Academic Focus
The Service Learning and Community Development Program at Stellenbosch University is designed for students who have a strong interest in the hands-on aspects of service learning as well as the theoretical elements of community development. The aim of the program is to provide international students with the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their global citizenship through service-learning. Students will develop an understanding of the historical background and current issues impacting community life in South Africa and will experience some of it firsthand through a service learning placement in a South African community.
Students participating in the program will be required to take the core course ‘Service Learning in Community Development’ along with one language course – either Afrikaans or Xhosa. In addition, students will select one South African Studies elective course.
For the service learning component of the program students will be placed at a variety of community sites according to their qualifications, academic background and interests as demonstrated in a written self report. Final placements are made by the two instructors and students are not allowed to lobby for or choose their own sites. The identified sites are categorized by their mission statements and fall within the following general categories:
- Crèche/Early Education Development
- Museum: Art and Music programs
- Schools: Whole school development programs
- Intellectually disabled persons residential care
- HIV/AIDS prevention and care
- Community Radio Station
- Youth development programs in urban and rural communities
- Nursing at a local hospital
- Entrepreneurship development in a township context
Regardless of the placement site’s mission, students participating in the program will be actively involved in community development.
All students in the program will take 4 courses and will earn 15 semester credits upon successful completion of the program. This program is academically intense and students should not apply if they are not committed to the work required or are seeking a volunteer opportunity only.
Schedule Summary
Classes generally meet twice a week for lectures with additional time spent outside of class on homework, class preparation, discussions, research, etc. Class meeting times vary from course to course. In addition to in and out-of class study students will also make a commitment to spend a minimum 6 hours per week in their community practice site, rendering services defined by the host organization.
Course Registration
You will be required to submit your course selections to the CEA headquarter office prior to departure for South Africa. This will allow you to be pre-approved by the departments and/or lecturers for entry into your chosen courses. We strongly encourage you to take care in choosing your elective courses as if you decide to make changes upon arrival, you must complete this approval process on your own. There is also a possibility that your instructors will require you to submit a written self-report upon your registration and prior to the start of the program.
The registration process is in large part completed prior to your departure but you will have a chance to add or drop elective courses during your first week in South Africa. While in Stellenbosch, you will enroll in four courses, the required course ‘Service Learning in Community Development,’ an Afrikaans or Xhosa language course, and one elective course focused on South African Studies. To aid in the registration and credit transfer process, it is in your best interest to have courses, including alternates, approved by your academic advisor prior to departure.
To learn more about course requirements for your particular session as well as information regarding your host institution, you may click on the appropriate links above.
