Line Language and Landscape: Namibia

Program Content

The program is centered on the concept of the “line” in order to engage students in studying the artistic traditions rooted in Namibia while students develop their own artistic practices. As a nation, Namibia has endured colonialism, genocide, and apartheid, and in response has developed strong arts traditions ranging from visual, literary, and performance arts that are rooted in resistance and healing. The courses are designed around direct collaborations with Namibian artists, scholars and local peer students as well as immersive visits to important cultural and environmental sites throughout the country.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops with professional artists, alongside peer students from the University of Namibia and the College of the Arts in Windhoek while abroad. Two weeks will be in residence in Windhoek, working at our partner institutions and one week of the program will be spent in residence with Namibian students at the Gobabeb research station, where students will co-create new works of literary, installation, and performance art. In addition to these activities, there will be visits to community based arts organizations, like Penduka and the Katatura Center for the Arts, as well as important environmentally-sensitive sites across the country, like Gobabeb, Sossusvlei, and Etosha. Gobabeb offers unparalleled access to an immersed art-making project in the desert, supported by world class research facilities. Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park are environmentally and culturally important sites in the development of ancient indigenous cultures of the region. 

This program is led by Professors Michael Kula and Tyler Budge. Check out the video on the above to hear about the program from Professor Kula!

*The budget sheet located in the table lists the previous cost. The new cost is listed down below.

Academic Content

This program does not have any prerequisites or language requirements. Students receive a total of fifteen credits for the program as follows:

TWRT 201 Introduction to Creative Writing in a Global Context (5 credits)

This course introduces the principals of multiple genres of Creative Writing within the contemporary global context by exploring trends, styles, and approaches to the craft in a variety of local traditions. Students will not only write creatively in these genres, but they will also reflect on how their own unique identities and cultural contexts influence contribute to and shape their voices. The course will be offered as part of a hybrid study abroad program, with roughly three weeks spent in Namibia working with local peer students and professional artists, examining the arts—literary, visual, and performing—in the country’s historical and contemporary contexts. 

Learning Goals Include:

• Demonstrate understanding of effective writing strategies an author uses in multiple creative writing genres and use similar principles and strategies in their own writing 

• Read, analyze, and discuss a contemporary creative writing texts from a variety of cultural/national contexts, specifically within Namibia’s historical and cultural contexts. 

• Articulate an understanding of the way their own work and the work of other writers from international contexts is informed by and contributes to a larger tradition, including artistic, socio-political, spiritual, and environmental.  

• Use criticism/commentary of their own work to employ an effective revision processes in order to strengthen their original works in ways that reflect an awareness of a global audience.

• Analyze their own and peers’ writing, giving thoughtful, respectful critiques: both written and discussion based.

• Communicate effectively, both in writing and discussion, with emerging writers from international and cross-cultural backgrounds 

TARTS 280 3-Dimensional Art and Contemporary Approaches to Sculpture (5 credits)

This course explores how the elements and principles of design function in 3-dimensional art.   Course content will be presented through lectures, exercises, readings, and studio art projects.    Students will observe, identify, and utilize the Elements and Principles of Design to explore and contextualize their experiences with the people, landscape, culture, history, and contemporary art scene of the Pacific Northwest and Namibia. The course will focus on the balance between materials and ideas.  Students will work with various materials and fabrication techniques to examine how three-dimensional form functions and informs our world.  

Learning goals include:

• Demonstrate the ability to identify how the elements and principles of design are utilized in 3-dimensional works of art across various cultural/national contexts.
• Observe and analyze contemporary visual artwork from a variety of cultural/national contexts.
• Articulate their thoughts through the use of effective visual grammar. 
• Situate their personal artwork within a larger international context and articulate how their work is informed by and contributes to a larger tradition, including artistic, socio-political, spiritual, and environmental.  
• Use criticism/commentary of their own work to employ effective revision processes to strengthen their original works in ways that reflect the awareness of a global audience.  
• Analyze their own and peers’ artwork, giving thoughtful, respectful, written and discussion-based critiques.  

TARTS 471 Culture and Meaning in the Visual Arts (5 credits)

Considers various ways of exploring the relationship of "art" to its cultural contexts. Covers US or international topics, with a focus on the cultural and historical relationship between the “arts” and Namibia’s history of colonialization, apartheid, and independence movements.  Artistic genres explored include: Printmaking, Novel/Memoir, Performance (theater/spoken word, music), Textiles, and Eco-Installation. 

Learning goals include:

• Demonstrate understanding of the history of modern Namibia, with a grounding in its 20th-21st century evolution from colonization to independence 
• Analyze and discuss examples of arts from various genres/media (printmaking, textiles, 2/3D visual, performance, literary, etc…) within specific historical and cultural contexts of Namibia 
• Articulate an understanding of the environmental landscapes of the country and the eco-cultural-political connections between the land and art 
• Create new art (visual, literary, performing, etc.) that reflects an awareness of their own cultural context/identity and speaks/responds to the artistic traditions of Namibia 
• Demonstrate an ability to interact with cross-cultural arts with respect and sensitivity.  

Program Schedule

The program runs from January 6 to March 15, 2025. Students will spend February 1 to 23 in Namibia and complete remaining coursework on campus. 

Housing

In Windhoek, housing will be with the Namibia University of Science and Technology Hotel/Conference Lodging facilities. In Gobabeb, housing will be in dorm-style apartments at the research center. In the three site trips (Sossusvlei, Etosha, and Rock-Art site), housing will be in modest, eco style hotel or tented-camp settings.  

Student Eligibility

Undergraduates in good academic standing (2.0 or above), from any UW campus may apply. This program is designed for a general undergraduate student population who has an interest in exploring non-Western European cultural experiences.  While it is heavily rooted in the arts and creative production, students do not need to be from arts or creative programs. Since the program has a heavy emphasis on examining the history and culture of Namibia in its three “modern” phases (German Colonial Rule, South African imposed apartheid, and contemporary nation independence), it is also well suited for students interested in history and anti-colonial, social justice movements. Because of the remote nature of some of the activities, as well as the vastness of country, students should be comfortable living in, at times, rustic outdoor environments and working in remote areas, with little to no access to internet for connection to their home country.  

We also welcome applications from non-matriculated students. Students who have not yet earned a high school diploma or equivalent are not eligible for our study abroad programs.

Application Deadline

Applications are due on May 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions a few weeks after the deadline. Once accepted to the program, applicants will need to confirm their participation within two weeks of acceptance.

Travel Documents and Insurance 

All program participants must have a valid passport in order to travel to Namibia. 

Visas

There is no visa requirement for U.S. citizens to travel to Namibia.

If you are a citizen of another country, you can research visa requirements by calling the consular offices of countries you plan to visit by going to the following website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html. 

The cost and requirements for obtaining visas vary. It is your responsibility to determine visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad including countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. This is an especially important consideration if you are planning to do more than one study abroad program.

Insurance 

The University of Washington requires students engaged in educational activities abroad – including study, research, internships or community engagement – to purchase UW Student Abroad Insurance. If you are a current UW student, you are required to purchase coverage UW Student Abroad Insurance. Details are on the UW Study Abroad Insurance page.

Program Cost

The program fee is $8,660. This program fee has been reduced!

Included in the cost of the program:

• $470 Administrative Fee 
• Instruction (15 credits)
• Housing and meals while students are abroad
• Program activities and program travel
• Airfare

Not Included:

• UW Student Abroad Insurance
• Personal expenses (phone calls, eating out, etc.)
• Textbooks
• Travel-related vaccinations

Payment Due Date: February 5, 2025

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Withdrawals

The $470 UW Study Abroad Administrative Fees are non-refundable once a contract has been submitted. Students withdrawing from a program are responsible for paying a percentage of the program fee depending on the date of withdrawal. More details about the withdrawal policy are included in your payment contract. No part of the program fee is refundable once the program has begun (please refer to Emergency Withdrawal information below, if applicable). The date of withdrawal is considered the business day a withdrawal form is received by the Office of Global Affairs. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing by completing the following steps:

Please email uwtintl@uw.edu and copy your program director(s) providing notice that you will no longer be participating in the program. You will also need to respond to any further communication from the Office of Global Affairs to finalize your withdrawal.

If a program is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student will not be charged either the UW Study Abroad Administrative Fee or the UW Tacoma Study Abroad Program Fee.

Emergency Withdrawal 

If you cannot participate in a study abroad program, you may submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition. If granted, the Emergency Withdrawal may allow for partial relief from your financial obligations to the program.

An Emergency Withdrawal Petition may be submitted in the following circumstances:

• Unanticipated change in financial situation
• Medical emergency
• Death in immediate family
• Active military duty
• Unusual or extenuating circumstances

To submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition, complete this form and email it to uwtintl@uw.edu. 

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• A large percentage of UW students utilize financial aid to study abroad. Most types of financial aid can be applied to study abroad fees.
• For UW Tacoma students, you can submit a revision request to increase the amount of aid for the quarter you are studying abroad. These additional funds are usually awarded in the form of loans. To apply, fill out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the UW Tacoma Office of Financial Aid.
• For UW Seattle or Bothell Students, you can apply by filling out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the Office of Financial Aid.
• Consult the Financial Aid section on the UW Study Abroad website for more information on applying for financial aid, special considerations for summer and early fall programs, and budgeting and fundraising tips
• Please also review this list of scholarships: these are opportunities that can help fund your study abroad experience. Please note that many of them have deadlines before your study abroad application is due. For help with the application process, please contact uwtintl@uw.edu.

Budgeting Tools

We understand that figuring out your finances for study abroad can be complicated, and we are here to help. Here are some ways to find additional support:

• Click on the Budget Sheets link at the top of this brochure to view the estimated budget of all expenses for this program.
• UW Tacoma students can attend a How to Fund Your Study Abroad event - more information is on the Events page of our website.

Changes in Cost or Scope of Program

In the event of significant devaluations of the dollar, some adjustments to program activities may be necessary. If there are any political events that might compromise the safety of the participants, a rescheduling or cancellation of the program may be necessary. If such changes occur, students will be notified of the changes and options will be presented.

Orientation

To be eligible to study abroad, all program participants must attend an online pre-departure orientation facilitated by UW Study Abroad as well as your program-specific orientations, offered by your program directors. Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.

Program Cancellation

If viable enrollment is not reached by October 1, the program will be cancelled. Participants will be notified and the administrative and program fees will be refunded.

Disability Accommodation