Uganda Studies Program

Come to Africa!  At Uganda Christian University in Mukono, program participants study and live with East African students.  The program contains two study tracks: a Uganda Studies Emphasis and an Intercultural Ministry Emphasis.  Lectures, research, worship, and a service project help students experience daily life as a member of Ugandan society.  A brief homestay with a local family and a week-long trip to Rwanda challenge students to view life beyond their familiar cultural boundaries.  Former participants appreciate being stretched and confronted with new perspectives on this powerful program!

Click here to explore tentative course offerings.


Goals and Objectives
The object of the Uganda Studies Program is to help students to gain an appreciation and understanding of Ugandan people, culture, history, politics, and religion.

Requirements
Students must have completed two full years of college and have at least a 2.75 GPA to qualify for the program. Will consider second semester sophomores. Students are required to attend all Messiah-run pre-departure orientation sessions the semester before studying abroad as well as half-day reentry retreat upon returning to campus the following semester.

Credits
The academic courses may meet major or general education requirements and will receive a letter grade. Courses taken will appear on Messiah transcripts with letter grades. Please refer to the grade conversion chart. Some of the course offerings are listed below.

Students will meet their third language/cross-cultural requirement by participating in this program. Students will not earn 3 credits, rather the requirement will be waived.

Costs: 2013 - 2014 $19,355, plus $300 deposit

Fee covers tuition, housing, meals *round-trip airfare, educational excursions, pre-departure, and re-entry orientation.  Note: additional fees students may encounter include (but are not limited to) local transportation, visas, passports, immunizations, and course fees, including $750 for students choosing to enroll in the Special Topics course. 

For comparison, a typical semester in Grantham for 2013-2014 is $19,655.

Note: *Once flights are booked, students are responsible for the cost of the flight if they cannot participate for any reason, including visa issues.  Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the jumping off point in the United States.

Application Deadlines

A $50 application fee must accompany your application.

Course Offerings
The Registrar’s Office has determined that the following courses taken at the Uganda Studies Program will fulfill General Education requirements:

“The most rewarding aspect was getting to experience life in a new place completely independent from everything that was familiar to me. It was a great learning experience about growing up.”

--Kayla Berkey

For more information about the program check out:

• Uganda Studies Program: Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
• Centers for Disease Control: Uganda
• Uganda: State Department Consular Information Sheet
• World Fact Book: Uganda