Cape Town Prelim Info
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Why Study in Cape Town, South Africa? Affectionately known as “the Mother City,” Cape Town was founded in 1652 and is South Africa’s oldest city. Situated on the southern tip of Africa, Cape Town is a vibrant multicultural city with a reputation of also being one of the most beautiful urban areas in the world, with the backdrop of flat-topped Table Mountain juxtaposed by the sweep of the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its good year-round climate, natural setting, well-developed infrastructure, and many beaches, Cape Town has become the most popular international destination in all of Africa. Cape Town has a very complex history and culture, as does all of South Africa. From 1948 to 1994, South Africa’s governing party enforced apartheid, a system of racial segregation put in place by the white minority. During this time, Cape Town was home to many leaders of the anti-apartheid movement; meanwhile, nearby Robben Island, the infamous penitentiary only 6 miles from the city by ferry, held many political prisoners for years. In changing times, though, Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release in 1990 from the balcony of the Cape Town City Hall, heralding a new era for the country, and four years later South Africa began true democratic elections. Today Cape Town is a thriving metropolis with a reputation of having the most entrepreneurial, multicultural, and equalitarian city of the country, and is considered an ideal venue for studying abroad. What Classes Will I Be Taking? Everyone participating in this program will be taking two classes: RELS 1 (Introduction to Religious Studies) and NRM 12 (Introduction to Environmental Conservation).
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