Program Details
- Location:
- Durban, South Africa
- Program Type:
- Study Abroad
- Degree Level:
- Undergraduate
- Term:
- Fall Semester, Spring Semester
Program Overview
- Program Description:
- Explore the dynamic socioeconomic, political, and cultural processes of South Africa, an extraordinarily diverse country in transition.
Similar to other countries around the world, South Africa is striving to free itself of a legacy of racial discrimination, economic exploitation, and political authoritarianism to build a new democratic and equitable regime.
Through coursework and community engagement, students discover the significant role that Durban, the program's base, has played in South African history, particularly its role in apartheid. To provide students with learning opportunities in many different contexts, the program also includes field visits to Johannesburg, rural parts of both KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, the Umfolozi and Hluhluwe Game Reserves, and the Drakensberg Mountain range.
In this interdisciplinary program, lectures and discussions in the Social and Political Transformation seminar aim to provide students with a solid grasp of the historical background of South Africa's apartheid system, contemporary developments leading to the dismantling of that system, the visions for post-apartheid South Africa, the political, economic and social structure of the future South Africa, and an anthropological and cultural look at South African society. A central premise of the seminar is the interconnected nature of issues of reconciliation and development in South Africa; it is difficult to analyze one without considering its relationship to the other. The Field Study Seminar addresses culturally appropriate, ethical field methodology in the context of migration issues, in preparation for the Independent Study Project (ISP). Study of Zulu opens windows into the culture and the theme of the program.
Please inquire for costs: Fees include tuition, full room and board, all field trips and related fares, health and accident insurance, and other direct program expenses. Participants pay for international airfare and domestic travel to the point of departure from the USA.
- Setting Description:
- The program is based in South Africa's third-largest city, the bustling and historic city of Durban. Durban is the site of Africa's busiest working harbor and is the most cosmopolitan of South African cities with its rich fusion of African, Western, and Asian influences. Durban and the province of KwaZulu Natal are home to the Zulu people, South Africa's largest ethnic group, as well as English-speaking whites—many the descendants of British settlers—the largest population of South Asians outside of India and Pakistan—including Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities—and tens of thousands of African refugees and African and Asian migrants from a range of countries. Parts of the city have transformed into distinct Ethiopian, Congolese, Malawian, Pakistani, Chinese and other enclaves with a diversity of shops and restaurants.
Additional Program Information
- Scholarships:
- Yes
- Scholarships Description:
- Please see our website for more information.
Program Reviews
Overall Rating
Based on 2 Reviews
- An Incredible Semester in South Africa01/06/22
My semester in South Africa was an unforgettable experience that I cannot recommend enough for anyone looking for a unique semester. This program immerses you in the culture and politics of South Africa. While I was abroad I had the privilege of meeting
high profile anti-apartheid activists like Mac Maharaj, Albie Sachs, Ela Ghandi, and others. I also gained a deep understanding of what it is like to live in South Africa, from the city to the rural areas. While on my rural homestay I lived with a Sangoma, a traditional healer. Living with her and her family taught me so much about the Zulu culture and language, and I am still in contact with the whole family, hoping to go back and visit them in the future. The program offers many adventures, like Maputo, Mozambique, Safaris, hippo tours, the Wild Coast, and the Drankensberg Mountains, but also provides students with many professional connections and opportunities with academics and NGOs. Studying abroad in the Global South was a unique opportunity that gave me a new perspective and world view that I would not have gained by studying in a more traditional place. My semester in South Africa was the time of my life and something I will never forget.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - Great Experience in Durban, South Africa12/14/19
I had a great, life changing experience in Durban South Africa. The SIt program promotes experiential learning. Under this curriculum, I lived with the locals in townships and rural areas. Through an active engagement with my host families who were Zulu,
I learned in depth about Zulu culture and history. Moreover, I learned about South Africa from taking two courses, which were Memory and Reconciliation in South Africa and Development and Transformation and Nation Building. I also had a great chance to conduct my own research on "Youth Construction and Deconstruction of Nelson Mandela."
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend