Aside from the beautiful setting of Stellenbosch, South Africa provides trademarks such as Capetown, ruby Springboks, Robben Island, Biltong (dried meat), Table Mountain, braai (barbecue), diamond and gold mines, Soweto, Kruger National Park, and Nelson Mandela's legacy.

Accommodation is provided in shared apartments with other International students and South Africans. Each apartment has a shared living room, kitchen and bathroom facilities. Apartments are also furnished with coffee tables, chairs, fridges/freezers, stove, water cooker, cleaning utensils and garbage bins. Bedding is provided.

Buildings in South Africa don't often have central heating systems and students are advised to bring warm sleepwear and comfortable clothes. Breakfast is provided in the residence and a meal supplement (cash/voucher) is provided for Lunch.

The academic program consists of lectures, group discussions and field trips, and is taught by Stellenbosch University faculty, and other South African experts. The lectures cover a variety of topics, including Service Learning, History, Politics, Economics, Future Studies, Art, Literature, Geo- and Bio Diversity and Sociology.

*Courses are taught in English.

*An official transcript will be issued to each student upon the completion of the program.

Summer School Courses (Students take 3 courses = 6 credits; SLCD students can only take Course 1 and 2 = 7 credits)

Course 1 Introduction to South African History, Politics and Economics (2 USA Credits)

Course 2 Service Learning in Community Development* (SLCD) (5 USA Credits + 2 Credits earned in Course 1)

Course 3 Botanical Diversity of SA: Cape Flora - plants for the people in the Western Cape (2 USA Credits)

Course 4 Apartheid and After: Representations of SA in Art and Literature (2 USA Credits)

Course 5 Understanding the HIV/AIDS Epidemic (2 USA Credits)

Course 6 Social, Cultural and Legal Landscapes (2 USA Credits)

Important:

*A minimum of 5 students (8 for the SLCD program) must register for a course before it can be offered. In the case of the SLCD program, a maximum of 25 students will be allowed.

Course 1: Introduction to South African History, Politics and Economics

(Compulsory for all participants, including Service Learning students) During this course, you will be introduced to South Africa's unique 20th century history, and the interplay between the country's political, social and economic issues. In particular, the focus is on South African identities, and how these were and continue to be shaped by the country's past. At the root of the apartheid project was a sustained attempt to manipulate social identities. Almost 50 years of social engineering cannot be dismissed easily, and continues to influence the future of our democracy. Students receive either Political Science OR History credits, depending on their essay topic

Course 2: Service Learning in Community Development (SLCD)

IMPORTANT:

• This course runs for 3 weeks and does not give students the option to participate in any other course except the Introduction course.
• Service Learning carries a heavy academic and practical component and will demand a greater level of participation from students during the 3 week duration.
• A minimum of 8 students must register for this course, in order for it to be presented. A maximum of 25 students will be accepted.
• NB: Only students at the second year level of their study or more, having completed at least three semesters of coursework or more, will be considered for acceptance to the module. In addition, the number of participants are strictly limited by means of a screening process in the form of an application essay.

The aim of the program is to provide students from abroad with the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their global citizenship through service-learning. They will develop an understanding of the historical background and current issues impacting on community life and problems in South Africa and experience it first hand through service to a South African community while earning academic credits.

Themes covered in the Service Learning in Community Development Course:

• Introduction to South African History, Politics and Economics (Course 1)
• A brief overview of poverty in South Africa and the need for community based development.
• Theoretical points of departure in community development
• Approaches in community development
• Principles of community development and its core elements
• Process of community development
• What is service-learning? A conceptual framework: How to learn through experience.
• Role-players in community development and the idea of partnerships
• Research Skills
• Essential skills for the community worker

Course 3: Cape Flora – plants for the people

During this course, you will be introduced to South Africa’s incredible biological diversity, with special focus on the plants of the Cape Floristic Region. After a solid theoretical and practical introduction to the diversity and richness of this flora, the focus will shift to the role and responsibility of people in conserving and benefiting from these botanical riches. This will commence with an evaluation of people as perpetrators of biodiversity threats, and the conservation efforts that are being applied to help find a balance between threat to and sustainable utility of the flora. This leads on to a full day of exploration of the benefits currently being reaped from commercialization of indigenous plants for especially the cut flower industry. Indigenous plant use by local people, especially traditional healers, constitutes the final topic of discussion, and will be followed by a visit to traditional medicinal markets.

OR

Course 4: Apartheid and After: Representations of South Africa in Art and Literature

Focuses on the way in which art and literature in South Africa registered and reflected the social and political conflicts and tensions of the apartheid years. This short course will focus on resistance art, art and propaganda as well as two novels, one play and a selection of recent South African films that address issues of nation building after the first democratic elections in 1994. They all self-consciously confront the dilemmas, ambiguities and challenges of living in a post-apartheid nation.

OR

Course 5: Understanding the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Nurture and develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes in students as leaders and future professionals to manage HIV prevention and care in the workplace, both locally and abroad. This course will aim to develop a global understanding of HIV and AIDS through a South African experience of the HIV epidemic

Course 6: Social, Legal and Cultural Landscapes

(Compulsory for all participants except Service Learning students) Focuses on the theoretical background of reconciliation and the reconciliation challenges facing South Africa in the post-apartheid era, as well as those faced in post-conflict societies, elsewhere in Africa. Includes various field trips to introduce students to the different Western Cape cultures, as well as a volunteer day with Habitat for Humanity.

June 7th to July 2nd

$5,275

*cost may change at any time due to the currency exchange

• Tuition
• Housing
• Some Meals
• Health and Travel Insurance
• Excursions
• Airport Pickup
• Support Services

• Fill out the IEP Application and review information on the Apply page.
• Pay a $200 deposit to International Education Programs.
• Send an official transcript from your home institution to the address below.

Send the above materials to:

International Education Programs
Jacksonville University
2800 University Blvd North
Gooding 105
Jacksonville, Florida 32211