South Africa: Community Health and Social Policy

  South Africa

Durban

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: September to December, February to May

Description: Examine the interplay of health care policy, education, and practice in South Africa. Students will focus on topics such as the relationship between traditional healing and Western medicine, prenatal care, access to health care, and public health education. Building on a multidisciplinary and historical analysis of public health in South Africa, the program explores critical issues and initiatives in a nation where public health policies have achieved mixed results in addressing health problems.

The program base of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, serves as a nexus of public health teaching, research, and practice in both Western and traditional healing systems. Students participate in a two-week internship with a non-clinical public health initiative, and some students choose to return to the same organization for their Independent Study Projects.

Highlights: 16 credits; Intensive Language Study: Zulu, Public Health Seminar, Field Study Seminar, four-week Independent Study Project; Four-week homestay with families in the Durban area and a one-week rural homestay.

Field Visits
The Public Health Seminar generally includes several daylong field visits outside of Durban.These trips may focus on school- and homebased food programs, community-based programs for orphaned and vulnerable children, and research institutions centered on women and reproductive health.

Educational Excursions
The program includes educational excursions to several areas in urban and rural KwaZulu-Natal. Visits and seminars feature interaction with health institutions initiated by nongovernmental organizations, missionary organizations,and government clinics and centers.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: contact sponsor

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 12-15

Scholarships are Available. To make study abroad opportunities available to a wide range of students, SIT Study Abroad offers a variety of scholarships. We base all scholarship awards on need and merit. Awards range from $500 to $5,000. For a full list of scholarships, and to download a scholarship application, please visit our web site.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

SIT Study Abroad's Mission Statement: SIT Study Abroad is the accredited higher education institution of World Learning, a private, nonprofit international organization promoting international and intercultural understanding, social justice, and economic development through education, training, and field projects around the globe. SIT prepares students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens through SIT Study Abroad, undergraduate, field-based academic programs operating in more than 50 countries worldwide, and thorough short-term professional training and graduate degrees in language teaching, conflict transformation, international education, social justice in intercultural relations, management, and sustainable development.

Year Founded: 1932