Uganda Program

Overview

Students participating in the Uganda program will learn about religions of East Africa (REL301) and intercultural communication (COM313) while experiencing the peoples, cultures, andenvironment of this sub-Saharan African country. They will meet with various Ugandan people who serve as leaders in nonprofit organizations and religious communities for the purpose of learning about their efforts to meet the needs of the people.

The four-week program will be spent in Uganda. This beautiful country was listed as one of the top world travel destinations in 2016, and is known specifically for its many nature preserves and rich blend of cultures.  While the program will travel extensively throughout Uganda, the program will be based in the city of Jinja.  The city of Jinja is historically and culturally significant as it sits along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, near the source of the Nile River. To make the most of our time abroad, faculty and students will live together in a retreat house located in Jinja, enjoying group meals, reflections, and spaces that encourage collaboration and teamwork throughout the experience.  Our time in Uganda will focus on experiential learning and direct cultural engagement.  To balance academics and personal development, students will also participate in social and cultural activities that highlight the beauty of Uganda and its people.  Students can look forward to the following highlights:

• Explore different regions of Uganda including Kampala, Jinja, Mbale, and communities in the Northern part of the country
• Meet with local leaders in schools and government agencies to explore global challenges and find collaborative solutions
• Reflect on your faith journey through house church and opportunities to engage with religious leaders in the Ugandan community
• Learn from Ugandan experts and entrepreneurs who work everyday to promote global justice 
• See Uganda’s natural wonders with excursions to wildlife preserves, the Nile River, and waterfalls
• Visit non-profit organizations to collaborate with community members who use their faith as a means of creating prosperity and positive change
• Attend cultural performances highlighting the different aspects of Ugandan storytelling, dance, and music

Program Dates

May 7, 2023 - June 2, 2023

The dates listed above are planned group flight departure dates from LAX and in-country return departure date.

Preparation Checklist

Costs

Tuition: $1,955 per unit (same as Malibu tuition per unit)

Room & Board: $2,568

Program Specific Costs:

• Visa: $51
• Global Health Fee: $108
• The Ugandan government requires all visitors over the age of 1 to show proof of yellow fever immunization. Students must obtain this through their own health care professional prior to program departure.

Required Vital Documents and Deadlines

Completed IP Document Submission Form including the following documents:

• Passport Copy
  • January 20, 2023
• Health Clearance Form and Flight Itinerary
  • Programs departing in May 2023: Date March 17, 2023
• Visa Copy: April 17, 2023

Course Requirements

4 unit minimum requirement.

Course Offerings

HUM 295 Enriching the International Experience (1)

This course is designed to enrich the student's international experience by providing opportunities to engage more fully with the culture and to reflect more deeply on the experience. It is the goal of this course to help students know how to look at and listen to their new culture and how to give meaning to their international experience. Taught only in International Programs. May be repeated in a different location. Cr/NC grading only.

COM 313 Introduction to Intercultural Communication (4)

GE: Cultural Competence, World Civilizations

Prerequisite: COM 180

The study of interpersonal, small group, organizational and mass media communication as it influences the creation of meaning between representatives of major cultures or co-cultures within a predominant culture. Includes verbal and nonverbal elements influencing communication. Contemporary insights from a variety of areas including communication, anthropology, sociology and psychology. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- before they can advance to subsequent courses in the Communication major. 

REL 301 Christianity and Culture (3)

GE: Christianity & Culture

Prerequisite: REL 101

A study of ways in which Christianity shapes such aspects of culture as art, literature, music, medicine, law, secularization, ecology, racial and ethnic issues, and education, and ways in which these, in turn, influence Christian life and faith.

Program Faculty

Updated: 09.22.2022