Stellenbosch, South Africa

Academics

ELIGIBILITY
To apply, you must be a currently enrolled, degree-seeking, undergraduate UW-Eau Claire student. You must be in good academic standing and have a Students in township minimum 2.8 cumulative resident GPA. You may apply as a sophmore but must have junior standing when the program begins.

COURSES
The academic program consists of lectures, group discussions and field trips, and is taught by Stellenbosch University faculty, and other South African experts. The lectures cover a variety of topics, including History, Politics, Economics, Future Studies, Art, Literature, Geo- and Bio Diversity and Sociology. Students take three courses for a total of six U.S. credits.

The term is divided into 3 blocks. During each block, students take one course. During the first block all students take the mandatory Introduction to South Africa's Political History. In the next blocks students can choose one course from three possible electives. . Students will take a total of 3 courses. Each course is worth 2 U.S. credits. The following coures are scheduled to be offered in summer 2010.

BLOCK 1- REQUIRED COURSE
Introduction to South Africa's Political History (2 USA Credits)
UWEC Elective GE5 upper division, Foreign Culture
During this course, you will be introduced to South Africa's unique 20th century history, and the interplay between the country's political, social and economic issues. In particular, the focus is on South African identities, and how these were and continue to be shaped by the country's past.
Note: If you would like the course to count as a History or Political Science elective, you will need to talk with department chair when you are back to have the “Elective” changed to Pols or Hist prefix. You will also need to request that appropriate chair designate that the course as fulfilling foreign culture.)

BLOCK 2- ELECTIVE CHOICES
Bio-Diversity: Plants for the People of the Western Cape (2 US Credits)=UWEC Biol Elective GE 2 Upper Division
Students will be introduced to South Africa’s incredible biological diversity, with special focus on the plants of the Cape Floristic Region (a global bio-diversity hotspot). This will commence with an evaluation of people as perpetrators of bio-diversity threats, and the conservation efforts that are being applied to help find a balance between threats to and sustainable utilisation of the flora.

Apartheid & After: Representations of SA in Art and Media (2 US Credits)= UWEC Engl 330
This course is focused on the way in which art and media register and reflect the social and political conflicts and tensions of nation-building and racial reconciliation in South Africa. Through an analysis of visual culture (that may include art, photography and popular media such as music videos and soap operas) we aim to investigate the complexity of identity creation in pre and post-apartheid South Africa. The course includes visits to artists’ studios, galleries and other culturally significant sites in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

HIV and Aids: A South African Perspective (2 US Credits)=UWEC S W Elective Upper Division, Foreign Culture
Nurture and develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes in students as leaders and future professionals to manage HIV prevention and care in the workplace, both locally and abroad. This course will aim to develop a global understanding of HIV and AIDS through a South African experience of the HIV epidemic

BLOCK 3- ELECTIVE CHOICES
HIV and Aids: A South African Perspective (2 US Credits)=UWEC S W Elective Upper Division, Foreign Culture
Nurture and develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes in students as leaders and future professionals to manage HIV prevention and care in the workplace, both locally and abroad. This course will aim to develop a global understanding of HIV and AIDS through a South African experience of the HIV epidemic

Apartheid & After: Negotiating Identities In Literature And Film (2 US Credits) = Currently Being Evaluated.
This course focuses on the way in which literature and film in South Africa registered and reflected the social and political conflicts and tensions of the Apartheid years, and how, since the first democratic elections in 1994, these cultural products have served—and continue to serve—as a means of questioning and negotiating identity, not only nationally, but also at the level of the community and the individual. This week-long course will engage with poetry (and songs), two novels, one play and a small selection of apartheid-era and more recent South African films.

Challenges For Democratic Consolidation (2 US Credits)= UWEC Political Science Elective Lower Division
This course builds on some of the issues introduced in mandatory course, Introduction to South Africa's Political History. Its focus is on contemporary South Africa – a society in transition, characterised by elements of both change and continuity. We explore some of the most urgent policy challenges currently facing the country (like crime, poverty and social delivery), and further investigate the politics of identity, race and nation-building. In light of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, we specifically focus on sport as a driver of national identity, and also take a look at the role the South African state plays in Africa and internationally.

updated 11/14/2009

IMPORTANT: A minimum of 5 students must register for a course before it can be offered.

FOREIGN CULTURE
Eligible students can fulfill their foreign culture requirement on the Stellenbosch summer program. For participating in the program, 1/3 of the foreign culture/foreign language requirement (or three credits) is waived. In addition, students can earn six credits of foreign culture by selecting courses with a foreign culture designation, which is required if you plan to fulfill your foreign culture requirement on the program. Both of the required courses have a foreign culture designation for a total of 4 credits. Students can also earn another two credits of foreign culture by taking an elective with a foreign culture designation.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The program typically runs mid- June to mid-July. You will receive the exact dates the semester prior to depature.