Mali: Health, Gender, and Community Empowerment

Coursework

Prerequisites:
Three recent semesters of college-level French or equivalent and the ability to follow coursework in French, as assessed by SIT.

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This interdisciplinary program includes an intensive course of study on the history, health, gender issues, politics, community empowerment initiatives, agriculture, and culture of Mali. The courses on gender and community empowerment, and health care and health policy, consist of a series of guest lectures by local academics, employees from the government and private sectors, and other professionals, as well as excursions to a number of important sites throughout the country, including Sikasso, Teryabugou, or Koulikoro. The Topics in Social and Health Research course addresses culturally appropriate, ethical field methodologies appropriate for studies in topics such as gender or public health, in preparation for the Independent Study Project (ISP). The French in Health and Human Sciences and Bambara language courses are intended to help open windows into the culture and program theme.

The following syllabi are either from a recent session of this program or for an upcoming session. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.

The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.

Gender and Community Empowerment Seminar – syllabus
(GEND 3000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
An interdisciplinary course conducted primarily in French, examining issues of development, community empowerment, and gender in the Malian context. Drawing on relevant readings, lectures, group discussions, and field visits, students gain exposure to and understanding of multiple perspectives on development and empowerment issues and initiatives from professors, community leaders, and NGO leaders. Students gain introductory insights into the language of Bambara.

Healthcare and Health Policy in Mali – syllabus
(IPBH 3000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
An interdisciplinary course conducted primarily in French, introducing students to a range of topics centered on health in the context of Mali, including policy initiatives, sickness management, public access issues, and the role of traditional medicine. Through lectures, site visits to local clinics or community health centers, relevant readings and engagement with professionals in the health field, students gain broad understanding of health-related challenges, issues, and initiatives in contemporary Mali.

French for Health and Human Sciences - syllabus (PDF)
(FREN 2000 – 2500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
French for Health and Human Sciences - syllabus (PDF)
(FREN 3000 – 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
This language course provides students with the lexicon necessary for the study of health and human sciences in a francophone environment. It also underlines the importance of the intertwined relationship between sociological and anthropological variables and community health. The course is structured around a short-term practicum, which seeks to facilitate the student’s interaction with health professionals and associations working in the area of community development. In support of these objectives, course content provides additional focus on fundamentals of spoken and written French to increase student capacity. Based on in-country evaluation, including oral proficiency testing, students are placed in the appropriate level, with additional language practice in homestays and on field visits.

Topics in Social and Health Research – syllabus
(ANTH 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
The Topics in Social and Health Research course provides students with the essential tools required to conduct independent study in either the public health or social research domains in Mali. Material includes cross-cultural adaptation and skills building; project selection and refinement; appropriate methodologies; field study ethics and the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review Policy; developing contacts and finding resources; developing skills in observation and interviewing; gathering, organizing, and communicating data; maintaining a field journal.

Independent Study Project - syllabus (PDF)
(ISPR 3000 / 4 credits / 120 class hours)
Conducted in Bamako or in another approved location appropriate to the project in Mali. Sample topic areas: women's roles in family health care; literacy and Malian women; feminization of the workplace; traditional healing and birthing practices; nonformal education from mother to child in Sanankoroba; nutrition and health choices in Bamako’s marketplace; health care practices among the Dogon; training midwives for rural delivery support; Islam and health in Bamako's Islamic centers.

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research