Program Overview
Program Overview
With a diverse population and setting which combines beautiful landscapes with the bustle of a modern African city, Dar es Salaam is the perfect site for you to study Kiswahili language abroad and learn firsthand about Tanzania and its people.
Through coursework at the country’s top university, a variety of community engagement opportunities, and field-based activities, CIEE study abroad in Dar es Salaam will give you unparalleled insight into contemporary Tanzania and its important role in East Africa.
Study abroad in Dar es Salaam and you will:
- Study and live at the top university in Tanzania
- Participate in an innovative CIEE Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum and engage the local community through volunteering and for-credit internships
- Choose elective courses from a specialized group of courses including development studies, history, political science, and literature that focus on East Africa and Tanzania
- Become familiar with Tanzania’s local culture and natural resources through CIEE study tours to Zanzibar and national parks
The CIEE Difference
The CIEE Difference
Coursework
In addition to a Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum that utilizes visits to local historical and cultural sites as well as various community-based learning projects, you’ll have access to a host of absorbing and challenging elective courses.
Explore environmental issues in East Africa, undertake comparative analyses of different approaches to development around the globe, examine international relations and politics, or pursue your own interests through an internship with a local NGO or private institution.
Excursions
In Tanzania you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a variety of local and regional field trips and excursions. These may include the National Museum, Kariakoo Market, Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve, and Bagamoyo. Past overnight and multi-day field trips have included destinations such as Mikumi, Lake Manyara, Arusha, Ngorongoro, Ruaha, Udzungwa, Olduvai Gorge, and Zanzibar. Destinations for activities, field trips, and excursions change each semester.
Community Engagement
Learn from and give back to your new community. The Arts and Sciences study abroad program in Dar es Salaam offers you the opportunity to participate in a variety of community engagement (volunteer) projects throughout the semester. Highly motivated students may also do a for-credit CIEE Internship with a local school or organization.
Dates, Deadlines & Fees
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.
Application Due
Start Date
End Date
Costs
Fall 2013 (15 wks)
Extended to: 04/15/2013
08/30/2013
12/13/2013
$13,850
Program Date Notes
Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
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 **
$11,735
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
Estimated Additional Costs
Meals not included in program fee
$1,500
International Airfare *
$1,650
Local Transportation
$150
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 (15 wks)
11/15/2012
01/20/2013
05/04/2013
$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, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.
Participation Confirmation *
$300
Educational Costs **
$11,735
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
Estimated Additional Costs
Meals not included in program fee
$1,500
International Airfare *
$1,650
Local Transportation
$150
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
11/01/2013
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
Recommended Credit
Recommended Credit
Total recommended credit for the semester is 16 semester/24 quarter hours and 31 semester/ 46.5 quarter hours for the academic year.
The Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum has 20 contact hours and recommended credit of 1 semester/1.5 quarter hours. The Kiswahili courses and the CIEE electives have 45 contact hours and recommended credit of 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours.
Program Requirements
Program Requirements
CIEE students enroll in a semester-long Kiswahili language course, the CIEE Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum, and typically take four additional CIEE elective area studies courses. All courses are taught in English. Enrollment in the CIEE study abroad Internship requires students to complete a pre-departure proposal and approval process before the start of the semester.
About the City
About The City
Dar es Salaam, or Dar, (Haven of Peace) is home to approximately 4 million people. What was once just a simple fishing village is now the largest city in Tanzania and the center of business, commerce, and culture. Dar has a diverse mix of Tanzanian (including Masaai) and other African cultures, languages, and religions, all in a beautiful lush landscape (in the rainy season) with beaches, colorful markets, and friendly locals.
Meet The Staff
Meet The Staff
Jennifer Venecek
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Jenny Venecek holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and an M.A. in international education from the School for International Training. She served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer (community health education) in rural Tanzania and later spent a year as a program analyst with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief at the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She also spent nine months as a Peace Corps Response volunteer (health systems strengthening) with the District Government in Malawi. Having worked in HIV prevention in East and Southern Africa, Jenny is interested in the impact and evolution of international development and donor aid in the region, as well as cultural barriers to HIV prevention. Jenny is proficient in Kiswahili and holds a great affection for Tanzania, its people, and its language.
Read More
No two consecutive days in Tanzania are the same. The country tantalizes your senses with the diversity of its people, the beauty and range of its landscapes, and the non-stop energy of a modern bustling African city. At the same time it challenges your resourcefulness and pushes you to explore the depths of your adaptability and resilience.
The city of Dar es Salaam offers exciting public markets, abundant multiethnic neighborhoods, an active seaport, and a vivacious public transportation system. While at the University of Dar es Salaam you will live and learn with local students. You will gain valuable insight into the current generation of young Tanzanians who are filled with hopes and dreams for the future of their country. In addition to your courses you have the opportunity to explore breathtaking landscapes—from the beautiful architecture and beaches of Zanzibar to the majestic slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The people of Tanzania are known for their warmth and hospitality; with a friendly smile and your newfound Kiswahili skills, you will undoubtedly find it easy to make friends.
— Jenny Venecek, Resident Director
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Leah Methusela
Leah Methusela is a third-year student of business administration at the UDSM, she is the CIEE Study Center’s Resident Student Assistant. Leah lives in the residency halls with students and is available to assist with housing and student-life issues as they arise.
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Cecilia Mjingo
Cecilia Mjingo, a graduate of UDSM, is the CIEE Study Center’s full time Program Assistant available to help study abroad participants with administrative issues.
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Polycarp Mtega
Polycarp Mtega is one of the part time student assistants. Polycarp is a graduate of the UDSM School of Law and assists with Study Center operations as well as helping participants navigate the city’s transportation system.
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Where You'll Study
Where You'll Study
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) opened in 1970 after the East African authority decided to split the University of East Africa into three separate universities for Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Located approximately eight miles from the city center, the campus occupies more than 1,600 acres. There are approximately 18,000 students enrolled at the main campus, including about 160 international students (60 from the U.S.). UDSM comprises seven faculties, several colleges and institutes, and related departments.
Housing & Meals
Housing & Meals
CIEE students live in UDSM residence halls and share double rooms with Tanzanian roommates or other CIEE students. All residence halls are very basic in their amenities. Each room is equipped with two beds and desks, and a small cabinet for clothes and storage. Bathroom facilities are shared. All residence halls have live-in staff who have degrees in education and experience with student counseling.
As most residence halls do not have cooking facilities, students generally eat their meals in University cafeterias or local eateries. Meals are not included in the program fee and are the responsibility of the student.
Orientations
Orientations
You'll begin your study abroad experience in Dar es Salaam 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 week-long orientation session conducted in Dar es Salaam at the beginning of the study abroad program will introduce you to the city, country, culture, and the academic program, and provide practical information about living in Tanzania. The orientation includes a variety of sessions and activities focusing on health and safety, local transportation, and survival Kiswahili. Ongoing orientation discussions and a re-entry workshop at the end of the semester are designed to help students with cross-cultural adjustment and adaptation.
Internet
Internet
You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. Students may use the UDSM computer facilities and neighborhood Internet cafés. Wireless modems may be purchased locally to help get better Internet access. Very limited wireless access is available on campus.
Academics
Academics
The Arts and Sciences study abroad program allows students to take Kiswahili language and additional CIEE courses, taught by faculty from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), on East African/Tanzanian history, politics, literature, and development studies. While the courses are for CIEE students only, participants live in the UDSM residence halls and are paired with a Tanzanian student roommate as often as possible. Participants can also interact with local UDSM students through immersion into the cultural and social life of the University and surrounding community.
Academic Culture
Teaching methods at the University normally involve a combination of lectures, tutorials, and seminars. The system is geared towards serious students who are motivated, self-sufficient, and deeply interested in the subject matter. Courses typically involve three to four contact hours each week.
The CIEE Arts and Sciences study abroad program has been recently modified to make it compatible with a North American academic calendar. The UDSM academic calendar is not currently conducive to direct enrollment options, although CIEE students have the opportunity to interact with local UDSM students on campus throughout most of the year.
Internship
Qualified students may participate in a CIEE internship for credit. Students must submit a proposal and receive permission from their home institution prior to the start of the semester to enroll in a CIEE internship. More information on the CIEE Internship can be found in the course list.
Nature of Classes
Students take classes with CIEE participants and other international students.
Grading System
Kiswahili language courses and CIEE area studies courses follow a continuous assessment model that includes written assignments, projects, research exercises, essays, and written and oral examinations.
Language of Instruction
English
Kiswahili
Faculty
With the exception of the CIEE Language and Culture Practicum course, all courses are taught by the faculty of the University of Dar es Salaam.
Course Description
Course Description
All Courses
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.
CIEE Study Center Syllabi
To view the most recent syllabi for courses taught by CIEE at our Study Centers, visit our syllabi site.
Required CIEE Courses
AFST 1001 TANZ
Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum
This course is designed to help students practice and interact in Kiswahili during visits to local historical and cultural sites, while engaged in various community-based learning projects. This is a task-based course and requires students to take the lead in completing tasks or research projects of personal interest. This course also serves as a language clinic, so that students can have all of their questions related to Kiswahili learning answered.
SWAH 1001 TANZ Beginning Kiswahili
SWAH 2001 TANZ Intermediate Kiswahili
SWAH 3001 TANZ Advanced Kiswahili
Kiswahili (Swahili) language courses are taught by faculty from the UDSM Institute of Kiswahili Studies and are offered at all levels, from beginning through advanced. Students with prior Kiswahili training are given a placement exam upon arrival in Tanzania.
CIEE Elective Courses
AFST 3001 TANZ
Development Perspectives: Theories, Methods, and the Case of Tanzania
This course examines issues related to development and change within the context of a group of diverse societies often referred to as the Third World. Students research the impact of colonialism and its legacies on these societies, the changing character and meaning of development in the context of environmental changes, and the nature of relationships between men and women, class and ethnicity, and tradition and modernity. The course examines the politics of identity and indigenousness, the significance of democracy for developing civil society and human rights, and the role of state institutions in fostering development and change. The course encourages students to undertake comparative analyses of different approaches to development around the globe. Additionally, the course exposes students to global, political, and socio-economic trends and relations, and their implications for Tanzania, Africa, and the developing world.
ENVI 3001 TANZ
Environmental Issues in East Africa
This course takes a multidisciplinary approach that addresses the physical and life sciences as well as the human dimension of environmental issues in East Africa. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to understand the complex nature of environmental science issues through the interdependence of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The course enables students to explain the various aspects of the exploitation, and management of the environment and its resources in the context of environmentally sustainable development in East Africa. Students gain the ability to explain some of the ways in which humans have modified natural environmental processes and also to evaluate a range of techniques by which the human impact on the environment in East Africa can be assessed and managed. Some of the topics for the course include water, soil, and energy resources, minerals, wildlife, forests, renewable energy, environmental policy, and public participation.
HIST 3001 TANZ/AFST 3003 TANZ
History of East Africa
This course is divided into two parts. The first focuses on the history of the region in precolonial times and includes topics such as the rise of complex societies and long-distance trading networks. The second focuses on the colonial and post-colonial period. Lectures and selected readings situate the colonial and post-colonial East Africa in a broader context of Capitalist expansionism and African people’s response and initiatives within this setting. The course includes various examples from Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, and Zanzibar.
INRE 3001 TANZ/AFST 3002
African International Relations and Foreign Policy
This course seeks to give students the historical perspective and analytical capability to understand major issues on the African international agenda. The student is expected to develop an informed, thoughtful, and independent opinion on the multiple factors that influence African states’ policies and actions. This is accomplished through analysis of the evolving African state system, combined with an understanding of the political dynamics and practical diplomacy of the international state system. The roles of the African Union, sub-regional organizations, domestic constituencies, and non-state actors (ranging from NGOs to rebel forces) are included in the course discussions.
INSH 3003 TANZ
Internship
Qualified students may undertake an internship for credit while in Dar es Salaam. Internships are typically arranged with local NGOs and private institutions in the areas of health, education, and development. To be considered for an internship, students must submit a clear statement of purpose, including specific areas of interest, and résumé. Students must receive permission from their home institution to enroll in an internship. Upon receipt of the approved plan, the resident director explores internship placements and, after arrival, meets with the student and the organization director to work out additional details of the student’s internship. Total hours: 135. Recommended credit: 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours.
LITT 3001 TANZ/AFST 3004 TANZ
African Literature
The aim of this course is to help students critically appreciate African literature. The course traces the evolution of African literature from its oral tradition to the contemporary written form. Its central focus is the critical and theoretical study of representative literary works from the African continent available in English. The course includes discussion of language problems within African literature and the role of African women writers in African literature.
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