An African success story, Botswana is endowed with rich mineral resources, including diamonds, and has benefited from uninterrupted and effective civilian leadership since independence in 1966. Its government has negotiated contracts with multinational corporations such as DeBeers, which stand in stark contrast to the exploitation of African resources during much of the colonial era. The returns from its mineral wealth, augmented with income from tourism, cattle ranching, and financial services, have been invested in education and various social services. As a leader in SADC (Southern African Development Community), Botswana has played a leading role in the region since the 1980s, from the time that South Africa was still under apartheid, and more recently in negotiations with Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. Although, like many other countries in Africa, it has had to confront the problem of HIV/AIDS and the resulting social disruptions, Botswana demonstrates that progressive social policies can mitigate some of the effects of the disease. Botswana thus provides both a healthy antidote to the negative characterizations of Africa often found in American media and a rich array of possible solutions to the various crises of the third world.
The ACM Botswana program is expressly designed for students with interests in politics, political economy, economic and social development, public health, and environmental studies. Housed at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, the program is offered each spring semester, and combines formal class study with site visits to places in and around Gaborone and an independent research project (for credit). Classes include Setswana language, a course taught by the ACM faculty director, and an elective course at the University of Botswana.
During the semester-long program, students are housed in a graduate residence hall at the University of Botswana. Among the excursions typically planned are a weekend trip to Johannesburg, South Africa; a week-long trip to Maun, near the Okavango Delta in the north; and a visit to the Jwaneng diamond mine. Students are also encouraged to volunteer with community service organizations and other non-governmental organizations.
For more detailed information about the ACM Botswana program, please use the links located on the left-hand side of this page.
Application deadlines
Application deadline extended! Please contact the ACM Office for more information.
October 31, 2008
Spring 2009 semester
March 15, 2009
Spring 2010 semester early application date
Do I need to apply early?
The early application date is available for students whose college requires that all off-campus study applications for the entire upcoming academic year must be completed the prior spring semester. If your college does not require a spring decision for programs the following spring, you may simply apply by the regular application deadline.
October 15, 2009
Spring 2010 semester
While preference will be given to students who have met the application deadline, late applications may be accepted on a space-available basis.
If the application deadline has passed and you are still interested in applying for a program, please submit your application immediately and contact the ACM Office.
Program contacts
Amanda Dooley
Program Associate
205 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.263.5000
Fax: 312.263.5879
adooley@acm.edu
More program contacts »