key language for some of the fastest growing countries in the world. Today African languages, especially regional languages like Swahili, are more in demand than ever before as international businesses look to expand into the African market.

East Africa is a region renowned for its stunning natural beauty, friendly people, and its diverse languages and cultures. The CLS Swahili program offers a chance to get a foothold into this region and the opportunity to communicate with people across a broad spectrum of countries and cultures.

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Arusha, Tanzania

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The African Language Program at Harvard

Swahili A. Elementary Swahili Catalog Number: 1878 John M. Mugane Full course (indivisible). Fall: Hours to be arranged.; Spring: Hours to be arranged. A study of the lingua franca of East Africa at the elementary level. Contact hours supplemented by language lab sessions. Emphasis on written expression, reading comprehension, and oral fluency. Note: Not open to auditors.

Swahili B. Intermediate Swahili Catalog Number: 3442 John M. Mugane and assistant Full course (indivisible). Hours to be arranged. Continuation of Swahili A. A study of the lingua franca of East Africa at the elementary level. Contact hours supplemented by language lab sessions. Emphasis on written expression, reading comprehension, and oral fluency. Note: Not open to auditors. Prerequisite: Swahili A or the equivalent of one year’s study of Swahili.

Swahili 101ar. Reading in Swahili Catalog Number: 8503 John M. Mugane and assistant Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged. Advanced reading in Swahili. Prerequisite: Swahili B or equivalent.

Swahili 101br. Reading in Swahili II Catalog Number: 7746 John M. Mugane and assistant Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged. Advanced reading in Swahili II. Prerequisite: Swahili 101ar or equivalent.

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Language Contact and Email Address:

Abdul Nanji [email protected]

Swahili (Kiswahili) is an African language spoken by well over 120 million people in East and Central Africa, South Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of Congo, some parts of Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and the Islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Comoro. It is a national language of Kenya and Tanzania and the medium of instruction in primary schools in Tanzania. In addition, it is studied as a subject at the university level in Tanzania and Kenya.

Swahili language study at Columbia is communicative and dynamic. Students develop language skills rapidly through the use of situated language, such as in personal situations, various daily activities, and professional life. Students in the Elementary level will be introduced to various materials that will include literature, folk tales, plays, poems, songs, newspapers and magazine articles, commercials, films, music videos and other types of audio-visual materials. Aspects of Swahili and other East and Central African cultures are introduced and highlighted as necessary components towards achieving communicative and cultural competence.

At the higher levels of language study, students engage in a critical analysis of issues confronting Swahili and other East African communities just before the end of European colonial rule and the independence era. Autobiographies, biographies, plays, poetry, short stories, novels, essays, journal articles, multimedia performing arts, music and major issues in social media are examined to study the creative forces generating and framing conversations in political economy, social and cultural issues, education, health, science, environment and other important issues in East Africa.

Completing the Intermediate level Swahili (Kiswahili) courses will allow students to do the following:

1. Fulfill language requirement for undergraduate and graduate majors at Columbia University and various universities in the USA, Canada, Central and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and Newzealand. 2. Fulfill language requirement for applications for Masters programs, Phd programs, and Professional Graduate programs such as International Affairs, Law, Business, Education, Science, Health, Medicine, Environment, Climate, Agriculture, Nutrition, Archeology, Journalism, Performing Arts, Music, Film and Fashion Design. 3. Apply for funding for Swahili (Kiswahili) Study Abroad Programs and field research, like the Fulbright Hays Study Abroad Program (FLAS)Swahili, The Boren Awards Scholarship for Swahili (Kiswahili), Yale University Swahili Summer Session, Wellesley College Winter Session in East Africa, Critical Language Scholarship Program, Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship for Research in Africa.

Please check the Columbia Directory of Classes  for up-to-date information on class times and locations.

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Swahili is a language that is widely spoken in East Africa.  It is spoken as a first language in areas along the east coast, i.e. from southern Somalia to the Mozambique-Tanzania border; the islands of Zanzibar, Pembe, Mafia, Lamu, and the Comores; and most of East Africa's urban areas.

Swahili is a Bantu language. Other Bantu languages include Zulu, which is spoken in South Africa; Kikuyu of Kenya; Kongo of Zaire; and Duala of Cameroon. Although Bantu languages are not mutually intelligible, they all derive from a common ancestral language and thereby share vocabulary, word processes, and sentence structure. For example, the word for 'a person' is: Mtu (Swahili), Umuntu (Zulu), Mundu (Kikuyu), Muntu (Kongo), Moto (Duala). Because Swahili is spoken over such a wide area that is both ethnically and linguistically diverse, many local variations have emerged.

Swahili has borrowed a great deal of its vocabulary from Arabic and other languages such as Portuguese, Indian (Persian and Hindi), German, and English. This is resultant of contact with Arab and Indian traders, missionaries, settlers, explorers, and colonialists. Borrowing is now common not only to Swahili, but to other languages, as well. In spite of this extensive borrowing, Swahili still remains a Bantu language in its basic structure and core vocabulary. This attests to the cultural flexibility of Swahili, as it consistently adapts to new situations and circumstances. Swahili's flexibility has contributed to its rise as not only the national/official language of several East African countries, but also to its international reputation.

Source: African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania

• SWAH 0100 Elementary Swahili I
• SWAH 0200 Elementary Swahili II
• SWAH 0300 Intermediate Swahili I
• SWAH 0400 Intermediate Swahili II
• SWAH 1100 Advanced Swahili I
• SWAH 1200 Advanced Swahili II

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• Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Full text (PDF) of most US dissertations from 1997 on, many earlier works and some from outside the US plus some master's theses. Also lists all dissertations and theses from 1861 on from US universities and some works from Europe and Asia from 1637 on. Abstracts included after July, 1980. See also Finding Dissertations

See some sample dissertations and theses written about the Swahili language and culture below. Visit  ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global to search for more related material. Consider using a variety of search terms like Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dar es Salaam, DRC, DROC, East Africa, Kenya, Mombasa, Nairobi, Swahili, and/or Uganda. Also, use truncation when appropriate, for example "linguist *" for results containing linguist, linguists, linguistic, linguistics, and linguistically.

• Effects of Swahili vowel system on Kenyan English speakers' pronunciation
• English-Swahili Code Switching: An Intersection Between Identity and Stance
• The Impact of Interactive Discussions on Essay Writing in Swahili as a Foreign Language
• The linguistic analysis of Arabic loan-words in Swahili. (Volumes I and II)
• The modernization of Swahili technical terminologies: an investigation of the linguistics and literature terminologies
• The Presentation of Literary Texts in Foreign Language Swahili Teaching and Learning Materials
• Swahili dictionary design
• Swahili -English bilingual conversation: A vehicle for the study of language ideology
• Swahili word order choices: Insights from information structure
• University students' beliefs about foreign language learning, with a focus on Arabic and Swahili at United States HEA Title VI African studies centers
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Swahili Language Curriculum at University of California Berkeley

Swahili curriculum showing the syllabi for all levels of Swahili, events, professors' profiles and other important information.

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Morgan J. Robinson

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[email protected] 662-325-3604

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Curriculum Vitae

Scholarly Materials

I am a historian of eastern Africa, interested in (among many topics) the histories of science and scholarship, language, standardization, bureaucracy, creativity, and learning. My first book,  A Language for the World: The Standardization of Swahili  (Ohio University Press, November 2022), examines the long-term, interconnected processes that produced Standard Swahili as it is taught around the world today, zooming in on various moments of conversation, translation, and codification. My next project is an examination of the notions of “research” and “the researcher” in the context of turn-of-the-twentieth century East Africa. I am also very interested in the history of the postal system in Tanganyika/Tanzania, and I proudly serve as the Director of the Institute for the Humanities here at Mississippi State.

Princeton University PhD in History, May 2018 Dissertation: “An Uncommon Standard: A Social and Intellectual History of Swahili, 1864-1925”

Princeton University MA in History, September 2013 Fields: Pre-Colonial Africa; Modern Africa; Islam and the Indian Ocean

Yale University BA in History, May 2008

A Language for the World: The Standardization of Swahili

(Ohio University Press “New African Histories” Series, November 2022)

Peer-Reviewed Articles

“When a Wonder is Not a Wonder: Swahili, Translation, and the Communication of Knowledge,” Isis 114, no.2 (June 2023: 233-248). 

“The Idea of the Upelekwa : Constructing a Transcontinental Community in Eastern Africa, 1888-1896,” Journal of the History of Ideas 81, no.1 (January 2020): 85-106.

“La Belle Époque from Eastern Africa: An Individual Experience of the ‘Globalizing’ World, 1898-1918,” Journal of Eastern African Studies 13, no.4 (November 2019): 584-600.

“Cutting pice and running away: Discipline, education and choice at the UMCA Boys' Industrial House, Zanzibar, 1901-1905,” Southern African Review of Education , Vol. 19, No. 2 (December 2013): 9-24.

Encyclopedia and Book Chapters

“History of the Standard Swahili Language,” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History . Published online 30 January 2024. ( https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.013.1012 )

“Binding Words: Student Biographical Narratives and Religious Conversion,” in Klaas van Walraven (ed.), The Individual in African History: The Importance of Biography in African Historical Studies (Brill: Leiden and Boston, 2020).

Popular Writing

“Colonial Archives and Decolonizing Impulses: Überlegungen zur Praxis afrikanischer Geschichte,” published in the blog of the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut Essen (February 2024).

( https://blog.kulturwissenschaften.de/colonial-archives-and-decolonizing… )

“Kiswahili: how a standard version of the east African language was formed—and spread across the world,” published in the online periodical “The Conversation” (July 2023).

( https://theconversation.com/kiswahili-how-a-standard-version-of-the-eas… )

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            Historiography – graduate seminar

link to the blog post: https://blog.kulturwissenschaften.de/colonial-archives-and-decolonizing…

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PROGRAM OF AFRICAN STUDIES

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Swahili at Northwestern

Placement tests.

Every year, Northwestern offers courses in Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages on the continent. To see which courses we currently offer, please see our current  course list .

Course Overview

Swahili classes are open to undergraduate and graduate students. There are three courses in sequence from Fall to Spring. The course presents the essentials of modern Standard Swahili grammar while proficiency in the language is developed. The expectation is that by the end of the first year, a diligent student will be able to acquire ACTFL "novice mid" to "novice high" oral proficiency along with basic literacy skills (see  Foreign Language Annals  Vol. 33, No.1, p. 12-18 for ACTFL descriptors). The course is organized on the national standard first-year text,  Swahili: A Foundation for Speaking, Reading, and Writing,  by Thomas Hinnebusch and Sarah Mirza. A significant amount of work for the course involves accessing the class's dedicated Blackboard website and interacting with multimedia resources there. Students will perform some course assignments, take some tests, interact with digital audio and video files, and create a personal webpage within the Swahili I Blackboard site.

Swahili placement tests

Any student with prior exposure to the Swahili language and culture but who has not done a standardized Swahili test/exam or has taken a standardized Swahili exam but has not passed, should consider taking a Swahili placement test. A standardized Swahili exam can either be the national Swahili exams administered at the end of high school education in East Africa or ACTFL proficiency tests.

The Swahili placement test has grammar, reading, and writing sections, which are done online. The grammar and reading sections are graded automatically, but the Swahili instructor grades the writing section, upon which they will ask you to schedule a meeting for an oral exam component of the placement test either in person or on Zoom. The purpose of the oral exam is to properly assess your proficiency so you can be advised of the appropriate proficiency Swahili level in which you should enroll.

Click here for more information about Swahili Placement tests. To learn more about the online test, click the following link: the online placement test site.

Professor Peter Mwangi

Contact Peter Mwangi

Anne H. Charity Hudley, PhD

Swahili language and culture.

By annehcharityhudley | May 23, 2010

This summer I am co-teaching a Swahili language and culture class with Martin Shanguhyia during the month of June at the College of William and Mary.

This course will examine the language and culture of Swahili speaking communities. Participants will conducted directed reading and research on selected topics including but not limited to the linguistic history, sociopolitical ramifications, and literary legacy of the development and spread of Swahili. Students will work with fluent speakers of Swahili to learn beginning speaking, reading, and writing skills. The course will have a focus on engagement and scholarship in communities where Swahili is spoken.

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Swahili unites speakers throughout a wide region of East Africa, from Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean to Congo in Central Africa. This wide adoption makes Swahili one of the major languages of the African continent; it is an official language of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as of the African Union. The cultural heritage of Swahili plays an important role in the African Diaspora, making it a prominent starting point in fields of African Studies, African-American Studies, and the study of other cultures of African origin throughout the world. Knowledge of Swahili is important to governmental work, international non-governmental organizations, and international businesses.

African 331: First Semester Swahili (fall only) African 332: Second Semester Swahili (spring only) African 333: Third Semester Swahili (fall only) African 334: Fourth Semester Swahili (spring only) African 435: Advanced Studies in Swahili Language – Grammar (fall only) African 436: Advanced Studies in Swahili Language – Readings (spring only)

If you have prior experience with Swahili, please contact Andrew Bartsch ([email protected]) for enrollment guidance.

Why learn Swahili?

Imagine your  future self as a Swahili speaker. Who could you be if you studied Swahili? Do you want to have adventures in Nairobi, Zanzibar, New York, or California? With Swahili, you could research schooling in Nairobi, negotiate a decent taxi fare in Dar es Salaam, appreciate the humor of the names in The Lion King , chat with the Tanzanian Deputy Minister of Education while traveling in Zimbabwe, or surprise Kenyans in Irvine. With Swahili, you could come up with cool examples in your linguistics classes, eavesdrop in Arusha, connect with people in Mombasa, teach your friends how to speak Swahili, or participate in online discussions. With Swahili, you could listen to Baduizm Live and correct Erika Badu’s inaccurate translations, easily learn another Bantu language like Zulu or Shona, establish rapport with East African taxi drivers in Chicago, communicate with Omanis in Muscat, make world-class professional runners from Kenya look your way when you cheer for them in Manhattan, or talk to street kids in Western Kenya.  With Swahili you could hire a carpenter in Tunduma, buy train tickets in Mbeya, sell your bike at Kariakoo market, find the best nyama choma , or interview women in Lamu.  With Swahili, you could wow people who ask what languages you speak, disarm and connect with salespeople, hawkers, matatu touts, police officers, and government officials, contribute to an online Swahili dictionary, teach at an American university, or give a presentation in the Congo. With Swahili you could  open up a whole new worldview into art, music, politics, history, culture, food, and religion, and learn a new way of interacting with the world.

Our Swahili Program

Our  Swahili program is particularly strong, engaging students in Swahili-speaking cultures through rich multimedia resources. We end each semester with an evening of skits, food, and music. Swahili classes at UW-Madison are small. Our students are eligible for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships, which cover partial tuition for one year and provide a stipend. Students from our Swahili program have gone on to teach the language in New York City, New Orleans, and at UCLA; join the Peace Corps; open travel agencies; complete graduate degrees; pass the Wisconsin Bar Exam; complete medical school; and join UW-Madison as administrators, lawyers, and professors.

Hear from former students

“We inherently put ourselves in places of familiarity and comfort, often never stepping outside of this. Swahili pushed me to exist outside the boundaries of familiar. And because of this, I saw the world in a new way and consequently saw myself in a new way.” –  Maria E.

“Not only was living in Kenya life-changing but understanding Swahili and having the ability to speak it with community members was so fun and rewarding. It always takes them by surprise when they hear a Mzungu (white person) start speaking Swahili, but you can see it gives them so much happiness to see someone making the effort to speak their language.” –  Carly B.

“Studying language is an important way for me to stay connected with my family and friends in other countries. For some of my relatives from the older generation, it is crucial to be able to speak with them, understand their advice, listen to their stories, and overall create and maintain a relationship.” – Tosha

Student Projects

Check out  Student Projects completed by our past Swahili students!

Featured Project: Greetings

Featured Project: Ukimwi

Campus Opportunities

Study Abroad Opportunities

UW–Madison offers an incredible number of study-abroad opportunities throughout the Swahili-speaking regions of Africa. For the full range of study abroad programs in Swahili-speaking parts of Africa, visit the Study Abroad website . Consult our Majors Advising Page for more information about your academic plans and study abroad.

Weekly Conversation Tables

Make sure to check  our calendar  for Language Tables each semester!

Members of the public are welcome. Please check with  Katrina Daly Thompson  for updates.

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Swahili Placement and Proficiency

To schedule your placement and/or proficiency assessment meeting, please contact Dr. Kevin Wamalwa .

University of Notre Dame

The Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures

College of Arts and Letters

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Swahili Courses

The CSLC strives to support all languages on campus, including those that do not have a home department or program. Each year, the CSLC facilitates the arrival of Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) to lead Swahili language courses, which are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Unfortunately, our other Less Commonly Taught Language (LCTL) courses previously offered -- Hindi and Quechua -- have been discontinued for lack of enrollment as of Fall 2024.

Our FLTA instructors bring an invaluable diversity to our classrooms by providing cultural "insider" perspectives, facilitating meaningful discussions, and sharing their ways of life with their students. Taking a LCTL course at Notre Dame is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Learn more about why students study LCTLs .

Swahili Courses: offered at every level each semester

There are between 50 and 100 million speakers spread across different countries in eastern and southeastern Africa where it is a lingua franca. It is also an official language of the African Union. Knowledge of Swahili is a valuable skill for researchers, summer program students, missionaries, humanitarian workers, diplomats, medical professionals, and tourists.

Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) courses have particular value for students who:

Plan to conduct research in a country or region where an LCTL is spoken

Wish to work with global governmental agencies or a nonprofit organizations after graduating

Grew up speaking a LCTL at home and wish to formally study the language/gain literacy skills

Intend to travel to or work in communities where a LCTL is often used, domestically or abroad

Hope to expand their horizons and deepen their cultural understandings by learning from a Fulbright instructor

Want to take advantage of the LCTL small class sizes, flexible curricula, and/or start a language that they didn't have access to before

Did you know?

The U.S. government seeks speakers of less commonly taught languages—sometimes called critical languages . This is because these languages are important to U.S. security interests.

Learning Swahili has not only been an intellectual highlight of my experience at Notre Dame, it has opened a world of possibilities for me. As an anthropology major, I now have the skills to undertake future fieldwork in East Africa. Swahili has been the launchpad to get me to Zanzibar where I am now, continuing to learn the language through the CSLC's SLA program. It has enabled me to conduct original research for my senior thesis, an important step for a future PhD program. -Nyakeh Tuchscherer ‘21

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Swahili Courses

Swahili Placement Testing Information

• View the Swahili courses available in spring 2022 .

About Swahili

Swahili is spoken across East Africa. It is mostly spoken in Kenya and Tanzania as a national and official language. It is also used in Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Comoros Islands. Smaller numbers of its speakers can be found in Rwanda, Burundi, Northern Zambia and parts of Mozambique.

The word for Swahili language is Kiswahili and belongs to the Bantu family of languages. The origin of the word Swahili comes from the plural “sawahili” of the Arabic word “sahil" which means the coast. Swahili has been greatly influenced by Arabic in its vocabulary while its grammar and syntactic structure is purely of Bantu origin. The language also contains a few vocabularies that originates from German, Portuguese, Hindi, Persian, English and French

There are approximately 5 million Swahili speakers in the world who use it their native language. There are an additional 135 million people for whom Swahili is a second or third or foreign language. Swahili is recognized as one of the official languages of the African Union and is the official language of the East African Community.

Why Study Swahili at OHIO?

Today, African languages like Swahili are more in demand than ever before as the world becomes more globalized. Knowledge of Swahili opens doors to many opportunities both locally and internationally.

• Students can enroll in Swahili courses to complete their language requirement for graduation. Also, students who are working toward related certificates or degrees in International Studies can also take Swahili as part of their course requirements.
• Students enrolled in Swahili courses are eligible for a number of opportunities such as scholarships, grants, and other funding related to language learning and travel. Some of these Swahili related funding opportunities include: the Gilman International Scholarship, the Boren Awards African languages Initiative Scholarships and Fellowships, the Critical Language Scholarship Program, FLAS Fellowships and the Group Projects Abroad Fulbright Hays Swahili Program.
• Swahili is one of the few languages that qualifies students for the Critical Languages Scholarship. CLS is a scholarship program provided by the U.S. government through the departments of State and Defense to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to the national security and prosperity. Students awarded with CLS study in Arusha, Tanzania for eight weeks, learning one full academic year of Swahili.
• Swahili will provide students with a unique experience and insight into the Swahili and East African culture at large and also present the chance to be part of a strong global community of over 100 million Swahili speakers.

How OHIO Teaches

Swahili instruction at Ohio University emphasizes the communicative approach to language teaching. Instructors help students develop their knowledge of Swahili in the four language learning skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Furthermore, the language is taught according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines in all the levels administered. The program is specially designed to expose students to the culture and history of the Swahili language and the people through cultural activities. Also, students are provided with the opportunity to interact with other native speakers of the language as a way to improve their speaking skills through cultural activities.

Courses Offered

• Elementary Swahili – SWAH 1110 and 1120
• Intermediate Swahili – SWAH 2110 and 2120
• Advanced Swahili – SWAH 3110 and 3120
• Special studies in Swahili – For any level

Students who have prior knowledge of Swahili should email [email protected] from their OHIO email account and include in the subject line: "Swahili Language Placement Test." Students will then receive an email with instructions on how to take the online placement test. Students who have no prior background in Swahili do not need to take a placement test and can enroll in an open section of 1110.

Links to Learn More about Swahili

• BBC Guide to Swahili
• Encyclopedia Britannica

English - Swahili translator

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Translation of "PhD" into Swahili

shahada ya uzamivu, uzamivu are the top translations of "PhD" into Swahili. Sample translated sentence: He received his PhD in 1890. ↔ Baada ya kupata PhD mwaka 1831.

Alternative form of [i]Ph.D. [/i] [..]

English-Swahili dictionary

Shahada ya uzamivu.

Philosophiae Doctor, Doctor of philosophy

Show algorithmically generated translations

Automatic translations of " PhD " into Swahili

Translations with alternative spelling

Phrases similar to "PhD" with translations into Swahili

• PhD student mwanafunzi wa uzamivu

Translations of "PhD" into Swahili in sentences, translation memory