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Ethics and Development in Mali
Summer 2010
NOTE: This program is offered in even-numbered years only
5 weeks (early July to early August)
Sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters, the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, and the College of Social Science
Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)
What's this program about?
Mali has a rich history of art, culture and music known and admired throughout the world. It also faces some of the most daunting challenges of the 21st century as Malians work to reduce hunger, improve education, and continue on the democratic path they began in 1991.
Today is an extraordinary time to study and travel in Mali where the ethical issues and choices that developing countries face are being openly met with enormous energy. We will be talking to and working with artists, writers, scientists, and teachers of Mali who are engaged in this struggle. We will spend time in their laboratories, workshops, and schools – in large cities and in small villages. From the great Mosque in Djenne to the breathtaking cliffs of Dogon country, from the pottery village of Kalabougou on a small island in the Niger River to the University of Mali’s agricultural research campus near the capital city of Bamako, these places and people will remain vividly fixed in your memory for years to come. Through this study abroad program you will be able to better discuss and critically understand your place in a world where what happens in countries such as Mali has a profound effect on our lives here at home.
The key ethical issues and questions that we will address:
- Should Mali permit the production of transgenic crops such as Bt cotton or the import of genetically modified foods? Or should Mali be more cautious until more is known about the long-term effects of this technology on health and biodiversity, and in order to maintain economic opportunities in Europe?
- Should Mali try to insulate its traditional arts and crafts, such as bogolanfini (mud cloth) and other textiles, masks, and music, from further commercialization? Or should contemporary artists and manufacturers be encouraged to adapt their work for tourism, mass domestic consumption and export?
- How should issues of gender discrimination and violence against women be viewed in the context of development in Mali? For example, what are the arguments against female genital cutting and excision? Are there universal moral principles that should govern practices such as these, and how much depends upon a specific cultural context?
- How can Malian elementary and secondary schools address the serious problem of gender inequality, given the scarcity of resources and qualified teachers? Also, should younger students learn in their native language at the same time that they are prepared in French, and possibly English and German, for future career opportunities through post-secondary education?
- Generally, what has globalization meant for Mali? Thus far, much of the record is not encouraging. Can globalization be tamed so that hunger and poverty can be lessened and Mali’s rich cultural heritage preserved and democratic commitments strengthened?
Mali is dealing aggressively with the problems of health, education, material welfare, and spiritual well being; the lives of the people truly depend upon it. Malians – a diverse mix of approximately ten different ethic groups with their own native languages – have also chosen to meet these challenges democratically. This means the road ahead will be filled with heated debates, bold initiatives and difficult compromises.
What can I study?
The learning objectives for the program are to enable students to understand and critically evaluate:
- The ethical complexity of development issues in Mali
- The richness of Malian art, culture, language and society
- Gender and development issues in Mali
- The causes and consequences of poverty in Mali
- Some of the current government and non-governmental development programs in Mali
- The responsibilities of citizens in developed countries for the success of development programs in countries such as Mali
Students will be required to enroll a minimum of six (6) credits from the following courses.
| PHL 491 | Special Topics – Ethical Issues in Development in Mali | 2-4 cr. |
| RCAH 320 | Topics in Arts and Public Life (RCAH majors only) | 4 cr. |
| RCAH 391 | Independent Study (RCAH majors only) | 2-4 cr. |
| IAH 231B | Art, Culture and Language of Mali | 4 cr. |
| ISS 330A | Africa: Social Science Perspectives | 4 cr. |
Guest speakers from local markets and cultural centers will be included in the program as well as excursions to historic sites in Segou, Djenne, Mopti and Dogon Country. Visits to the Musee Nationale, the Kasobane Atelier, the Nieleni Women’s Rug Collective, the Institute for Popular Education in Kati, several women’s political organizations, and the Institute for Agricultural Research in Katibougou are also on the itinerary.
Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details. For example, in order to enroll for IAH 231B in this study abroad program, students must have earned credit for their first IAH course requirement (IAH 201-210) prior to the beginning of their study abroad program.
What are the requirements?
Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.
Elementary speaking knowledge of French is very strongly recommended.
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 at the University of Bamako’s Centre Regional d'Energie Solaire in Bamako.
Who can tell me more about this program?
Stephen L. Esquith
The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
C210 Snyder Hall
Phone: (517) 355-0212
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.
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 2008 was $2,648 (this program did not run in 2009) and included the following:
- application fee ($100)
- deposit ($200)
- pre-departure orientation
- accommodations
- daily continental-style breakfasts and all meals on the longer excursions to Segou/Djenne/Dogon
- accident and sickness insurance
- field trips
Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:
- MSU tuition and fees*
- airfare
- additional meals (lunches, dinners and bottled water)
- books and supplies
- passport application fee
- visa application fees (if applicable)
- pre-departure doctor visits
- pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
- personal spending money
Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $3,845 (US08). 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.
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.
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.
How do I apply?
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).
| What's next? | |
| Come to a study abroad fair | |
| Talk with a Peer Adviser | |
| Read program evaluations | |
| Attend an info meeting
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| 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 |
