South Africa

Cape Town

May 12 - June 1, 2013

Total Program Fee: $4695

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Academics and Courses    Application, Cost, and Important Details

Program Location:

This program will take place in Cape Town, an exotic oceanfront city surrounded by the beautiful Table Mountain National Park. Cape Town, voted one of the top ten World Cities, was originally settled by the Dutch and is famous for its stunning waterfront harbor. It is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, with African, European, and Asian influences. Along with South Africa’s unique political and cultural history, as well as the abundance of wildlife and scenic landscapes, this is an ideal location for a study abroad program. Stretches of white sand beaches, majestic cliffs, miles of mountain ranges and acres of vineyards are but a few of the many landscapes around this beautiful cosmopolitan city. World famous Table Mountain, African Penguins at Boulders Beach, a Big 5 safari: it can be all part of the Cape Town experience.

Program Description:

The program will seek to familiarize students with the fields of theater, mathematics, writing and literature and women's studies with emphasis on society in Cape Town. All the classes will focus on historical and cultural issues specific to South Africa, including its theater and literary arts, demographics, poverty, crime, and race relations. Each class will include an element of Service Learning that will include hands-on volunteer projects within disadvantaged communities (see syllabi for specific details). The emphasis of the program is getting to know Cape Town and the diverse peoples who live, work, and play there. Not only will students have life-changing encounters and adventures, but they will also have a unique experience to put on their résumé.

Please note: Prospective students should be aware that study abroad programs require a great deal of walking. You should be prepared to walk at least a mile or two each day. You may also walk over uneven, possibly slippery or rocky terrain even in cities.

Excursions: Excursions out of the city may include the Cape of Good Hope, where two great oceans meet; a string of beaches and historic fishing villages on the peninsula—including the famous Boulders Beach, home of African penguins; a boat trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned; and a visit to the vineyards of Stellenbosch. Students are also encouraged to book their own excursions to the summit of Table Mountain, to experience a safari wildlife tour, or to go shark diving. Within Cape Town, students may get to eat at the famous ethnic restaurants in the colorful Bo Kaap area, visit the world famous Charley’s Bakery, see music and dance performed at the Iziko Museum, tour Cape Town University, shop and dine in the world class V&A Waterfront malls and craft markets, and meet a veteran freedom fighter at the District 6 Museum. 

Classes: Classes will be held for approximately three hours a day during the week at various locations, including schools, orphanages, museums, local campuses and onsite at the lodging facility.

Accommodations: In Cape Town, students will live and eat two meals a day at the Riverview Lodge. Riverview Lodge is a secure dormitory facility, with all the amenities of Observatory within walking distance and with easy access to taxis and trains for visits further afield. Observatory is best known as a neighborhood where students from the nearby University of Cape Town live, and students from around the world stay here when in Cape Town. There are locally owned stores and a variety of bakeries and restaurants should students want to shop for gifts or try different cuisines.

Academics:

All TnCIS programs are academic in nature and course work that takes advantage of the program location will be the central focus. TnCIS program courses are for credit only. In South Africa, students will enroll in ONE of the following courses:

ENGLISH: Black Arts and Literature (No Prerequisite)
A study of the contributions of black artists and writers to world culture, especially American culture. The first half treats oral tradition, poetry, drama, and music; the second half covers the short story, essay, and novel.  Many of the contributions of black artists and writers have grown from oppression of systems such as segregation in America and apartheid in South Africa. A study of the oppressive social system of Apartheid at the program sites will serve to develop multicultural perspectives, social change analysis and critical thinking of race, class, and gender, which will function as a context for interpretation of the literature. See course syllabus

ENGLISH:  Creative Writing (No prerequisites)
Join a community of writers of poems, short stories, and creative non-fiction who have been inspired by South Africa. The workshop experiences will require students to produce literary works which will be read and critiqued by other writers in the course. South Africa will inspire these pieces as students will participate in various service learning projects in Cape Town. We will also go on excursions to sites of social, historical, and literary significance. At the conclusion of the course, students will have a collection of creative writing, practice in critiquing the writing of others, and a relationship with South Africa that will last a lifetime.  See course syllabus 

ENGLISH: Themes in Literature and Culture (No Prerequisite)
You’ve probably heard the quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Through travel, education, and communication, we can be that change. In this course, students will examine literature as a direct product of its society, particularly as it relates to conflict, race, and gender roles. Students will have the opportunity to engage in Service Learning while volunteering at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children. Through this Service Learning, we will form a critical context through which to examine the assigned literary works and how historical, social, and economic issues impact the people we will meet. Through exploration, wars, and apartheid, South Africa’s literature has emerged as one of the world’s most poignant and meaningful.  Don’t just read the stories-come live them with us in beautiful and historic South Africa.  See course syllabus

MATH:  Probability and Statistics (No Prerequisites)
Cape Town is a great environment for students to learn statistics and their application to everyday life. This program provides a service learning opportunity for students to implement surveys and perform observational studies – obtaining data from fieldwork and analyzing the results using some statistical methods and comparing these results with similar data from the United States. In particular, we will try to establish if there is any relationship between income levels, educational levels and the tribe of origin of an individual in South Africa. Using hypothesis testing, we will seek to determine if the average income of a random sample of individuals is different from the national average (South Africa) as claimed by the government. Students will find some useful applications of probability in real life. For example, what is the probability that an individual selected at random will use any form of protection during sex? A fun project will be based on finding out why South Africans seem to be a very lively and hospitable people and what makes them love music? This was very evident in the past World Cup (2010) games. See course syllabus

THEATRE: Theatre Appreciation  (No Prerequisite)
This course provides an overview of theatre as an art form. Included in the study are development of drama and the theatre and an appreciation and understanding of the theatrical production process.
Students will participate in a Service Learning project: Telling Our Story. As well as studying playwrights, the students will look at how stories are told on stage or through storytelling.
Students are tentatively scheduled to work with women in a shelter for abused women and children in Cape Town, helping them tell their stories. See course syllabus

WOMEN'S STUDIES: Women in Society (No Prerequisite)
Do you want to become more diverse, more accepting, more aware and better prepared for life? In this class, you will get to know many different women who live in Cape Town. You might think that a Zulu or Xhosa woman who was raised in a village that has a witch doctor would be a lot different to you, but then when you laugh and dance with her every day, you realize that she’s exactly the same as you. She wants to know what music you listen to, what color you paint your nails, and what your favorite food is. She is as interested in our culture as we are in hers.

Do you want to become an activist for social justice? Many women in South Africa bear heavy burdens. For example, male unemployment coupled with HIV/AIDS means that women carry increased responsibility for family survival, even though their earning options are confined to menial pay. You’ll meet some of the strongest, most vital women in the world--women who are changing their society.

Participants in this Service Learning course will talk to women and play with children in orphanages and women's centers and also learn from female leaders in education, law, and healthcare what is being done to rebuild a society that has been ravaged by racial conflict and AIDS. The class is discussion orientated and students will see first-hand how they can work toward a more just society, both globally and locally.  See course syllabus

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