Tentative Program Dates: Mid to late May 2026

This course will introduce students to the contemporary arts of Senegal through visits to monuments, museums, cultural centers, artists’ studios and workshops, and architecture and urban space. Students will analyze artistic production and material culture while placing them within the historical and cultural context of this Francophone West African nation. Students in the course will gain insight into: the cosmopolitan, global, and revolutionary movement of négritude; 20th and 21st century African nationalist and decolonial thought; commodification and appropriation of African culture; the colonial impact on Senegal’s cultural landscape; the issue of restitution; and contemporary global Pan-Africanist artistic expression visual art, music, film, photography, and architecture; among other topics. Throughout, students will gain insight from Black theorists into the historical conditions that have shaped the contemporary African art world, including its diverse voices and oeuvres.

What is Included:

Accommodations, ground transportation, international health insurance, and group activities.

What is NOT Included:

Airfare, tuition (3 credits), travel insurance, most meals, and personal expenses. 

Students are responsible for purchasing their international airfare to and from the program destination(s). Students should not purchase their flight until receiving specific instructions from the faculty leaders after December 1.

 **Passport Requirement** 

Deadline: December 1, 2025

Student with a Valid Passport: 

Students who have a current passport will need to upload an image of their passport by December 1, 2025 to their enrollment forms.

Student without a Valid Passport

Apply for or renew your passport immediately. After November 1, students must pay to expedite the application process. Do not delay beginning this process.

Application & Renewal Website: 

The routine processing time is currently up to 6 weeks and expedited services is up to 3 weeks. These processing times are subject to change and can lengthen significantly. We highly recommend applying for or renewing your passport as soon as possible. Most countries require at least 6 months remaining time on your passport expiration from your intended date of departure. Example: If your passport expires December 1, 2026, you would need to renew your passport to travel in the summer 2026. 

**Preparing for Travel** 

Travel and Entry Requirements: U.S. State Department Website: 

Each country has established entry requirements and travel restrictions set for foreign visitors and their citizens. Any country can change their regulations at any time. We encourage all students and their families to review details about the country or countries you plan to travel to and to continue monitoring the information leading up to your departure. 

U.S. State Department Website: Senegal