The entirety of the semester will be spent in the field, with very limited time in the classroom. Course work will include substantial amounts of reading and report writing, field data collection, problem solving, and some analytic work.

Sample course list of the semester program:

1. Beginner Swahili (State University of Zanzibar)

• Location(s): Zanzibar Archipelago

2. Climate Change in the Developing World

• Location(s): Zanzibar Archipelago & Mainland Tanzania

3. Sustainable Management of Community Livelihood Resources

• Location(s): Mainland Tanzania & Kenya

4. Tourism Industry and Community Involvement

• Location(s): Kenya

5. Economic Development and Socio-Economic Change

• Location(s): Uganda

LOCAL. KNOWLEDGE

Here at RIDE, we are strong advocates for the utilization of local knowledge in order to greatly enhance our field instruction and research methods for our students. For that reason, the field studies and academics of this program will be taught by RIDE faculty in conjunction with local experts and instructors, providing an authentic learning experience for our students. While our faculty might be a citizen of a country that we work in and have an extensive understanding of the inner-workings of that country, the advantages of receiving expertise from a local authority on the matters of a specific community are immeasurably vital to successful learning.

BLOCK SCHEDULE

Furthermore, we also believe in the utilization of block scheduling, a system in which each course is taught during an individual time period or “block” usually about 3 weeks in length. Following this block format, the program will be focused on single course every 3 weeks, allowing students to fully concentrate on and put their efforts towards that course’s specific subject matter. While subject materials of each class still heavily relate and blend into each other, through the utilization of the block system, courses will differentiate and hone in on a specific topics. The academics of the Field Quarter will consist of four primary courses and one intensive Kiswahili language class.

The Field Semester is designed to span the entirety of East Africa. Typically, the Field Semester begins in Zanzibar and concludes in Uganda. East Africa serves as an ideal location for study abroad programs due to its captivating diversity of landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and compelling social and environmental issues. From the majestic savannahs and breathtaking wildlife of national parks to vibrant urban centers and historic sites, East Africa offers a wealth of immersive learning opportunities that inspire students to explore, engage, and gain a deeper understanding of this dynamic region.

We do not believe that this semester should be restricted to students of any one discipline or background. On the contrary, we are proud supporters of diversity and we welcome students of any background, academic interest or to apply for our semester. The only requirements that we have is that you are (1) committed to field work of the program and (2) open to embracing foreign experiences. 2.5 GPA required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Enrolled in an accredited college or university

• In good academic standing

• Not on academic or disciplinary probation

• 2.5 Overall GPA

BEFORE YOU APPLY

We recommend that each student talks with the study abroad advisor at their home school as soon as possible to learn of any deadlines or requirements they may have for study abroad. Email us at info@rideinternational.org if you have any questions about the application process. We’re here to help!

STEP 1 — Online Application

Please first fill out our ONLINE APPLICATION. Be sure to completely fill out the application and submit it by the deadline for the program to which you are applying.

STEP 2 — Request Transcripts

Request your transcript be sent to ISDSI (see more at References & Transcripts).

STEP 3 — Letters of Recommendation & Approval

Request two letters of recommendation and study abroad approval form and have them sent to RIDE (see References & Transcripts ). We need your letters of recommendation, approval form, and transcript by the deadline for your application to be considered complete. Please email us and let us know who will be sending the letters of recommendation.

AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Upon securing all of your application materials (online application, letters of recommendation, approval form, and transcript), Program Staff will then review your candidacy for the RIDE program which you applied. If you are accepted as a finalist, additional information will be required in order to complete your enrollment into the program.

The theme of the course totally depends on your interests as a faculty or university administrator, ranging from hard science to social studies. Again, we design our programs for students to spend the majority of their trip working directly in the field, with very limited time in the classroom. Course work will include substantial amounts of reading and report writing, field data collection, problem solving, and some analytic work.

Sample Courses:

• Climate Change in the Developing World

• Sustainable Management of Community Livelihood Resources

• Tourism Industry and Community Involvement

• Economic Development and Socio-Economic Change

• Swahili Language & Culture

Through our comprehensive program fee system, RIDE provides all housing and meals for our students throughout the entirety of their program. This includes breakfast, lunch & dinner, which can be catered to work with whatever dietary restrictions On the RIDE Field Semester: East Africa, there will be a wide variety of housing accommodations from hostels to cultural homestays to college dorms to bush camping. However, while the housing types might be different, each accommodation has been well-vetted by program staff to ensure a safe, secure and comfortable living environment for our students.

LOCAL CUISINE

Participating in the local food culture is a central aspect of daily life in East Africa, and therefore you should be willing to try the local cuisine. Some special or limited diets may not be fully understood by locals, but our staff does everything in their power to provide students with meals catered to whatever dietary restrictions. All students are welcomed on this program regardless of what dietary restrictions they might have. We will advise you on realistic expectations about avoiding or incorporating certain foods within the program context. However, in some locations, we cannot guarantee zero exposure to certain foods or a given allergen.

CULTURAL HOMESTAYS

Homestays are a window into the intricacies of a culture. They are about experiencing and sharing lifestyles, by sharing meals, exchanging ideas and celebrating diversity. During the East Africa field semester program, there will be two separate homestays: one spent with a family in Stone Town, Zanzibar and the other with a rural community in Masai Mara, Kenya. During the each homestay, students will be provided with safe food and water, secure and comfortable accommodation, as well as other living necessities. Both homestays will be challenging in different ways, but they will be equally rewarding. Besides the homestay, our program will also cover all of the other housing accommodations for the term (hostels, dorms, camping).

WHAT GOES INTO THE FEES?

RIDE charges a comprehensive fee, and all of your expenses are covered while on one of our programs. Many study abroad programs hide costs by not charging for food, transportation or other costs that the students have to pay for themselves. We bundle everything into the comprehensive fee so that financial aid will apply to everything. We also put all of the costs towards creating a truly once in a lifetime experience. We have very small language classes (usually 4-5 students per instructor) and teach in teams so that students can get the learning support and individualized instruction they need. For example, a class of 25-30 students will typically have an instructor team of 5 instructors (one lead and 4 field instructors).

In the field we then break into small groups of 12-15 students with 2 field instructors. We are also traveling into remote, and sometimes expensive to reach places. This pushes the costs up, but allows our students to go beyond what a tourist might see, and rather than a cheap program where you spend most of your time on a college campus, we are out in remote tribal villages, sea kayaking the islands, and skin diving coral reefs while learning from local communities.

RIDE Comprehensive Fee:

• Tuition

• All in-country meals

• Housing (hostels, dorms, camping, etc.)

• In-country books/readers

• Program related travel and excursions

• Daily drinking water (3 Liters)

Fee Does NOT Cover:

• Visas (~$100)

• Roundtrip airfare (~$1,300)

• Discretionary expenses (~$300)

• Personal medical insurance

Students should check with their study abroad office to see if they are able to cover any of the items listed above.