Program Overview

James Madison University's Project GO program provides a unique full scholarship opportunity for ROTC students from any accredited university or college in the U.S. to study Swahili and immerse themselves in various cultures of East Africa. Participants will:

• Gain or enhance Swahili language skills at any proficiency level.
• Engage in cultural immersion through travel, homestays, and site visits.
• Participate in lectures and readings on regional topics.
• Complete an 8-week, 12-credit-hour program, which includes 6 credit hours of Swahili and 6 credit hours focused on Human-Environment interactions.

The program takes place in Tanzania and Kenya from May 20 to July 17, 2025.

Coordinate with ROTC Training Requirements

With advanced planning, ROTC summer training times may be adjusted to meet individual schedules. Additionally, the Army may support an extra semester in your degree for Swahili study; please reach out to your Commander for further details.

Application Details

Applications open on October 15, 2024. Apply on the Project Go website.

Scholarship Details

• The Project GO scholarship covers airfare, tuition, room and board, program and admission fees, visa or entry fees for each country, and in-region travel expenses.
• Participants are responsible for a $500 deposit, vaccinations, and personal travel expenses. (Deposit is refunded upon successful completion of the program and the Swahili Oral Proficiency Interview.)

Eligibility and Selection

• Students must be commissioning through Air Force, Army, or Navy ROTC to be eligible. Selection criteria include academic merit, leadership, cultural sensitivity, language experience, commitment to the Project GO mission, and diversity.
• Participants must commit to the full duration (parts one and two) of the East Africa Field School program and will be required to take post-program language assessments. For detailed eligibility requirements, visit the National Project GO website.

Contact

Carol Lena Miller
JMU Project GO Coordinator
540-568-3975
millercl@jmu.edu

About Project GO: Project GO is an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office, administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). At JMU, Project GO is supported by the College of Integrated Science and Engineering, Center for Global Engagement, and Duke Battalion.

Project Go offers full scholarships to ROTC students from accredited U.S. universities to study critical languages domestically and abroad. The goal is to develop future military officers with cross-cultural communication skills essential for leadership in the 21st-century operational environment.