Study in Africa Programs
The African Studies Center has long supported the development of quality study abroad programs for U.S. students - undergraduate and graduate - in Africa. We believe that quality and affordable study abroad programs in Africa are an essential component of African studies in the U.S. academy.National Consortium for Study in Africa
Headquartered at MSU and founded in 1994 with funding assistance from the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education the National Consortium for Study in Africa (NCSA) is a consortium of 15 current and former National Resource Centers for the study of Africa. The goal of the NCSA is to promote and support high quality study abroad programs in Africa for U.S. students.
Through its website http://www.isp.msu.edu/ncsa/ -the NCSA provides links to lists of programs offered by other universities and colleges for academic, volunteer, and work study programs in Africa. In addition the website posts resources related to the development and administration of quality programs in Africa including articles from academic journals.
In addition to the sponsoring the National Consortium for Study in Africa beginning in 2000 the Center along with MSU Office of Study Abroad initiated a collaborative study abroad project with the Council of Opportunity in Education. The Washington DC based COE is the national consortium of TRIO programs which serve students form economically disadvantaged backgrounds on more than 1,000 campuses throughout the U.S. This collaboration provides opportunity for TRIO students nation-wide to participate in MSU summer and semester programs in Africa. In 2003, and again in 2004, we were awarded Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad funding to sponsor 30 TRIO students from approximately 20 colleges/universities to study for an entire semester in MSUs semester programs in either Durban or Dakar.
The NCSA has produced two videos related to study abroad in Africa
"Study in Africa: New Opportunities for American Students"
A video by The National Consortium for Study in Africa.
This video was developed to help undergraduate students and their parents make an informed decision on studying abroad in Africa. This 27 minute video (VHS format) offers an overview of several U.S. study programs at campuses in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. There are interviews with African university faculty, administrators, and students.
"Before you Pack: Preparing for Study in Africa"
A video/DVD by The National Consortium for Study in Africa.
This video/DVD is designed to assist students who have decided to study in Africa prepare for their experiences in Africa. The 40 minute video/DVD is divided into "chapters" each of which focuses on a particular aspect of the study abroad experience in Africa. Topics addressed in the video/DVD include health care issues, housing, food, travel to and within African countries, academics at African university, safety, and finances. In addition to informational narrative there are interviews with American students who have studied in Africa, and African university administrators, faculty and students.
Each video/DVD can be purchased for $20.00. For more information visit the NCSA website http://www.isp.msu.edu/ncsa or e-mail us at africa@msu.edu.
Office of Study Abroad at MSU
MSU offers 22 study programs in Africa, more than any other U.S. university. These vary from semester-long studies in African university classrooms to two-week MSU Freshman Seminars Abroad. MSU's first study abroad program in Africa was initiated at the University of Zimbabwe in 1984, a nued through 1999. In 2000 the program was temporarily suspended due to the political situation in Zimbabwe.
From this beginning MSU's study abroad programming in Africa has experienced impressive growth. Currently there are 22 MSU study abroad programs in Africa (3 semester, 19 summer) a number of which are directly co-sponsored by the African Studies Center.
MSU Study Abroad Programs
Semester Programs:
Egypt: American University in Cairo (Arts and Letters, Social Science)
Senegal: University Cheik Anta Diop (Arts and Letters, Social Science)
South Africa: University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (Social Sciences, Arts and Letters)
Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe (currently suspended)
Winter Programs:
Egypt:Historical Perspectives of Veterinary Medicine and Natural Resource Management (3 weeks: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Veterinary Medicine)
Summer Programs:
Ghana:
Ghana: A Multidisciplinary Perspective (5 weeks: ISS, Nursing, Human Ecology, and Journalism)
Cross-cultural Analysis of Social Work Practice: The Ghanaian Experience (4 weeks: Social Science, Social Work)
Grassroots Development in Ghana: Planning the Nkwantananso Cultural Center of Techiman (2 weeks: Social Science)
Kenya:
Behavior Ecology of African Mammals (3 weeks: College of Natural Science/Zoology)
Society and Ecology in Kenya (4 weeks: College of Social Science, College of Natural Science)
Madagascar:
An Island Apart: Culture and Natural Resources of Madagascar (3 weeks: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fisheries and Wildlife)
Mali:
Ethics and Development (4 weeks: College of Arts and Letters, IAH, Philosophy)
South Africa:
Conservation & Biodiversity in South African Parks and Natural Reserves (4 weeks: Fisheries and Wildlife)
Expressive Arts, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies in South Africa (3 weeks: Arts and Letters, MSU Museum, Art)
Freshman Seminar in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth –MSU Students Only (2 weeks: Office of the Provost and the Office of Study Abroad)
Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources in South Africa and Swaziland (4 weeks: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Animal Science)
Doing Business in South Africa (3 weeks: College of Business)
Education, Society and Learning in South Africa and Lesotho (4 weeks: College of Education)
Labor Relations/Human Resources in South Africa (2 weeks: College of Social Science, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
Pre-Internship Teaching in South Africa (5 weeks: College of Education)
Race Relations in South Africa (6 weeks: College of Arts and Letters, Department of History)
African Studies Center, Michigan State University
http://www.africa.msu.edu/, Last Updated: January 2002
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