The Literature of the African Diaspora program provides students the unique opportunity to study African, Afro-British and African-American literature while traveling to Ghana, the region in western Africa at the heart of the African slave trade.  Throughout the spring semester, students read the earliest Black Atlantic writings and slave narratives of authors such as Belinda, Frederick Douglass, Olaudah Equiano, James Gronniosaw, Harriet Jacobs, John Marrant, Ignatius Sancho and Phillis Wheatley.  During Spring Break, participants will travel to Ghana to continue their studies while experiencing first-hand the site of much of the content surrounding both the origin and production of the literature studied in the course.  Dr. Kelli V. Randall, program director for the Literature of the African Diaspora, is an expert on the literatures of the African Diaspora and is looking forward to leading her first student group to Ghana. 

CLASS: Students will receive four credits for ENGL 399: Literature Study Abroad. Classes will meet throughout the spring semester following the assigned Salisbury University Fulton School Fall class schedule. During Spring Break week, students will travel to Ghana, Africa. Coursework will focus on literary perspectives on the African Diaspora experience through the lenses of major African, Afro-British and African-American authors.  All students must register for the full semester-long course.  

HOST INSTITUTIONS:  Founded in 1925, in Achimota, the University of Ghana at Legon will host our students during the first two days of the week’s activities. During the middle of the week students will be housed in the Medical School guest center of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST) in Kumasi. Both institutions are accredited by the Ministry of Education of Ghana, and co-sponsor programs with several colleges and universities in the United States.

EXCURSIONS: Our journey will include visits to locations and peoples central to the history of chattel slavery, as practiced on the indigenous and migrated folk of the West African region known today as Ghana, Africa. Independent in 1957 after being colonized by Portuguese, Dutch and British over a period of more than 300 years, Ghana, historical nexus of the African slave trade, will offer our students a rich introduction to the African Diaspora.  We will visit these and other sites within the slave experience: The Last Bath, a river in Asin Manso where slaves were bathed and oiled prior to their embarking for Europe and the Americas in bondage, as well as historical castles in Elmina and Cape Coast, major participants in the transportation of an estimated 60 million people into servitude over a 300 year period. In addition, our visit to the village Sesimi, located in the valley below the city of Legon will expose students to a recently completed archeological dig site and reconstruction focused on the remnants and written record of the Dutch experiments with domestic slavery that took place where this village stands during the 1870’s.

HOUSING: During their stay in Legon, students will lodge at the guest center at the University of Ghana at Legon. When in Kumasi, Students will be lodged in the Medical school’s guest center at (KNUST). Students will also spend an evening at the very unique Hansbotel, as we travel to the castles along the Ghanaian coast.

COST: Tuition and fees for the 2010 ENGL 399 course and spring break trip are estimated to be $2600. A final cost will be determined in fall 2009.  The price will include all tuition, round-trip airfare, room and board in Ghana, in-country travel and lodging during the excursions, instruction and trip facilitation throughout our stay.   Costs not included in the program fee are passport fees, immunizations for travel to Western Africa, visa application fees for entry to Ghana.

DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT INFORMATION:  An initial deposit of $250 is due at the time of application.  This deposit is part of the total advertised cost of the program.  Once the faculty director academically admits a student, the initial non-refundable deposit is due to the Cashier’s Office.  The student will be automatically enrolled into the study abroad course.  The University Billing Office will then bill each registered student for the total cost of the study abroad program (less the deposit amount) through the regular university billing system.  Standard University deadlines for withdrawals do not apply to study abroad programs.  Once the published Application Deadline occurs, the accepted student is responsible for the entire amount of the study abroad program charge. 

APPLICATION INFORMATION: Application forms are available at the Center for International Education or from the faculty director.  

Completed application forms are currently being accepted by the faculty director or by the Center for International Education.  Students should also submit a completed faculty recommendation form from a faculty member who knows the student well.  In addition to a completed application and letter of recommendation, students must write a statement of purpose.  Admission is competitive and enrollment is limited.  Students will be admitted on a rolling basis until the program is full.  The application deadline is December 1, 2009.  All questions concerning the program should be addressed to the program director:

Dr. Kelli V. Randall

Department of English
Phone: 410-677-0156 E-mail kvrandall@salisbury.edu
 

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