University of Michigan-Flint

Location: Nairobi & Elementaita, Kenya

Program Dates: May 16 – June 2, 2013

International and Global Studies Program

Course Overview

This international service learning experience will include a balance between service and learning. The focus of the service will include providing service to people living in urban and rural areas in Kenya. Nursing students will provide care directly to individuals patients in hospital and community settings, while other disciplines will work within the Kenyan community in their discipline of study. Through the provision of service, students will have opportunities to advance their knowledge and skills clinically and in the areas of cultural competency, critical thinking, teaching and learning, communication, and professionalism. The emphasis in service learning in this course will help participants to become life-long learners and active citizens of our global world.

Country Profile

For a country of its size, Kenya sure packs a lot in: mountains and deserts, colorful tribal culture, beaches and coral reefs, and some of Africa’s best wildlife attractions. In fact, to say Kenya is Africa in microcosm would not be stretching the point. There are a million different reasons to come here, and picking just one is nigh impossible. Stunning landscapes set the scene, from Kakamega’s rainforests to Indian Ocean beaches by way of Mt Kenya National Park; the rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara to searing deserts on the shores of the Jade Sea; with The Rift Valley, home to Hell's Gate National Park, cleaving a massive gash through it all.
The people, too, represent a wide cross-section of everything that is contemporary Africa, and everyday life brings together traditional tribes and urban families; ancient customs and modern sensibilities. Swapping the latest political gossip with the switched-on locals is just one more small pleasure that comes with the culture.

Excerpts about Kenya from Lonely Planet.

Faculty

This course is taught by Professor Marilyn McFarland, Professor Marilyn Filter, and Professor Eunice Muriu, professors from the Nursing Department.

Eligibility & Prerequisites

• Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students are eligible to apply
• All majors are eligible to apply
• Guest students are eligible to apply
• No GPA minimum

Additional application forms and an interview are required by faculty site leaders prior to acceptance to the program.
Download required forms here

Course Registration

This is a 3-credit course being offered in the Spring 2013 term. Students are required to register for one of the following courses:

• INT 394 – Special Topic in Study Abroad (undergraduate)
• INT 394 – Special Topic in Study Abroad (graduate)
• NUR 381 - International Nursing (undergraduate)
• NUR 680 - Independent Study in Graduate Nursing (graduate)

Payments & Costs

The cost of this program is $2,180*. This includes:

• Housing
• Meals
• Travel Visa
• Health insurance
• Cultural activities
• Transportation in Kenya

There is a $300 enrollment deposit required at the time of application. Students are required to submit full payment of program fee by March 15, 2013. Scholarships are available for this program.

Not included in the program fee: Tuition charges, airfare, passport.

Deadlines

Cancellations & Refunds

Students who withdraw on or before February 22, 2013 are eligible to receive $200 from the enrollment deposit. Any withdrawals must be done in writing and submitted to the Office of Study Abroad. There will be no refunds after February 22, 2013. Students who withdraw after February 22, 2013 will be responsible for paying the full program fee.

Scholarship Eligibility Information

• Students must be accepted into a UM-Flint faculty-led program.
• Students must be full-time UM-Flints undergraduate or graduate students at the time of the application.
• Students must have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credit hours, or 9 graduate credit hours at UM-Flint at the time of submitting application.
• Students must have a 3.0 GPA for undergraduates and 5.0 GPA for graduates at the time of submitting application.
• Students must register for the course associated with the program.

The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, January 18, 2013. Application can be downloaded at http://www.umflint.edu/international/studyabroad/forstudents/financialinformation/SAScholarships.htm. 

*Program fee is subject to change based on currency exchange rates.

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