Academics

Study Abroad: Cape Town, South Africa

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• Courses
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• Faculty
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• Application
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• Travel
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• Schedule
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• Travel Guide to South Africa (PDF)

Summer in CapeTown, South Africa

This ABA-accredited summer study-abroad program in Cape Town, South Africa will consist of three two-credit course in different areas of comparative law.

The three courses will be taught by a combination of faculty members from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) School of Law and the Law Faculty at the University of the Western Cape (UWC):

• Comparative Constitutional Law
• Comparative Criminal Justice
• Comparative Dispute Resolution

The program will run from June 4, 2009 through July 12, 2009. Students will reside in attractive apartments near downtown Cape Town, and will be transported by bus to their classes at the University of the Western Cape. Field trips to the Cape of Good Hope, the Stellenbosch wine region, Robben Island - the prison home of Nelson Mandela -- and other scenic and historical locales are included in the itinerary. Enrollment is limited to 24 American law students. Up to 10 UWC students also will attend the Comparative Criminal Justice and Dispute Resolution classes.

Why South Africa?

The globalization of the world economy has redefined the tools needed by today's lawyer. This summer study abroad program provides American law students the opportunity to gain an international, multi-cultural perspective. Not only will they be exposed to one of the world's most fascinating new democratic regimes in one of the world's most vibrant, diverse cities, but they will interact with South African law students and professors from the University of the Western Cape.

We chose South Africa because of its unique role as the most developed country on the continent. The United States, the European Union and the multitude of NGOs are looking at South Africa as a political, economic, legal and social model for the continent. American lawyers and American law students interested in international business and law will benefit by understanding South Africa's unique legal system; a legal system that mixes a tradition of Roman-Civil Law and Common Law with the statutory and constitutional law that has developed in the ten years since the post-apartheid government was formed in 1994.

Finally, Cape Town, South Africa is one of the world's more beautiful and dynamic cities. For more information about South Africa and Cape Town, visit the official South African Tourist site at http://www.aboutcapetown.com/.

Why The University of the Western Cape?

We also chose South Africa because the University of Missouri has had a special partnership with the University of the Western Cape since 1986, involving more than 40 academic disciplines. 2009 will mark the 6th year of the law school's study abroad program. For more information about the University of the Western Cape, go to http://www.uwc.ac.za/.

Contact Information

For more information, contact: Professor James Levin 204 Hulston Hall University of Missouri School of Law Columbia, MO 65211 Phone: (573) 882-1630 E-Mail:

For information about financial aid, contact: Susie Facklam Sr. Financial Aid Advisor 11 Jesse Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 Phone: (573) 882-7506 E-Mail:

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