Kwame Paxabay
FSP

AAAS FSP Accra

Accra, Ghana

Program At a Glance

Terms Offered

Fall

Language

Tandem professor and globe icon
Tandem professor and globe icon
English

Classes In

Students looking at a chalkboard icon
Students looking at a chalkboard icon
English

Lodging

Homestay

Department

college building icon
college building icon
African and African American Studies

This program is offered once every two years

ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

The Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) offers a foreign study program in Accra, Ghana. Courses are taught on the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon, with faculty and lecturers drawn from the University and elsewhere in Ghana, and a Dartmouth faculty member affiliated with AAAS.

Accra is Ghana's capital and largest city, with an estimated population of 4 million. Accra stretches along the Atlantic Ocean and is home to Ghana's central financial district, glittering beaches, historic monuments, museums, traditional markets and lively nightlife. Ghana's importance in the African Diaspora is immense. People from this region represent a significant percentage of those forcibly brought to the "New World." This resulted in a connected mélange of cultures linking this part of West Africa to African-descended communities in the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. Ghana is also an important site for homage and return in the African Diaspora because of its unique historical position as the first sub-Saharan African nation to receive independence and because of the Pan-African advocacy of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president.

THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE

  • Tyne Freeman Singing

    Photo by Tyne Freeman '17

  • Students in Accra

    Photo by Tyne Freeman '17

  • Market

    Photo courtesy of AAAS FSP Accra

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

STUDENT LIFE

In the AAAS program, students live in homestay families.

You can expect to use public transportation to commute to campus from homes in the greater Accra region. The program typically includes multiple day trips and excursions to the Ashanti and Central region of Ghana. Classroom learning is integrated with research conducted in the community and local archives as well as visits to important historical and cultural sites in Accra and throughout Ghana. Students will have the opportunity to participate in community engagement activities during the term.

For more information, please see the department website.

Student Voices

"...Seeing Arrow of God performed live...and a class discussion [where] professor Darkwah...debunked the history of 'African' fabric were extraordinary moments where I learned something new or completely enamoring that had significant cultural relevance. Both of these moments sparked something in my mind and heart and taught me a lesson that will serve me well in my academic and personal life moving forward." - Fall 2019

Student Voices

"This program was the first time in a while that I did nearly everything with a group, and I learned about the importance and power of community in a way that really surprised me." - Fall 2019

Student Voices

"I liked how we had excursions just about every weekend because we were able to see so much...of the country..." - Fall 2017

Student Voices

"My participation in this program helped me understand the global issues of facing the developing world. Our class [and] my own experiences within the country allowed me to perceive and engage with some of the...repercussions of an increasingly globalized economy..." - Fall 2017

Student Voices

"I feel like I have gained a deeper understanding of the history of Africa through our survey course." - Fall 2017

Student Voices

"The excursions we had really allowed us to synthesize our readings with real-life experiences. They brought the coursework to life for me. I am very glad our professor came with us on the excursions [to] point out important things and [relate] our trips to class." - Fall 2017

Tuition and Fees

The fees charged by the College for a Dartmouth-sponsored off-campus term of study include regular tuition charges for a term at Dartmouth, service fees, as well as the specific costs established for each off-campus study locale. In many programs, the room and board costs tend to be higher than for a term in Hanover. You can view a budget sheet for each program by clicking on the appropriate term. The cost of transportation to and from the site is the responsibility of the student.

Financial Aid

In order that all qualified Dartmouth undergraduate students may have the opportunity to take part in off-campus programs, the College endeavors to adjust its normal financial aid awards for students already receiving aid. Tuition and expected family contribution for Dartmouth's off-campus programs are the same as for an on-campus term.

All costs, including airfare and spending money, are considered when determining the cost of an off-campus program. Any costs in excess of a typical term in Hanover are met with additional Dartmouth Scholarship Funds.  Loan assistance is offered to replace the employment that would normally be included in an on-campus term.

Students are responsible for purchasing their own plane ticket and, in many cases, meals. Often this means that part of the expected family contribution is used towards these costs rather than for tuition. For help sorting out who pays what and how, a visit to the Financial Aid Office is often advisable.

 

Program Resources

Department Contact

Alumni Contact

TBD