Courses
Kiswahili language
Instructors: University of Dar es Salaam faculty
Required, 4 semester credits
Click here to see a course syllabus
Early acquisition of language skills is critically important for students becoming acclimated to a culture so different from their own. Students therefore begin Intensive Kiswahili shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam. Taught by professors from the Kiswahili Department, this language course features intensive classroom study (four hours per day) for the first four weeks, plus homework and occasional field trips. In the second month, students continue to meet regularly to improve their conversational, grammar and vocabulary skills as they learn the fundamentals of Tanzania's national language.
Human Evolution
Instructor: Dr. P. Bushozi (History & Archaeology, University of Dar es Salaam)
Required, 4 semester credits
Photo courtesy of Bruce Roberts.
Click here to see a course syllabus
This course will be taught by archaeology faculty at the University of Dar es Salaam. It will cover the basic principles of evolution, hominid development, and the particular evidence of human evolution in Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli. The course begins at the University of Dar es Salaam, continues with field trips in the Northern Region of Tanzania, and concludes with exams and papers in the final weeks of the program.
Ecology of the Maasai Ecosystem
Instructor: Prof. R.B.M. Senzota (Zoology, University of Dar es Salaam)
Required, 4 semester credits
Click here to see a course syllabus
This course, taught by zoology faculty at the University of Dar es Salaam, examines the fundamental elements of ecology, drawing its examples from Tanzanian ecosystems, especially those of the Serengeti Plain and Ngorongoro Crater.
Research Methods & Field Practicum
Instructor: ACM Program Director
Required, 4 semester credits
Click here to see a course syllabus
In Dar es Salaam, the Methods Course covers research methods and project preparation, including development and creation of a project proposal. Students will also receive general information about contemporary Tanzanian society and culture. In the field, students engage in independent and collaborative field work activities in areas such as human ecology, biology, paleo-anthropology, archaeology, zoology, and socio-cultural anthropology. Topics depend on student interest, the composition and needs of the group, the resources available, and faculty/site expertise. In some cases, students work within the existing projects of Tanzanian or visiting experts. Students are encouraged to work on collaborative projects (which still allow individual inquiry) for maximum exposure and understanding of the varieties of research questions, data-gathering and analytic techniques; possible areas for collaborative inquiry that are high priority at the site include questions about water, public health, tourism, education, wildlife, archaeological sites, and indigenous populations. Upon their return to Dar es Salaam, students continue to analyze their data, write final reports, give public presentations, and create museum displays or posters for local distribution. (Note: The photo album has pictures from the field sites and of wildlife in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.)