Community Development & Community Service Learning
2010 June 4-Week - Academics

Academic Focus

Designed for students who are interested in community development and Health Sciences, this program allows participants to develop an understanding of current issues impacting community life in South Africa through service learning in a South African community.

Students will take two courses – African Politics and a Community Development and Community Service Learning Module. The African Politics course will explore historical patterns, beginning with pre-colonial societies and the subsequent impact of colonial rule; then the Pan-Africanism, nationalism, and liberation movements; and the character of postcolonial regimes. Students will examine factors including settler rule, racism, world economic organization and underdevelopment.

The Community Development and Community Service Learning Module will familiarize students with the fundamentals of community development in the field of Health Sciences. Incorporating both theoretical and practical components, this module provides students with the opportunity to develop global citizenship skills through volunteer work. Ongoing mentoring is provided to students.

Each of the courses will meet for a total 45 contact hours and students will receive 6 credits upon successful completion of the program.

Schedule Summary

Classes will meet Monday through Thursday four hours per day. Fridays will be reserved as study days. Contact hours will include relevant field trips and site visits within the Eastern Cape area in order to highlight topics and issues discussed in class. As part of the African Politics course students will also take an overnight field trip to a more remote site with knowledgeable local hosts.

Course Registration

Upon confirmation of your participation in the program, you will automatically be registered in the Community Development and Community Service Learning Module and African Politics.