SIT/Hendrix College Rwanda Consortium: Semester Study Abroad Program

Coursework

The program's interdisciplinary coursework is designed to provide students with a multileveled understanding of the history of conflict in Rwanda and post-genocide institutional, social, and cultural policies and programs in place moving the country toward greater peace, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. A course in Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda, and field methods will provide students with the basic linguistic and methodological tools needed for entry and immersion into Rwandan culture and for the supervised three-month internship.

Throughout the program period, students should expect to engage in a variety of research, experiential, and cultural activities. Learning will be facilitated by researchers, intellectuals, practitioners, professionals, and other specialists. The two-week group excursion to Uganda is designed to give students a comparative perspective on development efforts and daily life in a different post-conflict environment.

The following syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Specific details of each semester may vary given in-country realities and new opportunities that may arise. Learn more about credit transfer.

Rwanda: History, Culture, and the Arts - syllabus (PDF) (PDF)
(3 credits, 45 class hours)
This course provides an overview of the historical context and identity politics, which accentuated conflict and led to the genocidal outbreak in 1994. Students will learn about the origins of ethnic conflict in Rwanda and will grapple with the role of art and cultural expression in the reconstruction process and in conflict prevention. Students will consider the ways in which art has provided an outlet for the expression of the trauma of genocide and can allow for aesthetic mediation of peace and reconciliation. Students will be introduced to a sample of aesthetic expression and representation, which includes literature, visual arts, and media. The course will also provide an understanding of the mechanisms of genocide prevention, conflict analysis, and peacebuilding.

Intensive Kinyarwanda and Field Methods - syllabus (PDF) (PDF)
(3 credits, 45 class hours)
This course combines intensive study of Kinyarwanda and field methods to provide the student with basic linguistic and methodological tools needed for entry and immersion into Rwandan culture and preparation for their internship. The language training is organized and carried out by a language coordinator and a staff of teachers experienced in teaching Kinyarwanda to non-native speakers. Language study will be reinforced through the homestay. The sessions on field methods will focus on how to learn in a field setting, practice participant observation, and incorporate appropriate ethics of interaction. The ultimate objective is to prepare students for their internship projects and to give them the necessary tools to be effective in working with NGOs and local development associations. The course consists of a total of 45 hours of formal instruction including experiential sessions, field visits, and weekly sessions to debrief and process assigned readings and site visits. Individual meetings are also scheduled to help students select the area of their internship and establish contact with NGOs and other associations.

Microfinance and Poverty Reduction - syllabus (PDF) (PDF)
(3 credits, 45 class hours)
The Microfinance and Development Course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the genesis of microfinance in Rwanda and its development into a stopgap measure to the economic challenges that the country has witnessed in the past few decades. Lectures will provide background on Rwanda's socioeconomic history, particularly in relation to the impact that the 1994 genocide has had on the country's economy and the various strategies undertaken to address these economic challenges in the years following. The course will also address the country's growing dependence on microfinance for poverty alleviation and local development. Students will visit small businesses and different entrepreneurial sites to learn from the direct experiences of entrepreneurs and social development agents and to consolidate their classroom-based learning. Lecturers will be drawn from the National University of Rwanda and government institutions; lecturers will also include entrepreneurial and microfinance experts.

Rwanda: Ecology and Sustainable Development - syllabus (PDF) (PDF)
(3 credits, 45 class hours)
This course will examine sustainable ecological policies and practices and their impact on Rwanda's socioeconomic development. Ecology and sustainable development should be understood in their broad sense to include conservation, resource management, and environmental good practice. While students will focus primarily on biodiversity, forest protection, and efficient use of energy, the course will also address related issues such as pollution and waste management and the challenges these realities represent for human health and the environment. Local academics, environmental experts, and activists from local environmental NGOs will help students engage with issues of community practices, local policies and international treaties, sustainable use of forest resources, and sustainable use of technology.

Internship Seminar - syllabus (PDF) (PDF)
(3 credits, 45 class hours)
The Internship Seminar is designed to prepare students for an effective internship with NGOs, governmental ministries or associations selected from SIT's or the Consortium's partners in Rwanda. Students will draw on the skills acquired earlier in the semester and will be teamed up and paired with local advisors. Regular sessions will be coordinated for the students to share their progress, challenges, and experiences with each other and faculty mentors in order to become more effective in their placements. Students will be required to submit a written final report and give an oral presentation about their internship experience in which they document achievements and the challenges they faced.