Please note: BARD has an earlier application deadline of March 1.

In additon to the UConn Study Abroad application, you must also meet with Professor Richard Hiskes  before the deadline.

Program Dates: July 2 - November 19, 2013

The Program

Bard College's International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) is an international, interdisciplinary semester program dedicated to the critical study of all aspects of theories and practices of human rights in the liberal arts tradition. The IHRE international student body consists of approximately equal numbers of North American and African students - though typically many other nationalities are also included.  IHRE's faculty is also international.
 

Students with a commitment to social justice and/or a history of academic or personal involvement with human rights issues are particularly encouraged to apply. The breadth and depth of the program's curriculum immerses students in human rights issues as seen from African perspectives, and places them in the context of South Africa's recent history. IHRE is committed to promoting cross-cultural understanding, and students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
 

While no previous study of human rights is required, there are only two spots available on this program, and priority will be given to Human Rights Minors.

For more information on this program, please contact Professor Richard Hiskes at richard.hiskes@uconn.edu. 
 

To learn more about the Human Rights Institute here at UConn consult http://www.humanrights.uconn.edu

The Academics

By participating fully in this program you will receive 16 UConn credits.   

Coursework in Johannesburg is equivalent to the following courses here at UConn:

- The Core Course: Human Rights:  Perspectives from the Disciplines is a full semester course.  It will be equivalent to HRTS 3042: Theory of Human Rights for three credits and HRTS 3293 for 1 credit.

-The internship/ practicum "Engagement with Human Rights" is equivalent to HRTS 4291: Service Learning Seminar/Internship for three credits and one credit HRTS 3293: Foreign Study

- The Elective Classes will also be equivalent to HRTS 3293: Foreign Study for a total of 8 credits. If applicable, 6 of these credits can count as POLS 3993: Foreign Study and 2 credits as HRTS 3293.  Students select a total of 4 electives. Two are taken during the first half of the semester, and two in the second half.  

Note: only a total of 6 HRTS 3293 credits can count towards the Minor in Human Rights

Courses will include classroom discussions, lectures, and fieldwork. Formal course registration takes place prior to arriving at The University of the Witwatersrand, and transcripts are issued by Bard College.

The IHRE practicum combines academic learning with an applied research project or internship at an approved practicum site in Johannesburg. Practicum sites may be governmental or non-governmental organizations, community centers, or research institutes. The practicum will involve work or research related to a particular area of inquiry in the human rights field.

For a detailed description of course offerings click here. 

The Experience

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, also known as 'Wits', is renowned for its intellectual leadership and its commitment to nurturing critical thinkers, creative innovators, problem-posers and problem-solvers. Wits is home to over 25000 students and has produced more than 100,000 graduates. It  boast 88 Rhodes Scholars and 4 Nobel Prize winners. Spread over more than 100 hectares over 7 campuses, Wits University is an urban, comprehensive university.  Furthermore, for cultural, social, economic and political exchange, the University is a cosmopolitan, exciting vibrant place to live and study.

You will live in dormitories with international students primarily from African nations on the Wits campus in central Johannesburg. IHRE provides a comprehensive orientation to the Wits campus, the city of Johannesburg, and life in South Africa. Throughout the semester IHRE will provide opportunities for students to participate in events and trips to explore South Africa's rich culture.

IHRE is proud of its diversity. Students come from an extremely broad range of ethnic, social, and disciplinary backgrounds. In the first five years of the program, 73% of students and 53% of North American students were non-white, 59% of students were female and 41% of students were male. During the same period, IHRE's 375 students included young people from 41 countries and dozens of disciplinary areas (majors). 

To view a detailed program calendar please consult the Bard Website. 

Potential Scholarships Available from Bard College.  For more information please contact Jennifer Kloes at ihre@bard.edu .