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Kenya: Nairobi -
Academics
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Attend classes at one of
Kenya's finest institutions, the United States
International University.
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Prerequisites
Students must already have completed SIS 140/140G
Cross-Cultural Communication (or, for non-AU students,
its equivalent), or demonstrate the capacity to live
in a different culture.
There is no language prerequisite for the program,
but students will be required to take Intensive Kiswahili
on the program if they do not already have previous
experience of the language.
The Undergraduate Program
The academic semester is multifaceted. All students
will take part in a thorough orientation program and
core course titled The Politics of Culture in Kenya,
taught by the Country Director. A Kiswahili course
taught through AU Abroad while in Nairobi is also
necessary if unfamiliar with the language. All undergraduates
will also choose at least two courses from the US
International University (USIU) in Nairobi. The
most intensive part of the semester will be focused
on a service internship in which students will choose
from a variety of service options, such as working
in a community health care clinic, working with Kenyan
children in orphanages, or working to enhance local
businesses to name just a few. Service internships
can also be determined by the student through an agreement
with a specified Nairobi organization and approved
by AU Abroad staff before arrival. Review the list
of program
internships to view possible internship opportunites.
The Graduate Program
All students will take part in the intensive orientation
program taught by the Country Director. Students unfamiliar
with Kiswahili will also be required to take the language
course through AU Abroad. An extensive research project
and significant service internship are also necessary
for successful completion of the semester, to be approved
and coordinated through your academic advisor and
the AU Abroad office. A supplemental graduate application
process is required for admissions for graduate students.
Students should have a clear focus of what they would
like to accomplish through field research in Kenya.
Courses
As a Kenya: Nairobi Enclave student, you earn a full
semester of AU credit. These credits are transferable
to most colleges and universities. The course descriptions
of courses organized by AU are provided below. The
Country Director supervises the program and has been
a resident of Kenya for several years. The Kiswahili
instructorr is a long-time resident of Nairobi and
specializes in African languages. Classes are taught
by the Country Director, the Kiswahili instructor,
and USIU faculty.
The Politics of Culture in Kenya
(3 credit hours required; offered in
the fall only)
This is an interdisciplinary course focused on
the complex relationships between the international
and local communities in Kenya, and will provide students
the chance to explore what "development"
means in Africa with insight from different Kenyan
perspectives. Taught by the Country Director and guest
lecturers in the Westlands community and varied locations
throughout Nairobi and the surrounding areas.
Special Topics: African Regional Studies
(3 credit hours required; offered in
the spring only)
This course provides insight into the histories and
cultures of East, Central, and the Horn of Africa.
Through reading biographies, personal accounts, fiction
and non fictional studies of the region while living
in Nairobi, you will be able to analyze more fully
the cause and effects of what regional culture and
development might mean. This course will provide a
forum to try to answer how the particulars of these
factors define the region as a whole and provide a
backdrop for your intense immersion into Kenyan society.
Kiswahili
(3 credit hours required)
Intensive language study. Taught by program faculty
in Westlands, Nairobi. Full participation is required
USIU
(3-6 hours)
Students choose 1or 2 courses from the United
States International University, AU's partner
university in Nairobi. With a student body of approximately
3,000 students from over 45 nations, USIU is the largest
private, secular university in East Africa. It is
accredited by the Western Association of Schools and
Colleges and by the Government of Kenya. Course descriptions
are available on the USIU website.
Internship
3 hours
Pleas refer to the next page for details on internships
in Nairobi.
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