Community Public Health
Unique Experiences
Observe Healthcare Providers
to experience how the primary healthcare system is used as the key to the attainment of the goal of health for all
Participate in Community Assessments
to gain insights on health issues affecting communities in rural Botswana
Visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary
to discover Botswana’s rich wildlife and learn how communities are part of conserving the country’s ecology system
Your Destination
Gaborone is Botswana’s welcoming capital, known for its warm climate, peaceful atmosphere, and rich cultural traditions. The city offers access to vibrant markets, local music and art scenes, and nearby natural reserves like Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Whether you are majoring in public health, environmental science, business, communications, liberal arts, or African studies, Gaborone is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses, host institution courses and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic major.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
- Cultural Projects: Volunteer with members of the local community, join university clubs to socialize with your peers, and attend local workshops and events to get to know your host city.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Gaborone will open doors for you to explore Botswana’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Profile a community in rural Botswana and implement a community health outreach activity to learn about the health issues facing communities in rural settings
- Step beyond the classroom with hands-on community-based learning projects, where you’ll actively engage with local initiatives and gain practical experience
- Explore a range of public health facilities, connecting with professionals and gaining invaluable insights into healthcare systems and practices
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Eat, Drink, Explore: Gaborone
BEST FOOD TO EAT IN BOTSWANA Africa is a meat-eating continent, and Botswana is no different. The country’s national meat dish has two names: “ seswaa” in the Central District... keep reading
Study Abroad in Botswana Africa
For my study abroad, I chose the Community Public Health Program in Gaborone Botswana during the Fall 2024 semester. I am a public health major on a pre-PA track and... keep reading
Internships vs. Volunteering Abroad: Which is Better?
Are you looking for internship or volunteering opportunities while abroad? You’re in luck with CIEE! Follow along as we detail the differences between internship vs. volunteer work and what you... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Gaborone offers various housing options, which include a single room at a homestay, a shared double rooms in the university residence hall or single accommodation in apartment style housing off campus. Residence halls are on the university campus while homestays are within 60 minutes of it.
Standard Housing:
- On-Campus Residence Hall: Includes a shared double room with a local student at the university residence hall. The residence hall accommodation includes a shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities.
- Homestays: Includes a single room at a local homestay. Homestays boast a kitchen, living room, and a shared bathroom with the host family.
Select Plus Housing: Includes a single airconditioned room in apartment style housing off campus, within a 15-minute-commute to CIEE Center. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Residence Hall: Meals are not included, therefore students are responsible for all meals. Students have options to purchase meals at local refectory or eat off-campus.
- Apartments: Meals are not included, therefore students are responsible for all meals.
- Homestays: Host families provide breakfast and dinner during the week and all meals on weekends. Students are responsible for their weekday lunches.
Academics
CIEE Gaborone: Study on the campus of the University of Botswana, the first higher education institution established in the country. The campus is conveniently located within walking distance of Riverwalk Mall – one of the oldest shopping centers in Botswana – where you will find a movie theatre, plenty of restaurants, and shops. CIEE Gaborone is situated on-campus where you will have access to a gym and computer labs.
University of Botswana: The University of Botswana was established in 1982 with the goal of improving economic and social conditions for the nation. With more than 15,000 students and a staff of more than 2,000, the university is committed to academic freedom and integrity, cultural authenticity, and internationalism. The University of Botswana offers state-of-the-art facilities including a newly built medical school and sports facilities open to all students. Except for the CIEE Language and Culture Practicum, all courses are taught by University of Botswana’s faculty.
Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.
Course Information
Academic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Health Professions and Related Programs
Languages and Cultural Studies
Academic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Health Professions and Related Programs
Languages and Cultural Studies
UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA ELECTIVE COURSES
Students select three University of Botswana courses from the offerings listed below. One of the three elective courses must be Public and Environmental Health related. It is not guaranteed that the classes below will be offered, so we recommend choosing backup courses.
PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Students enrolled in this program must select at least one course from this list.
Community Mental Health Nursing
Principles and Practice of Community Health Nursing
Traditional and Alternative Medical Systems
Demographic Aspects of HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Basic Nursing Concepts and Skills in Health Sciences
Basic Toxicology
HIV/AIDS Education, Prevention and Control in Botswana
Introduction to Community Health Nursing
Parasitology for Health Sciences
ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA COURSES
African Languages and Literature
Politics and Southern African Poetry
Post-Colonial Theory and African Literature
Rites of Passage: A Study of Social Dramas
Studies in African Aesthetics
Business and Economics
Development Economics
Economics of Botswana and Southern Africa
Entrepreneurship and New Business
Environmental Economics
International Trade
Money and Banking
Education
Rural Development and Rural Extension
Engineering and Technology
Design for Sustainable Development
Digital Cartography
Engineering Materials
Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
Infrastructure Planning and Management
Water Engineering
English
Botswana Literature
Currents of Thought in the Literature of the African Diaspora: African-American Literature
Gender Issues in African Literature
Environmental Health and Environmental Science
Environmental Issues
Urbanization in the Developing World
History
African Cultures and Civilization
African Diaspora in the Islamic World and Asia
Historiography of Botswana
Trade and Politics in Central African Kingdoms
Media Studies
Media in Botswana
Political Science and Administrative Studies
Africa in World Politics
Politics in Botswana
Politics of South Africa
Science
Applications of Thermodynamic and Electrochemistry
Dynamics of Savanna Ecosystems
Geology of Africa
Parasitology for Health Sciences
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Wetlands Ecology and Management
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
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 canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- McDermott Health Sciences, Nursing, and Public Health Merit Scholarships
- Stohl International Undergraduate Research Scholarships
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $16,456 ** |
| Housing | $3,000 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $19,950 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $252 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $150 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $250 |
| Personal expenses | $210 †††† |
| Total Costs | $2,562 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in Residence Halls, you should budget approx. $756 for meals
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Homestay students should budget for $190
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $14,956 ** |
| Housing | $2,500 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $17,950 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Plus Housing Fee | $2,850 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $290 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $150 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $250 |
| Personal expenses | $245 †††† |
| Total Costs | $2,635 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in Residence Halls, you should budget approx. $845 for meals
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Homestay students should budget for $190
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Basetsana Maposa
Center Director
Basetsana Masego Maposa is a seasoned health, gender, and international development professional with over 15 years of experience managing and directing national and multilateral public health projects. She holds two...
Keneilwe Manisa
Program Assistant
Keneilwe completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Botswana in 2022. She started as a student volunteer in 2019 and also has experience with...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
You might also like
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship