Download the Full Description of the Program: African Semester in Ghana Brochure
Academic Program
For much if its history, Ghana has played a pivotal role in sub-Saharan Africa and has especially influenced the contemporary cultural, socio-economic and ecological landscape of regional politics. Having experienced fifty challenging years of postcolonial development, Ghana offers a rich variety of contexts through which students will analyze gender roles, cultural diversity, and the struggle for national identity within the formal and informal economic sectors of traditional and modern Ghanaian life, and within the continuous relationship between the indigenous and contemporary status and role of women in society. The
se are all vital issues in the struggle for independence, nation-building and development in contemporary Africa.
The program involves an intensive pre-semester excursion to all of the ten regions of the country. This offers a background to the intensive classroom activities. Nested in the heart of the Gulf of Guinea on the West Coast of Africa, with miles and miles of sun-dappled beaches, beautiful landscape, lush-green palm trees, amazing rain-forests with dazzling, cascading waterfalls, bird sanctuaries and many ethno-linguistic groups, Ghana offers some of the best travel experiences in Africa.
Of particular interest for adventurous students is Ghana's community-based eco-tourism centers including the Kakum rainforest and canopy walkway, Paga crocodile ponds, and Buabeng-Fierna monkey sanctuary.
Students register for a total of 16 credits. They may also request to take a maximum of 4 additional credits.
Gender, Development and Nation-Building (4 credits)
Selected Topics in Contemporary Issues (4 credits)
History, Cultures, Languages and Nation-Building of Ghana (4 credits)
Independent Research/Internship (4 credits)
Electives:
Ghanian Language (2 credits)
Ghanian Dance (2 credits)
Program Calendar
This semester-long program covers fourteen weeks from January 5, 2009 to April 18, 2009. The program will be based at the University of Ghana, Legon, but there will be several required field trips and site visits to development project centers in various cities, towns and villages across the country. There is an additional component of optional stay with a Ghanaian host family for a couple of days as part of the cultural immersion. Internship and service-learning opportunities are also available at various centers including the new Kofi Annan International Peace-Keeping Center in Accra, orphanages, and with international and local NGOs.
Eligibility
To participate in the African Semester in Ghana, you must:
- have a minimum of 48 credits (3 semesters)
have a 2.75 GPA- maintain good academic and disciplinary standing
Cost
Drew Tuition (tuition only) $17,995
Living Fee (room, board and fees) $5,269
Airfare (estimated cost - student to purchase) $1,500
Personal Expenses (variable/estimated) $1,000
Financial Aid
Drew University students will be eligible to receive up to $1000 airfare subsidy to help offset the expenses associated with this program.
Non-Drew students will be eligible for financial aid.
