Study Abroad

Globalization, the Environment, and Society: Macalester-Pomona-Swarthmore Consortium

  • Location: Cape Town, South Africa
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Language of Instruction: English
  • Class Eligibility: Juniors

Introduction

Cape Town is the third most populous city in South Africa. It is famous for its natural harbor, beautiful setting at the foot of Table Mountain, and its location near the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Town receives the largest number of tourists of any South African city, making it also the capital of the tourism industry.

  • Visa:

    Required. Non-US citizens should consult with Swarthmore and the Office of International Student Support before applying to the program.

  • Fees: Students pay Haverford tuition and room to Haverford College. Haverford will then be responsible for submitting tuition and room fees to the program.
Requirements

Admission decisions made solely by Professor Everbach at Swarthmore College. Students must be in the second semester of their junior year at the start of the program. Priority will be given to students who have completed three semester courses related to environmental studies and four semester courses in science. A course in African Studies is also a plus.

Students must make an appointment to meet with Rebecca Avery first prior to applying to the program. Students must be nominated by Haverford in order to apply.

Apply early! This is a competitive program with only 2-4 slots available.

Academic Credit

In order for credit to be transferable to Haverford, students must take the programs trans-disciplinary core seminar in combination with 2 courses at the University of Cape Town and a Directed Study Project.  Major, minor, and concentration transfer credit will only be granted for courses in which students received a grade of a C or above.

Curriculum

The program is built around students’ individualized Directed Study Projects.  The program is designed around a focused study theme of “Globalization, the Environment, and Society”. Students will grapple with the philosophical, scientific, social, aesthetics, and ethical dimensions of the program theme. All students are required to participate in the Consortium’s Trans-disciplinary Core Seminar on Globalization and the Environment and two UCT courses. The academic program provides teaching, discussion, reading, educational excursions and the Directed Study Project. The Macalester-Pomona-Swarthmore accepts students from Haverford who are interested in environmental studies.

Course Highlights

Anthropology, Archeology, African Languages (Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, and Swahili), African Studies, Afrikaans and Neerlandistiek Languages, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental and Geographical Science, Geological Studies, History, Life Sciences, Oceanography, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, and Zoology.

Note: Changes occur frequently. Students are responsible for finding the classes they need and consulting the official site of the institution.

Review the Full Academic Requirements for Studying Abroad

Orientation

The program begins in the first days of January, six weeks prior to the UCT semester, for the Core course which serves as an orientation to South Africa and the program theme: the interrelationships between globalization and the environment".

Number of Students

Approximately 19,000 University of Cape Town students, of whom 2,500 are international, representing 75 countries.

Housing/Meal Plans

Program students live together in one residence at the edge of campus.

Haverford students may not opt for housing not arranged by the program. 

Notes

Additional Resources


Apply to Study Abroad!

  • PDF
  • Program List

Options

  • Semester II
  • STEM Courses Offered

Dates

  • Semester I: n/a
  • Semester II: Early January to late June

Application Deadlines

  • Semester I: n/a
  • Semester II: Contact Carr Everbach of Swarthmore College for more info about applying (usually the 1st day of spring of the year before. Apply early!).

Faculty Contact