Social Development and Education:  Perspectives from Ghana

Summer 2011
NOTE: This program is not running in 2010; please continue to check the Web for 2011 updates

4 weeks (mid May to mid June)

Sponsored by the School of Social Work in the College of Social Science and the Department of Educational Administration in the College of Education

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program includes a four-week experiential course in Ghana, West Africa that features a concentrated field experience, lectures, and interactions with the people of Ghana.  The program involves an in-depth examination of global, social, and economic issues of development; and the various philosophies, strategies, and patterns of responses used to address hunger, health, medical care, education, and other issues impacting people in a developing country. The program is a collaborative experience that includes graduate students and advanced undergraduates in the Colleges of Social Science and Education. 

The program encompasses a two-stage approach that incorporates both theories of development and application. In the first stage, the co-instructors will introduce theoretical and historical foundation that will be critical to understanding and analyzing the experiences encountered in the second stage of the program.  The first stage will be completed at MSU prior to the students’ departure for Ghana. The content covers material including theories of development; an historical-cultural introduction to Ghana; a review of the role of social service agencies, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their responses to social development limitations.  It also reviews the impact of the distribution of wealth and resources in the world in general and Ghana, in particular, and the effect on the development of education and provision of social services.
 
The second stage focuses on field placements in Ghana that offer MSU students the opportunity to collaborate with students and faculty in the Institute of Adult Education at the University of Ghana, and other social service agencies in several communities around greater Accra, Tema and Osu.  These areas were identified through a current ongoing relationship with the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana. 

The work of the Institute of Adult Education, which has sites across 16 regions in Ghana, focuses on workforce development and development issues that specifically affect Ghana, but could be applied to other developing countries as well.  Therefore, the field placements expose students to a range of education issues in both formal and informal settings.

From the social services perspective, students will have an opportunity to work at B.A.S.I.C.S., Basic Needs, Osu Children’s Home, Tema Social Welfare, and Street Girls Aid with sites throughout various regions in Ghana.  These agencies address issues of development that impact the economic and health and well-being among children and families in Ghana.  These placements will expose the students to aspects of social development from a governmental and non-governmental perspective.

Field trips will include:

Where does it take place?

The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa. The actual name of the Empire was Wagadugu.  Ghana was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom. It was controlled by Sundiata in 1240 AD, and absorbed into the larger Mali Empire. (Mali Empire reached its peak of success under Mansa Musa around 1307).

Some inhabitants of present Ghana had ancestors linked with the medieval Ghana. This can be traced down to the Mande and Voltaic people of Northern Ghana--Mamprussi, Dagomba and the Gonja.  Ghanaians come from six main ethnic groups: the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan, and the Gurma.  The Ashanti tribe of the Akan is the largest tribe in Ghana and one of the few matrilineal societies in West Africa.  The Ewe occupy southeastern Ghana and the southern parts of neighboring Togo and Benin.  The Fanti tribe are mainly located in the coastal areas of Ghana.  The Ga-Adangbe people inhabit the Accra Plains. The Adangbe are found to the east, the Ga groups, to the west of the Accra coastlands.  The Guan are believed to have begun to migrate from the Mossi region of modern Burkina around A.D. 1000. Moving gradually through the Volta valley in a southerly direction, they created settlements along the Black Volta, throughout the Afram Plains, in the Volta Gorge, and in the Akwapim Hills before moving farther south onto the coastal plains.  The major languages spoken by these tribes are Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, Ewe and Nzema.

Geographically, the old Ghana is 500 miles north of the present Ghana, and occupied the area between the Senegal and Niger rivers.   Ghana is a lowland country, except for a range of hills on the eastern border. The sandy coastline is backed by a coastal plain that is crossed by several rivers and streams, generally navigable only by canoe. In the west the terrain is broken by heavily forested hills and many streams and rivers. To the north lies an undulating savanna that is drained by the Volta River, which flows south to the sea through a narrow gap in the hills. Participants will visit Lake Volta, in the east.  It is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. In the Ashanti Region, we will visit and stay at the Lake Bosomtwe Resort.  Lake Bosomtwe is the most expansive natural lake in Ghana located 35 km south of Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. We will also visit the Manhyia Palace, the official residence of the Ashanti King; Bonwire, the Kente cloth weaving centre, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Ghana is an English-speaking country situated on the coast of West Africa just north of the equator. Ghana is bounded on the north and northwest by Burkina Faso, on the east by Togo, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by Côte d'Ivoire. It is one of the most beautiful and ethnically diverse countries in Africa with a stable democracy and friendly people. Formerly a British colony known as the Gold Coast, Ghana was the first nation in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve independence in 1957. The country is named after the ancient empire of Ghana, from which the ancestors of the inhabitants of the present country are thought to have migrated. Many African Americans trace their roots to Ghana and other countries in West Africa.  The country is made up of 10 regions: Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Volta, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper West and Upper East.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll for a minimum of four (4) credits from the following courses:

SW 470	Foreign Area Studies in Social Work	2-12 cr.
SW 890	Independent Study	1-4 cr.
EAD 890	Independent Study	1-4 cr.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

This program is open to junior and senior undergraduate students or graduate students majoring in Social Work or Education (or with special permission of the program leaders).

Undergraduate students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application.  Graduate students must also be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of application. Meeting these minimum grade point averages does not, however, guarantee admission. Students must also have some social work foundation courses or be admitted by the instructor.

Additionally, students must also submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will reside in University Guest Houses and Resorts

Who can tell me more about this program?

DeBrenna L. Agbenyiga, Ph.D., LMSW
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
104 Baker Hall
Phone:  (517) 432-4459  

Reitumetse O. Mabokela, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of Educational Administration
425 Erickson Hall
Phone: (517) 353-6676

Oumatie Marajh
College of Social Science
201C Berkey Hall
Phone: (517) 353-9202

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.  It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements. If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2009 was $2,639 and included the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $3,890 (US09).  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu