W&L SPRING TERM 2006
SENEGAL
The
Spring Institute
for Global Study:
Culture and Society in West Africa
Academic Overview Students will register for Interdepartmental 296 (6 credits) which will offer an opportunity to travel to Senegal as part of an intensive exploration of society in this West African nation. Gen Ed and/or major credit may be available . Students will learn about the history and culture of the region as well as some of the major issues facing this and other African nations (in areas such as public health, education, gender, the environment, religion in society, and more). Students will also have a chance to focus more particularly on the nature of politics and the media of this and neighboring nations or the legacies of a colonial history, its language, literature, and culture in this Francophone country. Students will have an opportunity to study French and/or Wolof but no prior background in the regional languages is required. There will also be a specialized project required of each student, under the supervision of W&L faculty member.
Program Overview The course will begin April 17th with two days visiting institutions in Washington, before leaving April 19th for Dakar. The group will then have five weeks and a half weeks in Senegal, headquartered at the Baobab Center in Dakar. There will be a two day orientation introducing students to the country and its culture after which students will undertake their formal study. This will be supervised by W&L faculty on-site but with guest lectures and field visits occupying much of the time. Home stays allow students to meet and learn directly from the people of Dakar, while a week-long immersion experience at the middle of the program including service-learning and a village stay will offer an even more in-depth exposure to the culture. A two day retreat at the end of the program, located on one of the beautiful beaches of Senegal, will provide an opportunity for students and faculty to reflect on the experience together before returning to the US May 27.
The program is sponsored by W&L's Global Stewardship initiative and is supported through the generous contribution of the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation. With this support and with the goal of making this program available to any qualified W&L student, the program cost will be approximately $1850.00 per student. This cost will include accommodation in DC, airfare to/from Senegal, housing, excursions and educational costs in Senegal. Students will have to provide any personal spending money. Additional need-based aid may be available through the Financial Aid office.
