Take part in an exciting hands-on learning opportunity this summer in Ghana!
SYDE 599 is an experiential, undergraduate-level field course at Ashesi University in Ghana, West Africa, intended for students to apply systems design thinking to complex environmental challenges.
Over the course of four weeks, April 29 to May 29, students will explore issues of water insecurity and examine its far-reaching impacts on public health and wellbeing. Through a combination of classroom instruction and immersive field experiences, students will investigate how technical, social, and ecological systems intersect at the water–health nexus. Activities may include hands-on experience in water sampling and analysis, application of qualitative research methods, and service learning in support of a local organization.
This course, taught by Alexa Bennett, is open to 12 students and intended for upper-year undergraduates in Systems Design Engineering, but is open to students in Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Geography and Environmental Management, and Planning. Students will earn 1.0 course credit, with 0.5 Complementary Studies Elective credit and 0.5 extra credit. This opportunity is funded by an alumni donor to cover the cost of travel, accommodation, and meals. We expect students to enrol in the course on a co-op work term and be able to return for a work term from June to August.
Important dates:
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January 7: Information session in-person in E5 2004 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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January 18: Application deadline - complete form below
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January 23: Selected students are notified by email
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February: Mandatory information session for participating students
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April: Mandatory pre-departure training day for participating students
If you are not able to attend the information session and have questions about the course, please reach out to alexa.bennett@uwaterloo.ca
Apply for the four-week field course in Ghana - Deadline January 18, 2026
