Cape Town: South Africa, Parks and People  Featured:

Housing:	Other	Minimum GPA:	3.0
Class Standing:	1 - First Year	Courses Offered:	Geography, Natural Sciences, Sciences, Sustainable Development
Type of Program:	Faculty Led	Language of Instruction:	English
Language Requirement:	0 - none	Education Abroad Adviser:	Kathleen Fox
Internship Available:	No	Non-Penn State Students:	Yes
Global Programs Scholarships:	Africa and Latin America Grant-in-Aid, Diversity Grant-in-Aid, Grant-in-Aid, Whole World Scholarship	Grad/Undergrad:	Undergraduate

This is a ten-week, 15-credit program that will take place in the Dwesa-Cwebe nature reserve of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The program encompasses disciplines ranging from earth sciences, ecology and land use management to community relations, livelihoods assessment, indigenous knowledge systems and entrepreneurship. It brings together the natural and social sciences in projects that address issues of community and human development, environmental protection and health, water, food and energy security as these relate to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Penn State students will travel to South Africa, take classes, and conduct research and service projects in the parks and in the communities that surround them. During the 10 weeks, Penn State students will be joined at different times by students and staff from several partner universities in South Africa as well as nature reserve staff and local community members. The program is directed by Penn State faculty and courses will be taught by Penn State faculty  in collaboration with South African faculty.

The 9 credits of course work (400-level) will cover the physical geology and geography of South Africa, its cultural and political history, ecology and land management. The remaining 6 credits focus on research and service. Courses offered for the Spring 2013 semester include:

GEOG 498A (3 credits) will introduce students to South Africa's physical landscape by focusing
on the various biomes found within South Africa. Students will learn about, experience and discuss the climate, soil, vegetation, biodiversity, primary human impacts associated with each biome and the environmental services that are provided by these systems.

GEOG 498B (3 credits) will focus on the livelihoods associated with various communities within South Africa with a focus on Africaans, Xhosa and English communities. The course will also
address challenges of urban and rural communities and the availability, accessibility and
utilization of natural resources by these communities. In addition, the course will look at the
implications of development initiatives on local livelihoods and opportunities for sustainable
development to reduce pressures on the natural environment.

GEOG 498C (3 credits) will focus on the impacts of South Africa's social and political history on
the current social and physical landscape. The course will also assess crucial pieces of literature written by South Africans about South Africa, and how various writers, artists and movie
directors have portrayed South Africa throughout its history. This course will challenge students
to articulate social, ecological, political and economic challenges in a variety of written formats
intended for multiple audiences.

GEOG 498D (4 credits) is a project-based course and students will be provided with tools
necessary for conducting ecological and social assessment plans as well as developing research proposals that address challenges related to human-environment interactions.

GEOG 498E (2 credits) will be a discussion-based course which will address topics such as
global citizenship, service learning, leadership among others. The course will also focus on
developing 21st century skills within the group with the aid of a Penn State student affairs
representative. Students will be required to do written, picture and video journals to aid in
reflection and communication of complex themes.

For photos from the spring 2010 program, visit the Parks and People Facebook group.

Education Abroad Credits
You will receive credit for all academic courses taken on this program, and all of your grades from abroad will count toward your Penn State cumulative GPA. You may not take any courses overseas of a Pass/Fail basis.To learn how the courses on this program can work into your individual degree audit, meet with your academic adviser.

Housing and Meals
Students will live in basic park accommodations within the nature reserves. Meals are available in the park accommodations dining room.

Program Costs
For more information on program costs, please be sure to review the Budget Sheets listed above. These budget sheets include information on costs that are billable to the bursar bill, as well as estimated additional costs. Costs vary by program, so it is important to review this information carefully. 

Financial Aid & Scholarships
Penn State students studying through Education Abroad can use most components of their existing financial aid packages toward the cost of study abroad. This may include federal and state grants, VA educational benefits, federal student loans, and University scholarships and grants. Notable exceptions include work-study awards and some athletic scholarships.

The University Office of Global Programs also administers a number of grants and scholarships, including the Whole World Scholarship and the Africa and Latin America Grant-In-Aid. Eligibility is based on academic excellence and/or financial need. There is also funding available for study abroad programs in diverse locations and for students from diverse backgrounds. In most cases, applicants should have a current year FAFSA on file with the Office of Student Aid. Funding opportunities may also be available through Penn State academic departments. For detailed information on financial aid and scholarship opportunities and application procedures, please see Finances.

For More Information
For more information about this program and education abroad at Penn State, we encourage you to meet with our Peer Advisers. These study abroad returnees can explain program options, give an overview of the education abroad process, as well as provide information about his/her program.  If you're not at University Park, contact your Campus Global Representative.

To learn more about the specifics of this program, schedule an appointment with Kate Fox , the education abroad adviser for this program or contact the Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering and Development in Africa (AESEDA).

For the inside scoop on life in a foreign country, be sure to check out the GeoBlogs of Penn State students currently studying abroad.

Term	Year	App Deadline	Decision Date	Start Date	End Date
Spring	2013	09/15/2012 **	Rolling Admission	01/29/2013	04/07/2013
NOTE: Start date indicates arrival in Cape Town. End date indicates departure from Cape Town.
Spring	2014	04/01/2013	06/15/2013	TBA	TBA
** Indicates rolling admission application process. Students will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.
Indicates that deadline has passed