Learn more about the O’Neill in Senegal and The Gambia program

July 9- July 29, 2023

Agriculture, development, and rural livelihoods in West Africa (3cr.)

Program Director: Jon Eldon

O’Neill in Senegal and The Gambia is a three-credit course (V/E 482/582) which explores issues related to rural livelihoods, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management in Sub-Saharan West Africa. This course will focus on foundational knowledge related to culture, agriculture, economics, and other aspects of rural life in West Africa, as well as a broad range of modern resource management problems including rapid urbanization, rural conflict, and forest conservation. Students will learn from a wide range of local experts and practitioners and will be immersed in the realities of rural live in this part of the world.

You will be required to attend pre-departure sessions on the Bloomington Campus prior to your travel to Senegal and The Gambia.

IU Bloomington Undergrads: See how this course counts towards your major/minor at O'Neill here.

  • Visit Kunta Kinteh Island, a key site in the West African slave trade
  • Tour a Gambian snake farm and sea turtle hatchery
  • Visit Serrekunda market, a lively street market known for its colorful textiles and handicrafts
  • Spend four days in Diouloulou, a rural Senegalese village, learning first-hand about forest management & refugee resettlement
  • Travel to Njawara, a Gambian village located on the Mini Minium Bolon tidal plain, exploring rural farm management, agroforestry, and food sustainability
  • Join locals in celebrating Tobaski, a Gambian national public holiday

While in the capital of Banjul, you will be staying in individual air-conditioned studios not far from the beach, but while “up-country” in rural areas, the lodging will be more reflective of rural conditions. In the Senegalese town of Diouloulou, you will be staying at one of the two small hotels in town, with your own room but with no A/C and intermittent electricity. In the Gambian village of Njawara, you will be staying at a newly constructed guesthouse but should be prepared for shared rooms, bucket baths, and solar power only. You can’t learn about rural livelihoods without immersion in rural conditions!

Note: Your IU Bloomington Bursar account will be charged two amounts for participation in this O’Neill International program:

  1. O’Neill International program fee (two payments)
  2. IU Bloomington Tuition

For a full breakdown of estimated cost, see the Senegal and the Gambia fee sheet.

2023 O’Neill in Senegal and The Gambia Program Fee: $2,700

The program fee will be charged to your Bursar account in two installments:

  1. A $550 non-refundable pre-payment shortly after you confirm your participation in the program
  2. The remaining program fee balance will be charged in March, due in April

The program fee for this program includes:

  • Lodging
  • Medical insurance
  • ALL meals
  • Cultural excursions
  • Ground Transportation

Flights are not included in the program fee

IUB Tuition – 3 credits

The tuition cost for O’Neill in Senegal and The Gambia is based on IU Bloomington tuition. The cost of tuition you pay will vary based on your student status. For more information on the cost of summer tuition, please contact IU Student Central.

Additional Costs

You will need to pay for your flight, food that is not included in the program, vaccinations and other incidentals.

Scholarships

The O’Neill International Equal Opportunity Scholarship is available to help O’Neill students from IUB and IUPUI study abroad. Undergraduate students on the Senegal and The Gambia program are also able to apply for our environmental scholarship. Please visit our scholarship page for eligibility requirements and application deadlines. 

Other scholarships are available on a competitive basis.

This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The course is open to students from any IU department.

During the application period (December 1-January 27) an "Apply Now" button will be available at the top of this page. You will need to submit the online application by 5 p.m. on January 27.

Detailed application instructions

If you have any issues throughout the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the O'Neill International Office, 812-855-7568, oio@indiana.edu.

People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them.

— Martin Yan, Chinese chef, writer, and TV host