Exploring Ghana: Weaving Together the Tapestry of Self and Discovery

Explore the layers of your identity while immersed in Ghana's diverse heritage.

• Tour historical and cultural sites in Accra to learn about Ghana’s West African traditions, customs, and history.
• Explore research questions about culture, identity, ethnicity, gender, and social class.
• Visit key historical sites in Ghana, including the renowned National Museum and the former slave castles, and gain a deeper understanding of the region’s complex past and its impact on the present.
• Participate in excursions to Kumasi, the Ashanti region, and the Cape Coast to visit historical sites, traditional homes, and villages.

Through a spring course in Rochester and an immersive travel experience to Ghana, this program invites students to explore the rich history, culture, and traditions of one of West Africa’s most vibrant nations, while developing your own research project rooted in identity and culture.

During a spring 2026 class in Rochester, you’ll gain an academic foundation in Ghanaian history and society, and learn how to use narrative and autoethnographic research methods to explore your own identity and positionality as a researcher. You’ll build the tools needed to develop a meaningful, reflective research proposal.

In Ghana, your learning continues through hands-on cultural experiences that will inform your research. You’ll visit sites of historical and cultural significance—including the National Museum, Cape Coast Castle, and traditional craft villages—while engaging with local communities through activities like bead making, weaving, and a traditional naming ceremony.

Your final project will pair your research proposal with a cultural blog or visual collage that captures your insights and personal growth throughout the experience.

Led by RIT faculty members Dr. Makini Beck (School of Individualized Study) and Dr. Phillippa Thiuri (Division of Access, Engagement and Success), this program is designed for students who want to connect academic learning to real-world experiences and reflect on your journey as global citizens.

Whether you’re interested in African history, cultural identity, or future graduate research, this experience offers a powerful opportunity to deepen your understanding of the African diaspora and your place within it.

Watch a short video overview of the program

Program Term: Spring course, travel to Ghana in May
Location: Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, Ghana
Travel Dates: May 11-21, 2026
Credits: 3

Course Details

• SOIS 301 - Research in a Cultural Context (3 credits)
  Students will be enrolled in the course in spring 2026, with travel to Ghana taking place in May. The course will meet on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:45 pm during the Spring 2026 semester.

No pre-reqs. Program is open to all undergraduate majors, 2.5 GPA or above, all year levels, and graduate students. No foreign language skills are required - the program is taught in English.

Credits may count towards: General Education credit, Social Perspective, Global Perspective, or Free Elective. Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how the course will count towards their degree program.

Application deadline: Sunday, October 19th, 2025

Faculty Leaders

Dr. Makini Beck
Assistant Professor


Dr. Phillippa Thiuri
AVP for Academic Access and Success
Diversity and Inclusion

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: Student Budget Worksheet - Exploring Ghana Spring/Summer 2026 - outlines all program costs.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Download a copy of the budget worksheet (link above)
• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting, so they have time to prepare). For the type of document you are providing, select “Other Financial Aid Forms and Documentation” in the Financial Aid portal.
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

• Additional Scholarships
  RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Make sure you are checking scholarship eligibility requirements and take note of scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

Applications are currently closed (application deadline has been reached)

Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs. Use this Student Application Checklist for Faculty-Led Programs to help you complete all application steps.

Contact

Dr. Phillippa Thiuri
AVP for Academic Access and Success
Diversity and Inclusion
pxtdss@rit.edu
 

Dr. Makini Beck
Assistant Professor
mzbind@rit.edu