Overview

With a diverse population and setting which combines beautiful landscapes with the bustle of a modern African city, Dar es Salaam is the perfect site for you to study Kiswahili language abroad and learn firsthand about Tanzania and its people.

Through coursework at the country’s top university, a variety of community engagement opportunities, and field-based activities, CIEE study abroad in Dar es Salaam will give you unparalleled insight into contemporary Tanzania and its important role in East Africa.


Study abroad in Dar es Salaam and you will:

• Study and live at the top university in Tanzania
• Participate in an innovative CIEE Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum and engage the local community through volunteering and for-credit internships
• Choose elective courses from a specialized group of courses focusing on East Africa and Tanzania in development studies, history, political science, and literature
• Become familiar with Tanzania’s local culture and natural resources through CIEE study tours to Zanzibar and national parks
   

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

In addition to a Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum which utilizes visits to local historical and cultural sites, as well as various community-based learning projects, you’ll have access to a host of absorbing and challenging elective courses.

Explore environmental issues in East Africa; undertake comparative analyses of different approaches to development around the globe; examine international relations and politics; or pursue your own interests through an internship with a local NGO or private institution.

Excursions

In Tanzania you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a variety of local and regional field trips and excursions. These may include the National Museum, Kariakoo Market, Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve, and Bagamoyo. Past overnight and multi-day field trips have included destinations such as Mikumi, Lake Manyara, Arusha, Ngorongoro, Ruaha, Udzungwa, Olduvai Gorge, and Zanzibar. Destinations for activities, field trips, and excursions change each semester.

Community Engagement

Learn from and give back to your new community. The Arts and Sciences study abroad program in Dar es Salaam offers you the opportunity to participate in a variety of community engagement (volunteer) projects throughout the semester. Highly motivated students may also do a for-credit CIEE Internship with a local school or organization.

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the semester is 16 semester/24 quarter hours and 31 semester/ 46.5 quarter hours for the academic year.

The Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum has 20 contact hours and recommended credit of 1 semester/1.5 quarter hours. The Kiswahili courses and the CIEE electives have 45 contact hours and recommended credit of 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours.

Program Requirements

CIEE students enroll in a semester-long Kiswahili language course, the CIEE Kiswahili Language and Culture Practicum, and typically take four additional CIEE elective area studies courses. All courses are taught in English. Enrollment in the CIEE study abroad Internship requires students to complete a pre-departure proposal and approval process before the start of the semester.

About Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam, or Dar, (Haven of Peace) is home to approximately 2.5 million people. A steady supply of foreign investment and tourism has helped keep the poverty levels in Dar lower than in other parts of the country. What was once just a simple fishing village is now the largest city in Tanzania and the center of business, commerce, and culture. Dar has a diverse mix of Tanzanian (including Maasai) and other African cultures, languages, and religions, all in a beautiful lush landscape (in the rainy season) with beaches, colorful markets, and friendly locals.

Where You’ll Study

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) opened in 1970 after the East African Authority decided to split the University of East Africa into three separate universities for Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Located approximately eight miles from the city center, the campus occupies more than 1,600 acres. There are approximately 18,000 students enrolled at the main campus, including about 160 international students (60 from the U.S.). UDSM comprises seven faculties, several colleges and institutes, and related departments.

Housing & Meals

CIEE students live in UDSM residence halls and share double rooms with Tanzanian roommates or other CIEE students. All residence halls are very basic in their amenities. Each room is equipped with two beds and desks, and a small cabinet for clothes and storage. Bathroom facilities are shared. All residence halls have live-in staff who have degrees in education and experience with student counseling.

As most residence halls do not have cooking facilities, students generally take all their meals in University cafeterias or local eateries. Meals are not included in the program fee and are the responsibility of the student. A limited number of homestays may be available. Students should contact CIEE at the time of application to learn more about this possible option.

Academic Program

The Arts and Sciences study abroad program allows students to take Kiswahili language and additional CIEE courses taught by faculty from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) on East African/Tanzanian history, politics, literature, and development studies. While the courses are for CIEE students only, participants live in the UDSM residence halls and are paired with a Tanzanian student roommate as often as possible. Participants can also  interact with local UDSM students through immersion into the cultural and social life of the University and the surrounding community.

Academic Culture

Teaching methods at the University normally involve a combination of lectures, tutorials, and seminars. The system is geared towards serious students who are motivated, self-sufficient, and deeply interested in the subject matter. Courses typically involve three to four contact hours each week.

The CIEE Arts and Sciences study abroad program has been recently modified to make it compatible with a North American academic calendar. The UDSM academic calendar is not currently conducive to direct enrollment options, although CIEE students have the opportunity to interact with local UDSM students on campus throughout most of the year.