Description

One of Africa's most politically and economically stable countries, Botswana is home to 1.8 million people and 226,900 square miles of vast savannas, the Kalahari Desert, and world famous wildlife parks. Botswana's citizens, most of who live in the major cities, towns and villages along the eastern border, enjoy standards of education and economic well-being rivaled on the continent only by neighboring South Africa.

The Core Course: "Contemporary Socio-cultural Issues in Botswana"
This course offers students the opportunity to study the cultural, historical, social, political, religious, and environmental issues that shape and connect national development. The core course combines a series of lectures given by university faculty and specialists from governmental and non-governmental organizations, readings, and the extensive reflective writing of the Fieldbook with the more experiential components of family stays, internship, and study trips to provide a high degree of cultural immersion and cross cultural learning.

Intensive Setswana Language: The course emphasizes proficiency in speaking and listening in Setswana through a highly communicative, interactive language curriculum. 80 hours of instruction are offered in the first month of the program while students are in the village stay. Students continue to study Setswana during the "Big Motse" stay for a total of 110 in-class hours.

Directed Independent Study Project: Students will explore in-depth an aspect of Botswana through a directed independent study. Projects are guided by local scholars, specialists, or program staff and may take the form of an independent study, apprenticeship in the arts, or an internship. For any of these projects, a significant analytical component in the form of a written report provides the documentation of learning. The program strongly recommends that students select a project that involves field research, oral interviews, ethnography, and other techniques that facilitate cultural immersion over those involving library research. Topic selection may be limited due to available resources and local conditions.

Study Trips: To deepen your understanding of topics covered in the core course, you will travel to various locations in Botswana.

Family Stays: The heart of the Pitzer in Botswana program is the opportunity to live with three different host families representing various parts of the country and key socioeconomic groups. The chance to become a part of each of these families and develop a personal relationship with individual family members is a distinct privilege and provides one of the most meaningful dimensions of the program.