Global Seminars are components of classes that are taught on campus but allow students to travel abroad during winter, spring, or summer breaks. These classes were created for students who are interested in studying abroad but are possibly unable to do so during an entire semester due to coursework, curriculum, or major or core requirements.

During winter break, the Nursing Department will be taking sixteen students to Costa Rica as part of its global engagement core requirement from Jan. 7-15, 2017. This opportunity is available to junior nursing majors. While speaking Spanish is not required to take advantage of this experience, it will certainly be an advantage as students will assist at clinics in urban communities, shanties, and homes to perform health evaluations. Interpreters will accompany the group throughout the entire program.

The on-campus portion of the class will take place during the spring semester of 2017, taught by Professor Pamela Preston-Safarez. She will also lead the international clinical travel with Professor Meg Carson. These short-term study abroad experiences aim to submerge students into the history, economics, or culture of a country. The focuses of this particular nursing course are the community and public health nursing.

Part of the course description states that “in class you will explore the role of the nurse in health promotion and disease prevention in the global theater . . . Public health issues such as the global health care environment and work with vulnerable populations will be explored.”

Included in student fees are airport pickup and drop off, orientation, most meals, housing, cultural activities, excursions, and health and travel insurance. Not included in fees are airfare, passport fee, airport departure tax, and spending money.

Sarah Keefe, Director of the International Program on campus, says “The international components of the class will vary based on the course itself. The group traveling to Cuba as part of HI 399 Cold War will visit various historical sites throughout Cuba whereas the group traveling to Costa Rica as part of NU 449 Community and Public Health Nursing are completing the clinical for that class while abroad.”

She continued by discussing the importance of these global seminars: “The international component of the on campus courses enhance the academic content that is taught on campus. Ideally, the international component of the global seminar will allow the in classroom content to come alive.”

These global seminars are life-changing opportunities that allow students to dive into the work they have learned about. Taking advantage of these hands-on activities is ideal for students who wish to immerse themselves in culture other than their own but cannot take an entire semester to do so.