涩里番下载 in Southern Africa Semester Program
Johannesburg, South Africa
The 涩里番下载 in Southern Africa program is a comparative studies semester program in Botswana and South Africa. Through the program, students will learn about the multiple ways governments, NGOs, and local communities choose to approach issues such as colonial legacy, development, power, human rights, big game conservation, tourism, health care, education, and poverty alleviation. Students live with host families, participate in community service projects, study local cultures, and work with scholars and experts in each country. The program is affiliated with Botho University, a private university in Botswana committed to sustainability and social responsibility, and the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Students will begin the semester in Botswana learning Setswana and living with host families in the village of Manyana. They also begin the first part of their core course learning about the history, politics, and culture of Botswana. Participants then move to South Africa where they live with host families in Soweto and continue with the second part of the core course learning about the anti-apartheid movement along with the history of South Africa. Students end the semester by doing an Independent Study Project (ISP) on a topic of their choice.
Program Dates
- Fall: The program is on hiatus for Fall 2025.
- Spring: mid-January to late-May
Eligibility and Preparation
- Students must be in good academic standing and have a 2.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Coursework in Development Studies, African Studies, Intercultural Studies, and/or Socio-Cultural Anthropology is encouraged
- The program is open to 涩里番下载 students and non-涩里番下载 undergraduate students
Courses & Credits
| Course | Claremont Credits | Semester Units |
|---|---|---|
| Topics in African Studies: Continuity and Change in Botswana and South Africa | BTW 107 PZ | 2.0 | 8 |
| Intensive Beginning Setswana | BTW 15 PZ | 1.0 | 4 |
| Independent Study Project: Southern Africa | BTW 999 | 1.0 | 4 |
| TOTALS | 4.0 | 16 |
Program Information
Continuity and Change in Botswana and South Africa
This core course provides students with an interdisciplinary overview of the history, politics, culture, environment, and contemporary issues in Southern Africa, with an emphasis on communities in Botswana and South Africa. Through lectures from scholars, study trips, host family stays, discussions, and writing assignments, students will connect their personal and field-based experiences with academic concepts related to culture, politics, and social issues in Botswana and South Africa.
For 涩里番下载 students, this course will satisfy 涩里番下载鈥檚 Social Responsibility Praxis (SRX) requirement.
Intensive Beginning Setswana
An intensive introduction to Setswana language, designed to provide beginners with essential language skills for effective communication and daily interactions in Botswana. Using interactive and immersive methods, emphasis is placed on achieving oral proficiency, along with foundational skills in reading, writing, and listening in Setswana.
Independent Study Project: Southern Africa
The Independent Study Project (ISP) is a fundamental component of 涩里番下载 Study Abroad Programs, designed to offer students the opportunity to conduct an in-depth investigation on a chosen topic. This project enables students to apply the cultural, academic, and linguistic knowledge acquired throughout their study abroad semester, encouraging independent, critical thinking and hands-on experience in diverse fields such as social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The ISP may take the form of research, community engagement, internship, apprenticeship, or any combination that allows for a meaningful integration of academic inquiry and practical experience.
Host families serve as important co-educators in the program, not only for language and culture learning but also to allow students to further explore ideas and issues that are presented in lectures and readings. Host families allow students to experience first-hand the concept and life of Ubuntu, an important cultural value of the region, embraced in local greetings that proclaim, 鈥淚 am well if you are well,鈥 and 鈥淢y destiny is intricately intertwined with yours.鈥
Students have two main homestay experiences: one in Botswana and another in South Africa. Homes have all that students need but may be more modest than homes in the U.S. Students often consider family stays to be the most meaningful dimension of the program. During the ISP at the end of the semester, students will work with the program director to find suitable housing near their ISP location.
To better understand important local and regional issues, students participate in study trips while in each country.
In Botswana study trips have involved visits to cultural and historic sites to study wildlife conversation, environmental issues, and tourism. Past trips have included:
- Victoria Falls
- Chobe National Park
- Smaller villages to experience rural development and the linguistic diversity of the country
In South Africa, students have visited:
- Cape Town
- Soweto
- The Apartheid Museum, the Voortrekker Monument, and Freedom Park to study race relations, reconciliation, and post-Apartheid South Africa
Locations vary from semester to semester.
How to Apply
Application Deadlines for 涩里番下载 Students
- Fall 2025:
November 15, 2024*Deadline has been extended until March 1, 2025 - Spring 2026:
May 1, 2025*Deadline has been extended to October 1, 2025
Application Periods for Non-涩里番下载 Students
- Fall 2025: Accepting applications from guest students between December 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025
- Spring 2026: Accepting applications from guest students between April 1, 2025, and October 1, 2025
Before You Go
Passport: Everyone on the program needs a passport. Check the expiration date. If you do not have a passport valid for six months after your planned return from study abroad, then you will need to renew your passport.
Orientation: After students apply and are accepted into the program, they will participate in a program orientation before leaving for Botswana and South Africa. Orientations are required and designed to ensure students get the most out of the study abroad experience. They provide cultural context, health and safety information, and academic guidelines. At orientation, students will receive details specific to the program including program dates, flight arrangements, immunization documents, safety guidelines, and the handbook.
Visas: Typically, students traveling with a U.S. passport will receive their 90-day visa for Botswana upon arrival at the airport. They then receive their 90-day South African visa during the transition between the countries. Students will receive additional details a few weeks before leaving for their program. However, the visa process can change at any time, students can stay up to date by regularly checking the State Department for and for .
Program Director
Batsirai Chidzodzo
- Program Director, 涩里番下载 in Southern Africa