SJU’s newest Summer Study Program will launch next summer in South Africa with a course of special interest to English majors and minors. Taught by Dr. Shenid Bhayroo and assisted by Dr. Jenny Spinner, ENG 495: Media & Cultural Studies offers students three different study options, depending on interest; one in journalism, one in research-based creative writing and one in academic research. Students interested in journalism will have an opportunity to work as foreign correspondents in South Africa. They will propose, research and produce weekly multimedia stories, which will focus primarily on historically marginalized communities and on issues that receive inadequate or no media coverage. In previous years, South Africa study abroad students have covered stories about:
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- the enduring impact of apartheid-era education policies on schools in the township of Soweto, home to a mostly black working-class population;
- the women who work for an NGO that provides services to women who are victims of gender-based violence;
- the Jozi Cats, Africa’s first openly gay, men’s rugby team and the work they do to promote LGBTQIA issues.
Students who wish to pursue a study track other than journalistic narrative have the option to do research-based creative writing or academic research on topics related to politics, culture, economics, mass media or communication technology in post-apartheid South Africa.
In addition to weekly group field trips, which include destinations such as the Apartheid Museum and The Cradle of Humankind, students will have the opportunity to travel to Durban and Cape Town on the weekends. Our home base will be in the Melville neighborhood of Johannesburg.
This course can get upgraded to a graduate course for students in the Writing Studies Program.
Travel dates are June 1 to July 1, 2018. Applications are due Feb. 21.
Three informational sessions will be held in the coming weeks.
Nov. 2, 4 p.m., Merion Hall 174
Nov. 8, 3 p.m., Bronstein Hall Sun Porch
Nov. 14, 11 a.m., Campion Dining Hall entrance
For more information, contact Dr. Bhayroo at sbhayroo@sju.edu or Dr. Spinner at jspinner@sju.edu.