Description

The Arts and Sciences study abroad program in Gaborone, Botswana at the CIEE Study Center at the University of Botswana offers students from a wide range of academic disciplines the opportunity to live and study in Botswana, learning firsthand about the country and its people, while pursuing an intensive curriculum in classes with local students. Through courses at the university and a variety of community engagement and field-based research opportunities, participants will explore Botswana and learn about its important role in the Southern African region.

Academic Program
At the CIEE Study Center at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, students have the opportunity to become fully integrated into the campus community. In addition to developing their Setswana language skills, participants benefit from unique academic courses in various disciplines that focus on Botswana and Southern Africa. Through the CIEE coordinated volunteer opportunities and excursions, students take important steps towards becoming members of the local community. And through specialized courses and integrated extracurricular activities, students are also able to gain a greater understanding of contemporary Botswana culture and its role in Southern Africa.

In addition to regular University of Botswana classes, students can do a for-credit internship with a local organization.

Academic Culture
Students choose from courses in any faculties and departments for which they have the necessary prerequisites. They are required to undertake a full program of courses and complete all prescribed assignments and written examinations. University classes normally involve a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, and laboratories.

Students often notice striking differences between their home educational system and that of the University of Botswana. The University's academic environment is part of the challenge of studying in Botswana. Following the British model, this system offers a less structured environment that requires students to take greater responsibility and initiative. Professors expect a great deal of individual study.

Learning by rote is the model most often used in classes. This entails professors reading from notes or books, with the expectation that students copy word for word their recitation. Most University classes are very large, thus making classroom interaction with the professor very rare. For example, lectures may involve as many as 100 students, while tutorials and seminars have smaller class sizes, ranging from 15 to 25 students. The system is geared toward the serious student who is motivated and self-sufficient.

For semester participants, the program includes one week of orientation, fourteen teaching weeks, a one week mid-semester break, and two weeks of examinations. For academic year participants, the program includes one week of orientation, followed by two semesters; there is a break of approximately four weeks between the fall and spring semesters.

The CIEE Study Center follows the University of Botswana academic calendar, with additional time for orientation at the start of the semester. The fall semester runs from late July to early December and the spring from early January to early May.

Highlights

Culture
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
Students participate in a variety of local and regional excursions. These may include trips to the Gaborone Game Reserve, the National Museum, the Kolobeng Ruins (the remains of David Livingstone's 1840 mission), the Jwaneng diamond mine, and the Kalahari Desert. A multi-day safari to either the Okavango River Delta or Chobe National Park is a highlight of the program each semester.

Immersion
There are numerous options for community engagement. These may include a Work-Camp Association in which on-campus groups build houses during a two-week program; UB Human Rights Organization; SAHA (Students Against HIV/AIDS) which is ideal for students in the health sciences; and various local United Nations agencies.

A weeklong rural homestay is one of the highlights of this program each semester. Students live with host families in order to learn firsthand about the challenges facing rural Botswana today. Students meet with village leaders and are typically invited to participate in family gatherings, festivals, and traditional cultural activities.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing.

Program Fees Include:

The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, orientation, cultural activities, field trips, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. *Students placed in homestays have two meals per day provided as part of the program fee. No meals are included in the residence option.

Experience Required

yes

Overall GPA 2.75

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays
• Dormitory

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available

We have several scholarships that students can apply for. Contact CIEE for details.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

CIEE's Mission Statement

Since 1947, the Council on International Educational Exchange, known as CIEE, has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. Our services to young people studying, working, teaching, and traveling abroad are more important than ever.

Year Founded

1947