Dates
June 4 - July 4, 2026Subjects
Public Health, Nursing, Social Work, Service-Learning Practicum, GraduateDeadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
The KIIS Tanzania program offers students an immersive experience into the heart and essence of Africa. Set in a country known for its global landmarks, such as Lake Victoria, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Zanzibar Islands, and the Serengeti, this program brings together academic instruction with rich hands-on practicum opportunities in public health and related disciplines. Students from diverse majors such as nursing, medicine, pre-med, biology, health administration, social work, public health, and environmental or occupational health will engage deeply with Tanzania’s healthcare system, its people, and its rich cultural heritage. The program explores major public health issues commonly occurring across the sub-Saharan region and thus promoting professional and personal growth. Each year, the program includes a Global Health Practicum, offering meaningful field experiences and cultural interactions in settings such as community and private hospitals, HIV clinics, local neighborhoods, and orphanage homes.
The program is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s vibrant coastal city, and features excursions to famous regions of the country, a day-long Safari in one of the country’s major National Parks, and the Zanzibar Islands. The program will include a visit to the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a 2–3 hour guided hike along the path to the summit. This hike is optional and designed for those who are physically prepared and eager to take on the challenge. For others, the visit to Kilimanjaro’s foothills still offers a meaningful encounter with one of the continent’s most iconic natural landmarks. Through this program, students will not only learn and explore but also internalize what it means to live and belong to a global community.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
Program Director
Dr. William Mkanta, Professor of Health Administration at Western Kentucky University, directs the Tanzania Summer and Zanzibar Winter programs. Through his leadership, over 300 public health students have engaged in global learning and service. He cultivates cross-cultural exchange and educational impact through immersive international experiences for both faculty and students.Dr. William Mkanta
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Courses
All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1-2 courses.
Graduate credit available
This practicum allows students in health professions such as medicine, nursing, nutrition, social work, and health administration to apply their skills alongside their Tanzanian counterparts while addressing the health needs of the community.
This course will compare health care systems in America and Tanzania. We will interact with healthcare providers and consumers to deepen participants’ understanding of sociocultural influences on health beliefs and practices, while immersing in local culture by visiting cultural and historical sites.
The clinical experiences in this course provide students the opportunity to observe nursing and medical practice under supervision in the Tanzanian health system with clients across the lifespan. Students will observe client care, assessment, treatments, and procedures. Students will discuss their experiences and better understand and appreciate the intersection of Tanzanian, United States, and International healthcare provision.
Social workers play a fundamental role in becoming resources and finding channels to resources to support individuals, families and communities at the time of grief and loss. This course is an examination of grief, loss and trauma, the impact they have in society, and how social work professionals can reduce their impact. Students will learn about support systems, and resources that are in place to help those coping with grief and loss, both in the U.S. and in Tanzania.
Because of the globalization of social issues, preparation of social work students for involvement in social development interventions in an international arena is increasingly becoming a vital component of training. This course uses the Tanzanian setting to focus on the issues and challenges developing countries face in improving the lives of its people and communities and the roles social workers can play in addressing them.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Practicum Opportunities
Available for both undergraduate and graduate students in health professions such as health administration, medicine, nursing, nutrition and social work. Interested students should contact KIIS Tanzania Program Director Dr. William Mkanta to begin making preparations.
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Msimbazi Catholic Orphanage & Kurasini National Orphanage Home
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Sinza Hospital
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TAYOA
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University Health Center
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Kairuki Hospital
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WAMATA
Program Excursions
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Bagamoyo
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Mbalamwezi Beach
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Zanzibar [Spice Island]
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Mwanza/ Serengeti Wildlife Safari
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Mbudya Island
Group Flight
ESTIMATED COST $2,250 – $2,350
The group flight is required for all Tanzania participants. The Tanzania group flight will depart from either Washington, D.C (IAD) or New York (JFK) to Dar es Salaam (DAR), Tanzania. The group flight price includes an internal flight between Dar-Mwanza-Dar (KIIS Tanzania safari excursion). KIIS will purchase these flight tickets for you. The group flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1.
Participants on the group flight have the option to stay at a hotel near the departure airport on the night of June 3. The cost of the hotel is covered by the group flight airline ticket.
Flights to Tanzania are typically overnight. The program departs the USA on June 4, arriving in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June 5. Return flights from Tanzania to the USA also are typically overnight. The program departs Tanzania on July 3, arriving in the USA on July 4. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.