development studies

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By Term

• Fall 2013
• Spring 2013
• Spring 2014

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Program Overview

Could there be a better way to explore the complexities surrounding environmental, development, and globalization issues than by engaging with and confronting them yourself? In Senegal, you’ll join in a hands-on learning model to examine Senegalese society, from education to politics and the impact of Islam.

Through language learning, homestays,, and coursework that drives a variety of field work and community engagement, studying abroad in Senegal provides you with unparalleled insight into issues of development and globalization in West Africa.

Study abroad in Senegal and you will:

• Learn firsthand about the development challenges facing Senegal through both coursework and participation in urban and rural community engagement projects
• Spend two weeks living, studying, and volunteering in a rural or semi-urban area of Senegal, deepening your understanding of development issues in different areas of the country
• Live with a local host family to gain new perspectives on Senegalese traditions

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

• Examine social, economic, and environmental issues and public health challenges facing both Senegal and the continent as a whole
• Explore the concept of democratic governance by looking at political systems and regimes, human rights, representative democracy, and the fight against corruption in Africa
• Partake in an on-going urban practicum (internship) and a two-week rural/semi-urban community engagement project

Excursions

• Spend a day exploring The Slave House and Women’s Museum on historic Gorée Island or visit Toubab Dialaw, a fishing village and artist’s colony
• See the holy city of Touba and other important religious centers around the country
• Weekend study abroad tours include the UNESCO world heritage sites of the Sine-Saloum region mangroves, Saint Louis, the former capital of French West Africa, and other areas of Senegal where you’ll experience rural life

Immersion

Immerse yourself in and give back to your host community:

• You’ll learn about critical aspects of Senegalese society culture the most effective way possible—by living with a Senegalese host family
• Take advantage of an established network of community partnerships with local NGOs and institutions to carry out a series of projects ranging from teaching English to young children and working on training programs for young women, to helping officials with urban healthcare projects

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.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2013 (17 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

08/18/2013

12/15/2013

$13,850

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, a week-long rural stay, membership to cultural and/or resource centers and the West African Research Center (WARC) library, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$11,640

Housing ***

$1,750

Insurance

$102

Visa Fees

$58

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

*** All meals are included

Estimated Additional Costs

International Airfare *

$1,650

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$300

Personal expenses

$1,750

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.

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

Spring 2013 (17 wks)

11/01/2012

01/20/2013

05/19/2013

$13,850

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, a week-long rural stay, membership to cultural and/or resource centers and the West African Research Center (WARC) library, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$11,640

Housing ***

$1,750

Insurance

$102

Visa Fees

$58

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

*** All meals are included

Estimated Additional Costs

International Airfare *

$1,650

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$300

Personal expenses

$1,750

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.

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

Spring 2014

10/15/2013

to be announced

to be announced

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
• 5 or more semesters of college-level French (or equivalent)
• Minimum of two courses beyond the introductory level (200 level and above) in Anthropology, Development Studies, Francophone Studies, Sociology, Urban Studies, and/or International Relations

Recommended Credit

The Advanced French for Development Studies course includes 30 contact hours for a recommended 2 semester / 3 quarter hours. For all other courses, contact hours are 45 hours and recommended credit is 3 semester / 4.5 quarter hours per course. Total recommended credit for the program is 17 semester / 25.5 quarter hours.

Program Requirements

Study abroad students are required to enroll in the Advanced French for Development Studies course, Wolof Language, and the Development Studies Practicum. In addition, students enroll in three elective courses, one of which may be the Seminar on Living and Learning in Dakar (taught in French).

About The City

The Republic of Senegal, which achieved independence in 1960 after more than a century of French colonial rule, is arguably one of the most democratic countries in West Africa. Senegal has a population of nearly 12 million, with two and a half million living in Dakar, the political and economic capital and one of West Africa’s most vibrant cities. Although French is the country’s official language and Wolof the predominant language, other languages are spoken by the country’s multiethnic population, which is more than 90% Muslim.

Meet The Staff

Serigne Ndiaye

Dr. Serigne Ndiaye became the Resident Director in 2002. Born and raised in Senegal, Dr. Ndiaye completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in English and American Litera- ture and Civilization at Université Cheikh Anta Diop and his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Emory University. His primary research and teaching areas include Francophone African and Caribbean literature and culture and post-colonial theory. Dr. Ndiaye has taught at both Emory University and SUNY-Albany and is quadrilingual in English, French, Serer, and Wolof.

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Dakar, Senegal’s capital city, is an excellent place to be immersed in cultural diversity and historical legacy. In addition to its numerous museums, cultural centers, theaters, and wide variety of restaurants and nightclubs, Dakar is famous for its lively intellectual life and rich socio-cultural landscape that draw from both Africa and the West. Dakar is also known for its dynamic and free press, which has contributed greatly to Senegal’s multiparty democratic political system. A mere 15-minute ferry trip from downtown Dakar lies lovely Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, infamous for its role in the enslavement of Africans and home to La Maison des Esclaves, a museum that provides a living memory of a despicable chapter in world history.

In keeping with the idea of global cultural exchange so precious to the poet Léopold Sédar Senghor, the country’s first president, welcome to the land of Téranga (the Wolof word for hospitality) and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!

—Serigne Ndiaye, Resident Director

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Alain Badiane

Alain Badiane, Housing Coordinator, coordinates and maintains the study abroad homestay program. He meets on a regular basis with students and with host families to discuss housing-related issues. Born and raised in Senegal, Alain has worked for many organizations, including the Baobab Center. Alain holds an Associate’s Degree in French.

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Victoria Fletcher

Victoria Fletcher, Assistant Resident Director, first came to Dakar in 1998 as a study abroad student. Since then, she has returned to the city to work in different capacities, including serving as the CIEE Program Assistant from 2006–2007. Prior to rejoining CIEE Dakar in 2010, Victoria worked for three years in Portland, Maine as the CIEE Enrollment Officer for Africa and the Middle East. Victoria brings to this role nearly seven years of experience in North and West Africa, including serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Morocco. She received her B.A. in Literature from Kalamazoo College and her M.A. in International Educa- tion from the School for International Training. Victoria’s responsibilities include leadership of the CIEE Dakar summer program.

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Gamo Tounkara

Ms. Gamo Tounkara Mbow, Resident Coordinator, has been with CIEE since 2007. First as a faculty member, teaching a course on Gender and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, and now as a Resident Coordinator. Gamo received her first M.A. in Sociolinguistics from Syracuse University and her second M.A. from Western Michigan University in International Development Administration. She has served as consultant to numerous international non-governmental organizations on projects related to girls’ education and female empowerment in general. Her past experience also involves teaching foreign language, professional business communication, and political science courses. Gamo has been involved with CIEE since 2007, teaching a course on Gender and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Where You'll Study

The CIEE Study Center is located in the Amitié III neighborhood near restaurants, shops, cultural centers, and the largest public university in Senegal. Some study abroad students walk from their homestay to the Study Center, while others take public transportation. CIEE students study exclusively with other CIEE participants in a building that shares facilities including a library, computer lab, café, and student lounge with L’Insitut Supérieur de Droit de Dakar (ISDD). ISDD, a branch of the Université de Perpignan Via Domitia in France, offers degrees in political science and law and has a mostly Senegalese student body.

Housing & Meals

Housing and meals are included in the program fee. All students live in a Senegalese home in a furnished room. Living with a Senegalese family enables students to have daily contact with French and/or Wolof languages and learn about family and social life in Senegal, which are crucial aspects of the culture. While French is the official language of the country, Wolof is most commonly spoken in the homes of CIEE host families and CIEE study abroad students will realize the challenges of living in a multiethnic and multilingual society as they learn to function in both languages.

Host families tend to view U.S. students as adopted children and expect them to eat meals and spend time with their family and friends. Homestay placements are determined on the basis of a preliminary questionnaire and confirmed on site in consultation with the housing coordinator. It is important to keep in mind that the Senegalese live simply, and such amenities as washing machines and microwaves are not commonly available. Meals tend to be considerably less varied than in the U.S.; rice and fish are considered staple foods in Senegal. A meal stipend is given to students so that they may supplement and vary their diet.

Although some students are within a 20-minute walk from campus, others should expect to commute by bus or taxi on a daily basis. A transportation stipend is given to students living in the neighborhoods that are not within walking distance of campus.

Orientations

You'll begin your study abroad experience in Dakar 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.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. Wireless Internet access and computers are available for your use free of charge at the CIEE Dakar Study Center. You'll also have access to the Internet at the numerous Internet cafés in Dakar, but you should not expect to have internet at your homestay.

Culture

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

Included in the study abroad program are day trips to historic Gorée Island, including the Slave House, Women’s Museum, and Historical Museum, and to Toubab Dialaw, a fishing village and artist’s colony. Occasionally, the program organizes excursions to Touba and other important religious centers. In previous semesters, CIEE has taken students on weekend trips to the UNESCO world heritage sites of the Sine-Saloum region mangroves and Saint Louis, the former capital of French West Africa, and to other parts of Senegal where they experience rural life. Depending upon your interests and course topics, additional trips and cultural activities in and around Dakar may be organized or subsidized by the program.

Community Engagement and Rural Stay

Community engagement is an important component of this study abroad program and CIEE has an established network of community partnerships with local NGOs, other local organizations, and orphanages. As part of the required Development Studies Practicum, you will complete both an urban and rural project. Projects may range from teaching English and math skills to young children or creating activities for children at an orphanage to working on training programs for girls and young women or helping officials with urban healthcare projects. You will engage in community work for a minimum of six to eight hours a week. A highlight of the program is a two-week rural or semi-urban stay experience where you will live with Peace Corps and other local volunteers and learn about development issues firsthand through volunteer work in project sites. Projects will vary from semester to semester, but resident staff will work closely with you to match you with projects that meet you personal and academic interests as much as possible.

Academics

The CIEE Dakar Development Studies study abroad program is based at the CIEE Dakar Study Center, and all courses are taught by local Senegalese faculty, most of whom have faculty appointments at the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD). Students who meet the language pre-requisite may combine a semester in the CIEE Dakar Language and Culture program with a semester in this program for a full academic year in Senegal.

All study abroad students enroll in the Advanced French-Development Studies course. This course is taught intensively during the first two weeks of the program and then meets on a more limited schedule throughout the rest of the semester. Students are also required to take the Wolof language course and the Development Studies Practicum. In addition to the required courses, all students choose three elective courses, one of which may be the CIEE Seminar on Living and Learning in Dakar. With the exception of the Wolof language course, all courses are taught in French.

Academic Culture

All courses are for CIEE study abroad students only. Students will notice striking differences between their home educational system and the Senegalese model, which is based on the French system. While students in the U.S. are accustomed to a very structured system, the Senegalese method generally requires students to take greater initiative and responsibility in a less structured environment. Some American students could misperceive a course as having a light workload or few assignments, but students are expected to engage in a great deal of individual study and extensive reading outside of the classroom.

In addition to lectures and discussions, many classes involve student presentations, which may take up a greater part of the course schedule than students are accustomed to in the U.S.

Courses are designed to offer opportunities for students to draw a parallel between the theoretical information they receive in the classroom and the social and cultural experiences they have outside of class. Field trips and guest speakers are organized to supplement students’ education and provide a practical orientation to their learning.

The Development Studies Practicum combines traditional classroom sessions with both urban and rural practical experiences. As part of this course, all study abroad students will spend approximately two weeks living in various parts of rural and semi-urban Senegal with Peace Corps and other NGO volunteers.

Nature of Classes

Participants take classes with other CIEE participants.

CIEE Community Language Commitment

Study abroad students take part in the CIEE Community Language Commitment by speaking French at all times (except in emergencies). This fosters a learning community that contributes to both French language proficiency and understanding of Senegalese society.

Grading System

Final grades in CIEE courses are based on a combination of attendance, participation, papers, presentations, and a final paper or exam. CIEE reports Senegalese numerical grades (0–20 scale) in U.S. letter grades using a conversion scale.

Language of Instruction

French, Wolof (Language course only)

• Language Peers The Conversation Exchange Program pairs CIEE students with local Francophone students. Students typically meet twice a week for the duration of the semester, conversing in French or Wolof during one session and in English during the other. The program not only assists students in developing their conversational abilities, but also helps them make friends with Senegalese students.

Faculty

All courses are taught by Senegalese faculty, many of whom hold faculty appointments at Université Cheikh Anta Diop.

Course Description

Program Blog

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