MHC in Dakar

The Mount Holyoke College program in Dakar offers an exciting opportunity for students to explore a unique and important part of the Francophone world. If you are interested in using your French language skills to learn about countries other than France, to challenge yourself, and to broaden your perspectives on Francophone history and culture, we invite you to apply for our program in Senegal.

Mount Holyoke College opened its program in Senegal in the fall of 1992, after five years of the informal exchange of students between Mount Holyoke and Université Cheikh Anta Diop (also known as UCAD, or the University of Dakar). The program is open to qualified students, women and men, from Mount Holyoke, the Five College Consortium, and beyond. In addition to enrolling in courses at UCAD, students will study Wolof and enroll in a topics course offered in conjunction with other programs in Dakar.

The opportunity to enroll in regular UCAD courses helps students develop their French language skills, meet Senegalese students, and enhance their understanding of Senegalese culture and society. The program is designed for students who are independent and self-reliant, as they will not find the same level of structure and support in the University as they may be accustomed to on their home campus. If independence and initiative are qualities that you possess, you will be well situated to take advantage of all that the program, the University, and Dakar have to offer.

Senegal and the City of Dakar
Academic Program
Housing Program
Services and Information
Fees
Requirements and Application

Sénégal And The City Of Dakar
Senegal is the westernmost country on the African continent. It is bordered by Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. The Gambia, a former British colony, is sandwiched by Senegal, dividing the country into its northern and southern regions. Senegal covers an area of 76,000 square miles and hosts a population of approximately 10 million people. Many different ethnic groups make up the Senegalese population; the most prominent are the Wolof, Fulani, Serrer, Mandinka, and Toucouleur. About 95% of the people are Muslim. The climate varies widely, with average temperatures on the coast between 18 and 31 degrees Centigrade, and inland temperatures and rainfall higher.

Sénégal gained its independence from France in 1960. French is the official language of the country (and of the University), although a number of other languages, including Wolof, Fulani, and Serer, are spoken in less formal settings. The government is headed by a president who is elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term. The legislative power is held by the National Assembly, the members of which are elected to five-year terms. The country is divided into ten regions, each of which has a governor and elected local assembly.

Dakar is a large, bustling, cosmopolitan city, located on the coast of Senegal, with a population of approximately 1.8 million. In many ways, Dakar is a hub between Europe, the United States, and the rest of the African continent. It is home to many embassies and consulates of the developed and developing world, several United Nations offices, and world development organizations. Public transportation in the form of buses, taxis, and car rapides is easily accessible and inexpensive. The hustle and cosmopolitan flavor of Dakar are a sharp contrast to the rest of the country; a trip to the villages and towns within an hour's drive of the city offers a completely different Senegalese experience.

Academic Program
Program students typically sign up for a combination of courses, which ordinarily include Wolof language instruction (required), a special topics course arranged in cooperation with other programs in Dakar, and two courses at UCAD. The program runs from the beginning of January to late May or early June, depending on the UCAD calendar.. More precise information about dates will be provided prior to students' departure.

Wolof Language
All students will study Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal; classes are held at the Baobab Center, with instruction arranged by Africa Consultants International. The approximately 50-hour program in Wolof is equivalent to four credits, or one-quarter of the courseload for the program.

Special Topics Courses
Special topics courses, also taught in French, are offered in cooperation with other US colleges that have programs in Dakar. Students ordinarily will enroll in one special topics course. Previous course offerings have included "History of Islam" and "Contemporary Arts and Culture in Senegal."

Université Cheikh A. Diop
Students will ordinarily take two courses at the Université Cheikh Anta Diop. All courses at the university are taught in French (except those in language departments).

The University is a large, co-educational institution, founded in 1958 when Sénégal was a French colony. It is located just outside downtown Dakar between the Corniche (a scenic road that borders the Atlantic Ocean) and a main road leading into Dakar. The student body numbers more than 15,000, divided into several faculties--Law, Letters (humanities), Medicine, etc. Most program participants take classes at the Faculty of Letters, though students may choose their courses from the full range of university offerings in the arts, sciences, and social sciences. The University has a strong emphasis on local (African) studies, with a wide range of courses available in African literature, history, politics, philosophy, and sociology.

Students often also take courses at the Institut de Français pour les Etudiants Étrangers (IFE), a division of the University that offers courses for foreign students; most of the students in these courses are from other African countries. Many of these courses focus on Senegalese or African topics, and they are a good way of learning more about the region. IFE also offers courses in French language.

The educational system follows the French pattern, with final exams (oral and/or written) given at the end of the year. Program participants generally do not take the final exams, and will be assessed on the basis of papers and oral reports, as appropriate. In the French system of higher education, students are expected to take notes from lectures, and they will find that there is less interaction between students and faculty than they may be accustomed to in the US.

The University does not publish a course catalogue. Degree students usually do all of their academic work in one or two departments, so course information is provided on a departmental basis. Students should expect to select their courses only after their arrival in Dakar.

It is not uncommon in many African countries for students to go on strike from time to time to protest government or university policies. UCAD experiences student strikes on an occasional basis, generally not lasting more than one or two weeks. Short-term strikes may be somewhat disruptive, but do not generally affect the work of the academic year, and they afford an excellent opportunity to learn about Senegalese politics. Should a longer strike occur, we will make special arrangements for students to continue with their studies while the University is closed, and we will make every effort to ensure that students do not lose credit.

Housing
Program students live in homestays (in single rooms) that are carefully arranged by the Program Director. Upon acceptance to the program, students will complete a housing questionnaire that we will use to match them with a homestay.

Program Services & Information
The Program Coordinator in Dakar is Prof. Ousmane Sène, who teaches in the Department of English at the University and directs the West African Research Center in Dakar. Prof. Sène has extensive experience with the US educational system. He arranges for students to be met at the airport upon their arrival, organizes an orientation program, advises students about their course selections, facilitates the registration process, and arranges housing. In addition, the Assistant to the Program Coordinator (usually a graduate student at the University) coordinates orientation and other activities, and assists students in taking advantage of the many cultural opportunities that Dakar has to offer.

The orientation program varies slightly from year to year, but generally includes an introduction to the city of Dakar and the university, including visits to cultural and historic sites; a brief trip outside of Dakar; and a cross-cultural seminar.

At the end of the year, the Program Coordinator will send to Mount Holyoke a list of courses completed, with grades, for each participant. Mount Holyoke will issue an official transcript for each student. It is up to the home institution to decide whether and how much credit to grant, so Five-College and other students should consult with their advisers about credit before applying to the program.

Students who wish to do volunteer work, teach English, or arrange unpaid (and not-for-credit) internships will find a wealth of opportunities in Dakar; the Program Coordinator and his Assistant can help students identify appropriate organizations.

Fees
The fee for Spring 2008 is $12,000, covering tuition, orientation, room and board, advising, and on-site support services. Not included in the program fee are airfare, books, laundry, and personal and miscellaneous expenses. For students who take advantage of local products, vendors, markets, and restaurants, living expenses will be very low by US standards. Students who choose to patronize American- or European-style shops will find Dakar a very expensive city and should budget accordingly. Students who plan to do additional traveling will need to budget more.

Eligible students may expect to use appropriate state and federal financial aid, as well as other outside resources, to participate in the program. Eligible Mount Holyoke students selected for the program may use their Mount Holyoke aid to do so; see the Financial Planning section of our web site for details. Students must submit the Application for Mount Holyoke Laurel Fellowships for Off-Campus Study by the appropriate deadline. No financial aid is available from Mount Holyoke for students from other colleges; consult with your home campus study abroad adviser or financial aid office.

Requirements & Application
Students must meet Mount Holyoke’s general requirements for academic leave of absence, including a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7, that they not be significantly behind in credits, that they present a plan of study abroad that will be suitable to our curriculum and enable them to remain on track to graduate on schedule. They must also have a minimum grade point average in French of 3.0, and meet the French Department’s requirements for study in a Francophone country: they must take at least one four-credit course in French each semester of their first and second years, and must complete at least one course in culture and literature at the 200 level (215, 219, 225, or 230) prior to their departure for Senegal.

Students from other colleges should have completed four or five semesters of French. Students who do not expect to meet this requirement are strongly encouraged to consult with the French Department or McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives to discuss whether an exception might be warranted. All students must also take at least one course on Africa (anthropology, history, art, geography, politics, etc.) prior to going abroad.

All students are required to have health and medical insurance that will cover them in Senegal. Mount Holyoke students may enroll in or continue coverage under the College’s student health insurance plan, but this coverage is not available to students from other colleges). Students who have particular health or medical concerns or requirements are encouraged to discuss them with us in advance so that we can determine whether appropriate resources are available in Dakar. All students should consult with their health care provides, a travel clinic, and the Centers for Disease Control for information about required or recommended immunizations and other health precautions.

Application deadlines vary; Mount Holyoke students should see the Deadlines section of our website for details. Other students should submit the program application and the required Waiver of Liability form by September 15 of the previous semester (i.e., by September 15, 2007, for the spring 2008 program). We are happy to review late applications on a space-available basis, but we encourage students to apply early to ensure that they will be considered (applications will be reviewed on a "rolling" basis, as they are received).

For further information, please contact Joanne Picard (jpicard), Dean of International Studies, 102 Porter Hall, x2072.