Global Engagement

The Education Abroad Fair, hosted each year by Penn State Global, is the place to start for the first phase of your study abroad journey. The Education Abroad Fair is a one-stop-shop where students can get an overview of the study abroad programs available through Penn State.  

Review these tips to get the most out of the Education Abroad Fair.

Study abroad has been shown to provide multiple opportunities to:

• See and explore other parts of the world
• Gain a new perspective
• increase cultural competence
• Develop language skills
• Gain professional experience
• Step outside your comfort zone
• Form friendships
• Increase self-confidence
• Understand and appreciate ambiguity 

There are also many desirable outcomes of study abroad programs including:

• Increased hireability
• Higher starting salaries
• Higher acceptance into graduate school
• Developed interpersonal and cognitive skills 

Sources: IES Abroad and U.S. News

Planning to study abroad can be a daunting task. It's important to start early (at least 1 year prior to your intended travel semester) and use your resources. Remember, you are not alone!

1. Schedule an appointment with HHD's Engaged Learning Specialist to discuss education abroad, the application process, and beginning steps.
2. Review Penn State Global's Steps to Study Abroad. These steps will help guide your planning process.
3. Complete the Education Abroad 101 module to gain a better understanding on what is meant to study abroad, funding your experience, and resources to help you plan.

There are many study abroad program options to choose from. 

• Faculty-Led Embedded: You enroll in class on your campus at Penn State. As a part of the class, a Penn State Faculty member will lead an excursion abroad either during a break such as fall break, winter break, spring break or at the beginning of the summer.
• Faculty-Led Freestanding: Faculty-led freestanding programs are like moving a Penn State classroom abroad. You will be taught by a Penn State faculty member and follow a designed travel itinerary with the other Penn State students. Most programs are offered during summer and range from 2 to 8 weeks.
• Direct Enroll/Exchange: You will become an international student at that host university, taking classes with both local and international students. Exchanges are direct enrollment programs where Penn State accepts a student on campus in exchange for your place on campus.
• International Internships: Internship programs are opportunities where you will be placed in an organization or company either virtually or in-person to gain work experience in an international context and receive academic credit. Internships can be either one component of a study abroad program or done as a standalone experience. Internships through the Education Abroad office will always require enrollment in a credit-bearing class.
  • The Perrault Fellows Program: The Perreault Fellows Program is a competitive global leadership and internship program that prepares students from multiple disciplines for personal and professional excellence through learning in cross-cultural leadership, ethics, service, personal-mentoring, and an internship abroad related to health and the betterment of human condition broadly speaking.
• Research Abroad: Research or field study programs are hands-on experiential learning opportunities which are often tailored specifically for a student’s particular interests. They offer a chance to gain research experience and prepare you for graduate school or a career in research.
• Study Center: Study center programs are sponsored through outside organizations such as IES, CIEE, The Danish Institute for Study Abroad, and Arcadia. You will take courses at their study center abroad with other students who are pursuing their degree at an American university or college. 

It is important to consider the following when choosing a program:

• Where do you want to go abroad? Is there a particular region or country you're interested in studying in?
• When do you want to go abroad? Spring and Summer semester programs are the most common, but with careful planning you may study abroad during any semester that works with your academic plan. All programs have a minimum year requirement (typically second- or third-year standing) and a GPA requirement.
• How long do you want to be abroad? Programs range in travel from one week to a full academic year. 
• What is the language of instruction? Many programs are taught in English, but some programs have a language requirement to ensure your sucess abroad. 

Review Penn State Global's Tips for Choosing a Program and browse the Penn State Global Program Search to find specific programs of interest, or look below for department-specific opportunities.

Program costs vary greatly depending on program length, location, and type of program. Note that some programs will include things like housing and meals in the billable costs (costs charged to your Penn State account), whereas others may not. It is important to review budget sheets carefully and compare program costs before choosing a program.

Many programs in non-traditional locations tend to be cheaper due to a lower cost of living. There are also more scholarships available for programs in these locations. Non-traditional locations include anywhere outside of Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Potential Funding Opportunities:

• Penn State Education Abroad Scholarships
• Penn State Global Embedded Programs Scholarship
• Student Engagement Network Grant Program
• HHD Starling Engaged Learning Fund

Next Steps:

• Contact the Office of Student Aid to determine what financial aid you have available and what might apply to a study abroad program.
• Review the Penn State Global Easy Guide to Study Abroad Scholarships.
• Meet with your academic adviser and education abroad adviser (determined by the location of your chosen program) to determine what schoalrships you are eligible for.

Depending on the type of program you choose, you have some flexibility in the courses you may take abroad. Each program page on the Penn State Global website has an "Academics" tab where you will find information on the courses taken as part of that program.

Often times faculty-led programs have prescribed courses that students are expected to take as part of the education abroad experience. These courses already have a Penn State course number assigned to them. 

If you choose to complete a direct enroll program, you will be expected to select appropriate courses for your degree program in consultation with your academic adviser. Some students prefer to save some of their general education requirements (e.g., GA, GH, etc.) to take while abroad. These often translate to courses about the art, culture, and food in a chosen country. 

However, there are some opportunities to take major requirement courses. If a program has flexibility in the courses offered, there will be a Historical Course List available. This list includes all courses that Penn State students have taken abroad as part of that program and the Penn State credit the course was used for.

If you do not see a specific major requirement course on this list, you are able to request a Course Equivalency Evaluation. The Course Equivalency process involves submitting a Course Equivalency Request with a copy of the course syllabus so the appropriate academic department may evaluate the course to determine how closely it matches a Penn State-offered course. The review process can take two to four months to complete. 

For questions on course selection, please schedule an appointment with your academic adviser.

Students may only apply for one education abroad program per term (e.g., Spring, Summer, Fall). Students will need to submit an application by the posted deadline on the specific Penn State Global page for the program they intend to participate in. Note: embedded programs do not require the same application; students should instead contact the faculty leader for the embedded course. 

Penn State Global provides step-by-step instructions for completing the education abroad application.

Application requirements vary by program, but the following is required for all education abroad programs:

• Education Abroad Questionnaire
• Education Abroad Policies and Procedures
• Academic Recommendation
• Note: many of Penn State's approved programs require applicants to submit an additional application or specific materials to the host program/institution. If necessary, the Penn State Global program page will provide instructions and deadlines for this additional step.

Typically, application deadlines follow the pattern below:

View Penn State Global's Application Timeline for specific dates and deadlines.

Seoul, Korea: Sociology and Culture in Korea (Maymester) - students will be enrolled in SOC 499, HDFS 499, or ASIA 499 for 3 credits

• SOC 499/HDFS 499/ASIA 499: Sociology and Culture in Seoul, Korea

Florence, Italy: Human Development and Family Studies (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HDFS 499.1, HDFS 499.2, and HDFS 499.3 for 9 credits

• HDFS 499.1: Early Childhood in Italy
• HDFS 499.2: Historical Roots of the Modern Italian Family
• HDFS 499.3: Italian Relationships, Both Cultural and Familial

London, United Kingdom: Adulthood & Families (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HDFS 249N or HDFS 397 for 3 credits

• HDFS 294N/HDFS 397: Adult Development and Aging

Europe: Hospitality Management Studies (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HM 399A and HM399B for 6 credits

• HM 399A: International Hospitality Management
• HM 399B: International Restaurant and Food Service Management

Los Angeles, California: KINES 497: Interdisciplinary Study of Street Medicine - this embedded travel experience takes students to Los Angeles to learn about and experience the growing systemic problems faced by unhoused individuals and how the Street Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine provides direct care for unhoused individuals free of charge. 

Copenhagen, Denmark: Biking Culture & Urban Design (Maymester) - students will be enrolled in KINES 405N or LARCH 405N for 3 credits

• KINES 405N: Bicycling Culture and Urban Design

Grenada, West Indies: Pre-Med at St. George's University (Summer) - students will be enrolled in KINES 499 for 3 credits

• KINES 499: St. George's University Pre-Med Study Abroad in the West Indies

West London, United Kingdom: Kinesiology, Youth Sport, and Athletic Wellfare (Summer) - students will be enrolled in KINES 499 for 3 credits

• KINES 499: Kinesiology, Youth Sport, and Athletic Wellfare in London

The following opportunities are not specific to an HHD department, however, some HHD students may have a particular interest in a program's content area. Speak with your academic adviser to determine if the courses offered as part of these programs will fit with your academic plan.

Oxford, United Kingdom: Medical Humanities (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HHD 499 or BIOET 497 for 3 credits

• HHD 499/BIOET 497: Exploring the Human in Medicine

Cape Town, South Africa: Women's Gender and Reproductive Studies (Maymester) - students will be enrolled in WMNST 399 for 3 credits

• WMNST 399: The Quest for Reproductive Justice in South Africa

Dublin, Ireland: Culture & DIsability (Summer) - students will be enrolled in RHS 420 or SPLED 420 for 6 credits

• RHS/SPLED 420: Culture and Disability

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Dutch Criminal and Social Justice (Summer) - students will be enrolled in CRIM 499 for 6 credits

• CRIM 499: Dutch Criminal and Social Justice

Arush, Tanzania: Biology of Eco-Health (Summer) - students will be enrolled in BIOL 489 for 3 credits

• BIOL 498: Special Topics - EcoHealth in Tanzania

Maastricht, Netherlands: Center for European Studies, Maastricht Univeristy

• BBH 399: Introduction to Epidemiology
• BBH 499: Disease and Prevention

Stockholm, Sweden: DIS Study in Stockholm

• BBH 399: Cognitive Neuroscience of Addiction

Cape Town, South Africa: IES Cape Town - Health, Culture, & Development

• BBH 399: Endemic Disease & Their Socioeconomic Context
• BBH 399: Environment, Health, & Development
• BBH 399: The Impact of Globalization on Health & Development

London, United Kingdom: IES London - Health Policy & Practice

• BBH 299: Health Psychology
• BBH 430(3) + BBH 499(1): Epidemiology & Stats

Florence, Italy: International Studies Institute (ISI) at Palazoo Rucellai (Summer)

• BBH 399: Medicine and Disease Before Biomedicine

Melbourne, Australia: Monash University

• BBH 316(3) + BBH 399(1): Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Cape Town, South Africa: IES Cape Town - Health, Culture, & Development

• HDFS 250: Sexuality & Gender
• HDFS 299: Childhood & Youth

Cape Town, South Africa: IES Cape Town - Health, Culture, & Development

• HPA 499: Health & Community

London, United Kingdom: IES London - Health Policy & Practice

• HPA 496: Social Welfare Policy in the United Kingdom and Famaica - A community-Based Learning Perspective and Practicum
• HPA 499: Comparative Healthcare Systems and the United States Policies in Great Britain, Europe
• HPA 499: Health Inequities and Social Determinants of Health
• HPA 499: Public Health in Europe - Issues and Social Policies
• HPA 499: Public Health in Practice

Valencia, Spain: University of Virginia Global Health (Summer)

• HPA 499: Comparative Health Systems

Gold Coast, Australia: Bond University

• HM 499: Adventure Tourism
• HM 366 (3) + HM 399 (1): Human Resource Management
• HM 4242/242 (3) + HM 499 (1): Marketing Fundamentals
• HM 499: Wine Studies

Barcelona, Spain: IES in Barcelona

• HM 499: Barcelona - The Culinary City
• HM 499: Food as an Expression of Culture
• HM 499: Food Business Findamentals - Entrepreneurship and Marketing
• HM 499: Organizational Behavior: Psycholgoical Approaches in a European Perspective

Brno, Czech Republic: CzechMates

• KINES 84: Physical Activity and Lifestyle Change
• KINES 92: Self Defense

Barcelona, Spain: IES in Barcelona

• KINES 399: Sports and Society in Spain

Sydney, Australia: IES Univeristy of Sydney

• KINES 384(3) + KINES 399(1): Movement Analysis
• KINES 399: Sport and Learning in Australian Culture

Leeds, England: University of Leeds

• KINES 350:  Exercise Bioenergetics
• KINES 360: Human Motor Development
• KINES 497: Exercise at the Limits - Physiology in Challenging Environments
• KINES 497: Muscle Function and Adaptation
• KINES 498: Motor Psychological Aspects of Rehabilitaiton
• KINES 498: Physical Activity and Health
• KINES 499: Sport Medicine, Health, and Nutrition
• KINES 499: Exercise Prescription for Health and Disease

Loughborough, England: Loughborough University (Exhcnage)

• KINES 199: Psychology and Health
• KINES 202: Structural Kinesiology
• KINES 299: Basci Science and Regenerative Therapy
• KINES 321(3) + KINES 399(2): Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology
• KINES 399: Understanding the Brain
• KINES 399: Applied Cognitive Research
• KINES 399: Psychology for Physical Educators
• KINES 498: Applied Psychology in Competetive Sport
• KINES 498: Conceptualizing Sport
• KINES 498: Critical Persepectives in Sport Management
• KINES 498: Current Themes in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• KINES 498: Physical Activity and Health
• KINES 499: Applied Sport Physiology
• KINES 499: Basic Science and Regenerative Therapy
• KINES 499: Human Evolution and Adaptation
• KINES 499: Sport Governance

Florence, Italy: International Studies Institute (ISI) at Palazoo Rucellai (Summer)

• NUTR 421: History and Culture of Food in Italy
• NUTR 497: History and Culture of Food

Sydney, Australia: IES Univeristy of Sydney

• NUTR 299: Diet and Nutrition for Health and Sport

Seville, Spain: CIEE Seville

• NUTR 499: The Mediterranean Diet - From Fiction to Facts

Florence, Italy: International Studies Institute (ISI) at Palazoo Rucellai (Summer)

• EDUC 399: Childhood Education - Teaching and Multicultural Competence
• PSYCH 299: Criminal Behavior
• PSYCH 299: Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSYCH 445: Forensic Psychology
• RHS 199: Disabilities Studies - Discovering Abilities
• RHS 399: Disabilities Studies - Discovering Abilities, Naratives, Identities (Community Engagement Practicum)
• SOC 19: Social Media, Social Food
• SOC 199: Diversity in Italy
• SOC 297: Identity and Culture in Italy - A comparative Approach

Maastricht, Netherlands: Center for European Studies, Maastricht Univeristy

• PHIL 132: Medical Ethics - Moral Healthcare Deilemmas from a European Perspective
• PSYCH 212(3) + PSYCH 299(2): Developmental Psychology
• PSYCH 299: Psychology and Law

Barcelona, Spain: IES in Barcelona

• MGMT 399: Leading Across Cultures - Principles and Practice
• PSYCH 232: Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSYCH 243: Psychology, Health, & Well-being: Beyond Just Treating Mental Disorders
• PSYCH 499: Cultural Perspectives in Psychology

Sydney, Australia: IES Univeristy of Sydney

• BMB 499: Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences
• BMB 499: Biochemistry of Human Disease
• EDPSY 199: Child Development (3-8 years)

Melbourne, Australia: Monash University

• SOC 3(3) + SOC 199 (1): Understanding Social Behavior

Leeds, England: University of Leeds

• PHIL 14(3) + PHIL 199(2): Philosophy of Sex and Relationships
• PSYCH 212: Developmental Psychology
• PSYCH 299: Psychology for Healthy Minds
• PSYCH 441: Health Psychology

Students interested in learning more about Jewish heritage and participating in service projects such as cleaning up the local Jewish cemetery and helping out at the local synagogue are invited to apply for the Alternative Spring Break Trip to Curacao with Penn State Hillel. 

The Global Health Minor (GLBHL), housed in the department of Biobehavioral Health, is available to students interested in a career in a health profession. This minor exposes students to the top issues affecting the health of various populations across the world. 

Students must complete a supervised fieldwork experience, either internationally or domestically, for a period of approximately five weeks during the first summer session (May through June). Students will be enrolled in BBH 390B for 6 credits.

• Global Health Field Work in Ecuador
• Global Health Field Work in Mexico
• Global Health Field Work in South Africa

Education Abroad Peer Advisers are education abroad returnees who have enjoyed their experiences so much that they now work to advise other students on education abroad opportunities at Penn State. Each peer adviser can explain program options, give an overview of the education abroad process, as well as provide information about their experience abroad.

When students return from abroad, they will receive an email from the Education Abroad office with instructions on how to apply for a peer adviser position. Typically, peer advisers are selected at the beginning of each academic year. Competitive and thoughtful applications from a wide range of experiences will be invited to interview for the position. 

The Global Engagement and Leadership Experience, as the name implies, is a "global" leadership opportunity for students to explore the ability to interact across differences, both at the individual and group level. Trained facilitators work to guide students in their understanding of self, while also providing opportunities to learn about the cultures and identities of others through fun and reflective activities. 

Global Careers Institute (GCI) a professional development program designed to prepare Penn State students for career success in the global marketplace. Participation in the Institute is competitive and by application only.

Global Ambassadors

Global Ambassadors (GAs) support international students through hosting and volunteering at international and multicultural student events.

Contact: Adviser, Analize Mousaw (adm185@psu.edu)

Global Engagement Community

The GEC engages a diverse group of globally-minded students (both international and domestic), supported by faculty and staff mentors, around the goals of peer-based intercultural exchange and the development of global competencies and citizenship traits. 

Contact: Adviser, Nikki Mattson (nla12@psu.edu)

Global Medical Brigades

Global Medical Brigades aims to help provide sustained health care to underserved communities throughout the world. Along with affiliate groups at other universities, our PSU team recruits student volunteers and medical professionals, gathers medicine, and then travels overseas to perform what are called "brigades" in local clinics.

Contact: Adviser, Stephen Kodish (quk80@psu.edu)

United Nations Association at Penn State

The UNA-USA Penn State Chapter is a student organization at Pennsylvania State University dedicated to discussing the most pressing issues of our time with a focus on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contact: Adviser, Dana Naughton (dmn161@psu.edu)

GLOBE

GLOBE is a living learning community for Schreyer Honors College students looking to foster respect and awareness for the world and its diverse people, contribute to international progress by developing a network for future collaborations, and build an inclusive community that embraces different mindsets and encourages personal and academic growth.

Contact: Adviser, Sarah Lyall-Combs (svl1@psu.edu)