Culture and Health in Africa is a three-credit hour honors seminar, focused on the interconnected nature of culture and healthcare on the continent. Conducted over three weeks in Ghana, this program offers participants the opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion in a small group setting with IU faculty, hear from expert researchers on program excursions, and see firsthand how Africans respond to health crises and the cultural underpinnings of the methods they use to solve their health problems.
Spend three weeks studying culture and healthcare in Ghana
Learn more about Culture and Health in Africa
May 29-June 18, 2026*
This program will also meet on campus and virtually outside of the program travel dates. More information on these sessions will be available in the spring semester.
*All travel dates are tentative and subject to international travel restrictions.
November 18, 2025
| Hutton Honors Study Abroad Fair 3:00-5:00pm HHC Great Room |
Course Title: Culture and Health in Africa
Academic Director & Instructor: Cecilia Obeng
Syllabus Description: This course involves students traveling to Africa (Ghana) to explore how culture influences the steps that Africans take to prepare for changes in their health status in the global world. Specifically, the course provides students with skills and knowledge of cultural and health issues in Africa through classroom lectures with the course faculty and faculty from universities in Ghana, community leaders, health professionals, and applied learning through projects and site visits. The instructional program will involve lectures on a variety of related topics, including:
- Health issues in Ghana: State responsibility in healthcare delivery and national health policies
- Culture, language, and health
- Improving the health and academic performance of poor school aged children
- Alcohol, drug abuse, and sexually-transmitted diseases
- Culture and gender inequalities and access to healthcare
- Non-Communicable Disease Prevention
These in-class lessons serve as preparation for each week’s excursions to medical universities, hospitals, community health centers, and other relevant sites.
- Tours and lectures at medical universities, Western-based clinics and hospitals, traditional herbal clinics, spiritual healing centers, music and exercise centers, and community health centers
- Canopy walk in the Kakum Rainforest
- Visit to the Cape Coast Castle
Program participants will stay in three different hotels during their stay in Ghana, one in each of the program's host cities. Each hotel was selected in coordination with in-country partners to provide a combination of convenience, safety, and affordability for the program participants.
Summer 2025 Program Fee - $4000*
The program fee includes roundtrip international flights from the Indianapolis airport, airport transfers in country, accommodations, all meals, transportation to and from all excursion sites, entry fees to all museums and historical sites, student travel insurance, Ghana visa fees, and administrative fees.
*Program fee is subject to change due to unforeseeable circumstances.
IUB Tuition - 3 credit hours
The tuition cost for this program is based on IU Bloomington tuition. The amount of tuition will vary based on student resident status. See the Student Central website for more information on current tuition rates.
Additional Variable Costs
Variable costs are paid before and after you arrive in Ghana as you pay for required vaccinations and personal expenses.
Note: The program fee and tuition will appear on your bursar bill and are paid directly to IU. See the program fee sheet for more details.
Scholarships*
All admitted program participants are awarded an automatic HIEP Hutton Honors Study Abroad Scholarship of $1000 applied directly to the program fee. No separate application is required.
Additionally, applicants to Hutton Honors Study Abroad programs may be considered for additional merit and need-based scholarships. If finances will be a barrier to participating in your study abroad experience, we invite you to apply for these awards. Please submit your application no later than your program's final application deadline.
Note: Program participants are not eligible to apply for the HIEP Grant.
Please see the IU Education Abroad Office website for more information on other available scholarships and financial aid opportunities.