Summer in Ghana
Summer 2010: June 13 to July 11
Program Location
Ghana is the first country in the sub-Saharan part of the continent to receive political independence from British colonial rule and, in terms of location, it is situated at the center of the globe where the Equator and Meridian intersect. The summers are therefore not too hot (85 degrees average), with some rain but mostly sunshine, and the people are friendly. Ghana has rich histories—representing relations among local kingdoms as well as relations with the various European commercial companies that traveled the coast of the continent from the 15th century onward. As part of the program activities, students visit several of these local cultural and historic sites at Kumase, Cape Coast and Elmina.
Ghana is located in western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. Ghana has a tropical climate. Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of most other countries in west Africa. Ghana's marvelous beaches, ancient fortresses from slave trading days, and unique culture make it a popular destination for international travel.
The University of Ghana, Legon, an accredited institution, will host the program. The University was established in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast, an affiliate college of the University of London. Following Ghana's independence in 1957, the University was reorganized as the University of Ghana and in 1961 began awarding its own degrees. The University is located on a park-like campus in Legon, approximately nine miles from the city center. The University has a student population of about 5,000 students, 80 percent of whom live on campus. Many of the University's buildings and its grounds are being renovated as the country's economic situation improves. The University's outstanding faculty and distinguished alumni have earned it considerable national and international prestige. The University also has a long history of enrolling foreign students, U.S. students in particular.
Academic Program
 The JMU Summer in Ghana Program is a broad-based inter-departmental supported experience. All students in the program attend the same lectures and engage in the same program activities. Over 18 University of Ghana faculty members provide specifically designed presentations ranging from topics on traditional political structures to discussions on women and economic developments in Africa. Specially invited discussants are also brought to the hotel to lead conversations with students. In the past, our invited guests have included directors of local NGOs and former government officials with direct knowledge of policy issues. Our local travels equally provide rich learning environments — from museum visitations to material culture studies at craft sites, to eco-walks, to historic heritage (Slave Castle) sites. In all, the Ghana Summer program allows students to have a practical view of Africa in the most objective way!
Students will spend about 2 weeks in Accra, the capital of Ghana. There are also travels to the following locations: Akosombo to visit the Volta Dam; Ho, from where we will make several ecological trips; the Asante Regional capital of Kumase, from where we will visit several cultural and craft sites; and Cape Coast and Elmina to visit historic Slave trade era castles and also experience a canopy walk at the Kakum National Forest.
The JMU Summer in Ghana program lasts four weeks and allows students to take two courses (6 credit hours). Most courses are taught primarily in English. The typical class size is 10-15 students and will consist only of those students participating in the program. Prior to the beginning of academic classes, students participate in a three-day orientation that will enhance the independent movement of the students while at the host institution and in Accra.
The first three days of the program are dedicated to an intensive orientation. This orientation is followed by three weeks of in-class academic activities supervised by lecturers from the host institution and the on-site coordinator, Dr. David Owusu-Ansah, JMU Professor of African History. Students have free weekends to explore the city with some organized sight-seeing included. For the final week of the program, students will travel to historic and cultural sites throughout the country, such as Elmina and the Cape Coast Castles, the historic Asante capital of Kumase, the Aburi Botanical Gardens, and traditional textile and carving villages. Students participate in common learning experiences, but can select 6 credit hours from this list:
Tentative course offerings:
- ANTH 391—Special Studies (3)
- ARTH 210—African Art and Culture in the Humanities (3)
- ARTH 320—Travel Study in Art History (3)
- ARTH 412—African Art -Sub-Saharan (3)
- ENG 430—Studies in Contemporary Literature (3)
- GART 200—Art in General Culture (3)
- GEOG 350—Contemporary Development Issues in Ghana (3)
- GHUM 252—Africa in the Humanities (3)
- HIST 263—Introduction to African History (3)
- HIST 391—Travel Studies Seminar (3)
- HIST 470/670—Modern Africa (3)
- HTH 390/490—Selected Topics in Health Science (3)
- IBUS 298—Special Topics in International Business (3)
- POSC 371—Topics in Political Science (3)
- PSYC 200—Topics in Psychology (3)
- REL 490—Special Topics in Religion (3)
- SOCI 391—Study Abroad (3)
- THEA 303—Topics in Theatre (3)
- WMST 495—Special Topics in Women's Studies (3)
- SCOM 395—Communication Seminar (3)
Accommodations
Students will reside in hotels in Ghana. Breakfasts, dinners and some group meals will be provided.
Program Costs
For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.
Application
For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.
For More Information
For more information on the Summer in Ghana program, or if you would like to request copies of past participants' evaluations of the program (or speak with a past participant, etc.), please contact the program director:
David Owusu-Ansah
Professor
Department
of History
Tel: 540-568-6743
owusuadx@jmu.edu
Summer Internship in Ghana
Summer 2010: July 9 to July 28
Students may apply to enroll in a Summer Internship following the Summer in Ghana program. JMU has arranged for the placement of students in customized internships with Plan-Ghana. Plan-Ghana is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates in partnership government and non-governmental agencies to improve the lives of children, families and communities. This will be our second year of internship experience with Plan in Ghana.
The goal of Plan-Ghana is to develop sustainable ways to end the cycle of poverty. JMU students completing the internship will work at Apam Hospital and at other locations within distance of Apam (View Apam Hospital video at http://www.apamhospital.com).
Plan officials determine the work students perform based on their skills and interests. Last summer, students with computer skills helped the hospital to input medical data and develop websites. Others volunteered at the local school to educate children on HIV/AIDS and other health-related topics. Some internship opportunities might include working with local nurses to educate the community on nutrition issues or even observed births and surgeries.
We have place for a limited and committed few. Contact Dr. David Owusu-Ansah (568-6743; owusuadx@jmu.edu) for more information.
Application forms are available at: http://www.jmu.edu/international/docs/abroad_application_jmu_shortterm.docx
Application
Interested students should clearly indicate on the application form which programs they are interested in, by writing in "Summer in Ghana Program" and/or "Summer Internship in Ghana" in name of program.
Letter from a Parent about the Summer Internship in Ghana
Please r ead a letter from a parent to President Rose and Provost Brown about the Ghana Internship: (From Mrs. Peggy Stafford; reproduced with her permission)
My daughter Jessica just completed her sophomore year at JMU and also just returned from a 3 week trip to Accra, Ghana after completing a summer intern programunder the direction of Dr. Owusu-Ansah. I cannot begin to tell you what an invaluable experience this was for her! A lot of which she learned could never have been taught as adequately in a textbook or lecture hall! It was Jessica's desire to volunteer in Africa, the interest of which was sparked through a Health Communications class and a course in African studies she took within the last 2 years at JMU. She is also a nursing student and it was her wish to work with HIV/AIDSpatients as well aswithchildren. With the help of Dr. Owusu-Ansah and others, she was able to fulfill those wishes, but she was also able to learn so much more about another culture, another country, and another way of living. It taught her about the diversity of people in our world, about appreciation for the so many things in the U.S. that she never stopped to think about, and about how to be nurturing in a way that she never thought possible. This is not to say, that as her parent, I was not worried about her in a country so far away from her home, about the concerns with her safety, about her getting sick, etc., but she was fully informed before she departed about these concerns, and she received guidance and oversightat the hospital and in her tours of surrounding areas. She learned that she had resilience within herself that she would never have learned without having had this experience.
One of the many benefits of a higher education is to learn and share what we learn with others. Jessica was able to learn in a "hands-on"environment and come back to her home and share all of this with her family, friends and other students! Thanks to JMU and your staff, she was able to expand her horizons! Thank you forgiving her this wonderful opportunity! I know it will be one she will never forget.
Students considering either or both experiences with JMU may be interested in the links and images below.
Links
Images of Ghana
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