University of Ghana - Legon
MISSOURI AFRICA PROGRAM at the UNIVERSITY OF GHANA - LEGON
Please Note: This Program runs only in the Fall Semester.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: April 2, 2012 (Submit your Application as soon as you can! We will review and send you an early acceptance.)
Program Information:
The Program and the University
Ghana: Country & Culture
Program Dates & Housing
Credit and Registration
Estimated Costs
Visa/Residence Permit and Medical
Insurance
Eligibility Requirements/Application Process/Deadline/Orientation
Links to Related Web Pages
The Program:
The Missouri Africa Program is fall semester program at the University
of Ghana, Legon. The program
enables students to enroll in regular courses at the University
of Ghana, which allows for the greatest level of cultural immersion.
All classes are taught in English. To see what departments and courses
are offered, visit the University
of Ghana-Legon website or the Study Abroad Office in 261 MSC.
Students of most majors will find coursework in their discipline.
Students in the past have especially enjoyed taking Ghana and Africa-related
courses, such as dance, history, drumming, literature, politics,
etc.
This program is run by the Missouri Africa Program Consortium (MAP).
MAP-member participating
universities include: Truman
State University, University of Central Missouri, Lincoln University, and the University
of Missouri-St. Louis. Students at these MAP-member universities will apply
and enroll through their home campus. Students from other non-MAP universities
may apply through the University of Missouri-St. Louis on a case-by-case basis.
*Note: All Accepted students must participate and complete the Ghana Online Orientation.
Faculty Director:
A
faculty member from a Missouri Africa Program Consortium (MAP) university will accompany
the group to serve as a resource and support. The faculty coordinator for Fall 2012 will be Leslie Youngblood from Lincoln University.
The
University:
The University of Ghana is located
in Legon, about 8 miles northeast of the capital, Accra. The University
of Ghana was established in 1948 as the University College of the
Gold Coast, an affiliate college of the University of London. Following
independence in 1957, the university was organized as the University
of Ghana and, in 1961, began to award its own degrees. The university's
lecturers and distinguished alumni have earned it national and international
recognition. It has seven faculties and a student population of
about 7,000.
Ghana--Country & Culture:
Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea along the west coast of
Africa. It borders Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to
the north, Togo
to the east and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The climate is
tropical and varies from a warm dry coastal belt in the southeast
and a hot humid southwest corner to a hot dry northern savannah.
The southern part of the country, where the University of Ghana
is located, has four seasons, two wet seasons (May - June and September
- November) as well as two dry seasons (July - August and December
- April). In the capital city of Accra, average temperatures range
from 72 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit year round.
Language:
The
official language is English, although many other indigenous languages
are spoken.
History:
Ghana
gained its independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957.
Prior to this time it was called the "Gold Coast," named by the
Portuguese in the fifteenth century due to its wealth in gold and
natural resources. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover
Ghana in 1471. From that point until its independence, Denmark,
England, Holland, Prussia and Sweden all sent explorers and merchants
to Ghana for its wealth in both natural and human resources. During
their battles for control over the land, these countries built forts
and castles, which also served as trading posts. As evidence of
the extent of European colonial presence and concentration of activity
in Ghana, 29 of the 32 European colonial forts and castles along
the coast of West Africa are in Ghana.
In 1992, after 11 years of military rule, the Provisional National Defense Council handed over administration of the country to an elected government with constitutional rule and a multi-party parliamentary system. The current system of government is a Unitary Multiparty Republic. On January 7, 1993 the Fourth Republic of Ghana was inaugurated with Jerry Rawlings as the elected president.
You can learn more about Ghana through the list of related web sites at the bottom of this page.
Program Dates:
Teaching for the Fall semester typically begins in mid-August.
Students will arrive approximately one week prior to courses in
order to attend an orientation for all students. All students
fly to Ghana together as a group from St. Louis. Teaching typically ends
in late November. Exams run from early to mid-December.
Fall 2012 dates:
Estimated Date of Departure from the U.S. for Ghana:
Orientation & Registration:
Classes:
Revision week:
Final Exams:
Estimated Departure from Ghana:
Arrive in US:
Housing:
Students are housed in double rooms in the international student
residence hall. Roommates may be other international or American
students. There is no meal plan. Meals are purchased in the campus
cafeteria or prepared in the residence kitchen.
Credit:
Students will enroll full-time during their semester in Ghana, and
will return with 12-15 credit hours of transfer credit from the University of Ghana Legon.
Courses:
Course schedules are not available until students arrive in August. You can view the course bulletin to see what classes might be available during your semester at the University of Ghana. In general, odd-numbered classes are offered during the fall semester. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee availablility of a particular course in advance. Students should be flexible in the credits they need to obtain while on this program.
Course bulletins:
Faculty of Agriculture (agricultural economics & agribusiness, agricultural engineering, agricultural extension, animal science, crop science, soil science)
Faculty of Arts (classics, dance, English, linguistics, modern languages [Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, Swahili], music, philosophy, religions, theater arts)
Faculty of Science (biochemistry, botany, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, nursing, nutrition & food science, physics, psychology, statistics, zoology)
Faculty of Social Science (archaeology, computer science, economics, geography & resource development, history, information studies, nursing, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, statistics)
BusinessSchool (note: these courses cannot be combined with other departments; you must take all your courses at the Business School)
Registration:
Students will go through the process of registering on-campus when they arrive in Ghana. This can be a lengthy process and students should be flexible and somewhat adaptable to the foreign system of registration. They will be directly enrolled at the University of Ghana and
pay University of Ghana tuition and fees as part of their overall program fee. Students should check
with their home campus to determine if there are any home campus registration and billing policies they need to follow or remain enrolled in while they are away.
Estimated Costs for Fall 2012 Semester: (costs are estimates only and are subject to change)
| Estimated Costs: | Missouri Africa Program |
| Program Fee1 (approximate cost) | |
| Meals, Books, Supplies, Local Transportation | |
| Immunizations2 | |
| Personal & Travel expenses3 | $2,000 |
| Multiple-entry Visa & Shipping fees4 | |
| On-site Visa Extension & Housing Key Deposit5 |
1 Included in Program Fee: UGL undergraduate tuition and registration
fees, airfare, housing, and international health/accident
insurance
2 Immunizations are the student's responsibility. Please check with your health provider for necessary immunizations, costs, and coverage by your own insurance.
3 This is an estimate and can vary widely from student to student depending on individual spending habits, amount of extra travel, the exchange rate, and the inflation rate.
4 Please see Visa/Residence Permit section below for more details. Approximate cost of the Multiple Entry Visa is $100 at time of application. Students will need to send their application via a mailing tracking system estimated at $20. They must include a pre-paid tracking envelope for their visa/passport to be returned to them. This is approx. $20.
5 Once in Ghana, students will need to apply for a visa extension when they are in Ghana and it will cost approximately $50-$80. The on-site coordinator can assist with this. Students are also required to pay a small deposit for their housing key.
** $250 additional fee for students from non-MAP universities is due with application. Contact the program coordinator at UMSL for more information.
NOTE: The group flight usually departs from St. Louis. Students are responsible for their individual travel to get to this city.
Students from MAP-member universities (UMSL, Truman, Lincoln University, and UCM) pay the program fee directly to their home university. Final payment of the fees will be due approximately two months prior to departure for MAP participants.
Students from Non-MAP universities will pay the program fee directly to UMSL and will have a separate billing schedule provided by the UMSL Coordinator. The payment of fees will be due mid-May and mid-June.
Immunizations are the responsibility of each student and should be completed approximately one month prior to departure.
Visa/Residence
Permit:
All participants are responsible for obtaining their own visa for study in Ghana. The process is not complicated and students should refer to the Ghana Embassy's website for current application forms, costs, and instructions. If further direction is needed, please call the Ghana Embassy for clarification. Students are advised to apply early (approximately 2 months or more before departure) so they have received back their visa at least 1 month prior to departure. You will be asked to submit your passport, so be sure to have your passport prior to applying for a visa!
*Please Note: More information will be given on the Ghana Information for Accepted Students website
Medical Insurance:
Students receive basic medical care on campus at the University.
Students will also have coverage
through HTH Worldwide Insurance. This international sickness and accident insurance
is part of the program fee. Students are also strongly encouraged
to purchase the International Student Identity Card, which provides
supplemental coverage.
Eligibility Requirements:
Students will be evaluated based on academic record, essay, and faculty recommendations.
A new minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required, as well as junior
standing or the equivalent (sophomores may be admitted in special circumstances and with the support of their home university).
How to Apply/Application Process:
Students from MAP-Member Universities (UMSL, Truman State University, Lincoln University, and University of Central Missouri): Contact your study abroad office
on your home campus for the complete application process and information. All students should complete the Missouri Africa Program Application form and the UGL Application form. Please also submit your official transcript and copy of your passport (if you have one).
Students from Other Universities (Non-MAP universities):
First, obtain approval from their home university study abroad office and then be nominated by their coordinator to participate in study abroad.
Then, the student should complete the Missouri Africa Program Application form and the UGL Application form. Please also submit your official transcript and copy of your passport (if you have one). Send everything to the MAP-Coordinator at UMSL by . As a non-MAP member, you will also need to submit a check or money order made out to UMSL for $250.
Please contact Amy Fillo at the University
of Missouri-St. Louis with any questions.
(FilloA@umsl.edu, 314-516-6497)
Deadline:
The
University of Missouri-St. Louis Coordinator must receive all completed applications
byfor participation during the following fall semester.
Orientations:
Pre-Departure Orientation
There will be a mandatory Ghana Pre-Departure Online Orientation that students complete on their own time and Ghana Handbook students must read prior to departure. Click here for orientation.
*Your home university may have an additional General Study Abroad Orientation you may also be required to attend.
On-Site Orientation
There is a one week mandatory orientation held in Ghana prior to the start of the semester. This session will cover safety in Ghana, registration procedures, Ghanaian cultural etiquette, campus and city tours, and subsequent visits to Cape Coast and Elimina.
ALL ORIENTATION MEETINGS ARE MANDATORY.
Related
Web-Sites:
To learn more about Ghana and prepare for your semester abroad,
check out these other sites:
University of Ghana
Embassy
of Ghana
The
U.S. Embassy in Ghana
Ghana
Home Page
U.S.
State Department Consular Information Sheet for Ghana
Center for Disease Control Health
Information Page for Travelers to Ghana
Lonely Planet
For
more information, please contact:
Amy Fillo
Study Abroad Coordinator
International Studies and Programs
261 Millennium Student Center
One University Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63121-4499
Email: filloa@umsl.edu
Phone: 314-516-6497
Last modified January 18, 2012