community public health

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By Term

• Fall 2014
• Spring 2014
• Spring 2015

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Program Overview

Though confronted with many of the same pressing healthcare concerns plaguing other African nations, Botswana is unique. Its proactive campaign against HIV/AIDS and push to provide pioneering treatments and research to its citizens is inspirational and sets the country apart as a successful model for thoughtful healthcare intervention.

Through coursework, Setswana language learning, a community health practicum, and homestays, in a rich and challenging social environment, Community Public Health in Gaborone gives you the opportunity to critically appraise the issues developing nations face in their efforts to provide their citizens with sustainable public healthcare.

Study abroad in Botswana and you will:

• Study with local professors and students though direct enrollment at the University of Botswana
• Intern with local healthcare service providers and organizations
• Partake in an urban community service practicum based in and around Gaborone
• Explore rural public health issues and the relationship between modern and traditional medicine through a multi-day stay in a rural village

Your work in the classroom and engagement in the community offer you a unique insight into healthcare in Botswana and a profound intercultural study abroad experience.

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

Enroll in a curriculum promoting theory, cultural integration, and practical application:

• Address scientific and social problems of health and illness in Public and Environmental Health Issues in Botswana.
• Partake in field placements with local health promoters in marginalized neighborhoods in and around Gaborone in the Community Health Practicum
• Practice and interact in Setswana during visits to local historical and cultural sites, while engaging in various community-based learning projects.

Practicum

Learn first-hand about the community hosting you, while giving back to it. The practicum is a critical component to the community public health program in Botswana and one of the most rewarding. Study abroad students are required to work with healthcare service providers in government sponsored clinics as well as other public health-focused non-governmental organizations. Through your practicum, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation and holistic understanding of the country’s healthcare system.

Excursions

From Game Reserves to local hospitals, explore and engage with the greater Gaborone community and beyond:

• Learn firsthand about rural public health issues and the relationship between modern and traditional medicine through a multi-day stay in a rural village
• Visit multiple Game Reserves and take a multi-day safari in the world famous Okavango River Delta
• Volunteering opportunities are numerous with local NGOs. Past volunteers have worked with environmental organizations, orphanages, people with disabilities, hospice, soup kitchens, game reserves and women shelters to name a few

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees as well as estimated additional costs. Please talk with your University Study Abroad Advisor about additional fees that may be charged by your home institution when participating in a program abroad.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2014

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$14,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$13,248

Housing ***

$1,200

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** students placed in homestays have two meals per day provided as part of the program fee

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$1,200

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$250

Personal expenses

$1,500

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for residence hall students; homestay students only need to budget for lunches, estimated at $400 per semester

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2014 (19 wks)

11/01/2013

01/12/2014

05/26/2014

$14,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$13,248

Housing ***

$1,200

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** students placed in homestays have two meals per day provided as part of the program fee

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$1,200

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$250

Personal expenses

$1,500

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for residence hall students; homestay students only need to budget for lunches, estimated at $400 per semester

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2015

11/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75
• College-level coursework in public health recommended.

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the semester is 17–18 semester/25.5–27 quarter hours.

Most University of Botswana courses are 45 contact hours with recommended credit of 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours but may range from 2–4 semester/3–6 quarter credits and 30–60 contact hours per class.

Program Requirements

Students on the study abroad Gaborone program take the following required CIEE courses: the CIEE Setswana Language and Culture Practicum, the CIEE Public Health core course: Public and Environmental Health Issues in Botswana, and the CIEE Community Health Practicum. In addition, they are required to take three University of Botswana elective courses, one of which must be in public and environmental health.

Students may also enroll in the CIEE Seminar on Living and Learning for 2 semester/3 quarter credits in place of one University of Botswana course.

About The City

Botswana is one of Africa’s most stable countries, and a multi-party democracy. It is unusual in that the majority of its population is from a single ethnic group, the Tswana. Gaborone, the capital city, is one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities and lies in south-eastern Botswana, close to the border of South Africa. In addition to the main campus of the University of Botswana, Gaborone also hosts the headquarters of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community, which focuses on regional development, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. Botswana is renowned for its amazing biodiversity and diverse landscapes.

Meet The Staff

Tanya Phiri

Program Assistant

Tanya Phiri is the full-time CIEE Gaborone Program Assistant. Tanya is finishing her dual degree in Economics and Statistics at the University of Botswana (graduation scheduled for December 2012). Tanya has been a student assistant with CIEE for the past several years and has consistently received positive feedback from CIEE students.

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Goabaone Rankgoane

Program Assistant

Dr. Goabaone Rankgoane is the CIEE Gaborone part-time public health program assistant. She was born and raised in Mahalapye, Botswana. She did her Bachelor of Science part 1, at the University of Botswana for one year and then transferred to University of Pretoria, South Africa to do a Bachelor of Medicine degree which she completed in 2008. She worked at Princess Marina Hospital, the biggest public hospital in Botswana, for two years as a medical officer. She volunteered as the head medical officer intern and later Internship coordinator during her time at Princess Marina. She is currently a resident in Masters in Medicine, Public Health (MMed PH) at the University Of Botswana School Of Medicine. She has worked at the Maun District health Management team as part of her MMed PH District rotation. Goabaone has a lot of interest in Public health and is passionate about improving health services in the villages of Botswana.

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Kyle Turk

Resident Director

Kyle Turk is the CIEE Gaborone Resident Director. He was born and raised in the South Texas town of Alice. He earned a BS in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Western Illinois University (WIU). He also holds a Post Baccalaureate in Community Development and is a certified Professional Economic Community Developer. Kyle served twice as a Peace Corps Volunteer-- Mexico 04-06 and Botswana 10-12--and also worked as an AmeriCorps Volunteer from 08-09 in Central Illinois. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana, Kyle served as the District Community Development Director with the National AIDS Coordinating Agency of Botswana. He coordinated the district’s HIV/AIDS annual response with government and non-government stakeholders and worked with the CDC, international experts on HIV/AIDS, and local NGOs and practitioners on a variety of public health projects.

He has also worked in the field of information technologies and international economic development with multilateral agencies since 2000. Kyle was a supervisor for a USAID contract that trained students and staff from the Universidad Tecnológica de la Selva in Chiapas, Mexico at WIU in topics identified as crucial to development in their region. He has a passion for grassroots community development and hopes to incorporate that interest into his work at CIEE.

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Where You'll Study

Established in 1982, the University of Botswana has a student population of 15,000 and a staff of over 2,000. The University’s vision is to be a leading center of academic excellence in Africa and the world. Its mission is to improve economic and social conditions for the Nation, while advancing itself as a distinctively African university with a regional and international outlook. The University is committed to its students, academic freedom and integrity, cultural authenticity, and internationalism.

Housing & Meals

Most students live in residence halls on the University of Botswana campus. Students typically share double rooms with local undergraduate students. Restrooms and shower facilities are shared. A limited number of study abroad homestays are also available. Students are placed with carefully selected families in the greater Gaborone area.

For students living on campus in the University residence hall, meals are not included in the program fee (except during the one-week rural family stay) and are the responsibility of the student. Students can purchase a meal plan or individual meals and eat at the two dining halls on campus. Additional meals can be purchased at local restaurants and cafés. Students living with homestay families receive two meals a day and should budget for daily lunches.

Orientations

You'll begin your study abroad experience in Gaborone even before leaving home by participating in a CIEE online pre-departure orientation. Meeting with students online, the resident director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving you time to ask questions. The online orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. CIEE’s aim for the pre-departure orientation is simple—to help you understand more about the program, and to identify your objectives so that you arrive well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards your goals.

The mandatory weeklong orientation session conducted in Gaborone at the beginning of the study abroad program introduces you to the city, country, culture, and academic program, as well as provide practical information about living in Botswana. Ongoing discussions and a re-entry workshop at the end of the semester are designed to help you with cross-cultural adjustment and adaptation.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop and an Ethernet cable. You may have a wired Internet connection in your residence hall room, wireless at certain parts of campus and Internet cafés are available around Gaborone. You will also have access to computers in the university library and within the various academic faculties. The library includes a study area that is open 24 hours a day. Homestays do not have Internet but a USB 3G modem is available for purchase.

Academics

The Community Public Health study abroad program is designed to provide students with a focused look at public and environmental health issues in Botswana. At the CIEE Study Center at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, students have the opportunity to become fully integrated into the campus community. Students on this program enroll in a combination of required CIEE courses and regular university courses at the University of Botswana. The CIEE Community Health Practicum includes both an urban community service practicum in and around Gaborone as well as a week-long experience living and volunteering in a rural village. Students gain a holistic appreciation and understanding of health and healthcare and obstacles to achieving it in Botswana. Additionally, the program aims at equipping students with basic Setswana speaking skills. Students may only participate in this program for one semester but may continue their studies for a second semester by participating in the CIEE Arts and Sciences program in Gaborone.

Academic Culture

Students 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. CIEE courses are small and interactive and reflect a combination of U.S. and Botswana academic cultures.

This semester program includes one week of orientation, 14 teaching weeks, a one-week mid-semester break, and two weeks of examinations.

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.

Nature of Classes

The required CIEE Setswana Language and Culture Practicum, Public and Environmental Health Issues in Botswana, and Community Health Practicum are for CIEE study abroad students only. In the regular University of Botswana elective courses, CIEE students are taught alongside University of Botswana undergraduates and other international students.

CIEE Community Language Commitment

Although English is one of the national languages in Botswana and all courses are taught in English, students are encouraged to develop and use Setswana on campus and in the community. As students gain conversational skills in Setswana and use the language in everyday settings the more the culture opens up to them and the more they learn about health issues in Botswana. It is therefore imperative that study abroad students participate in and outside of class in a way that facilitates a mutually beneficial relationship with the wider Botswana society.

Grading System

Most courses at the University of Botswana utilize a continuous assessment model that includes written assignments, projects, research exercises, essays, and written and oral examinations. Courses are assessed on a percentage scale, letter grade (A–F), and grade point. The required CIEE courses use the same grading system as the University of Botswana courses.

Language of Instruction

English
Setswana

Faculty

With the exception of the CIEE Setswana Language and Culture Practicum, all courses are taught by University of Botswana faculty.

Course Description

Program Blog

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