GEL trips are back for 2022-2023!
The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit. Since the program’s inception in 2000, students have traveled to approximately 30 nations, including Argentina, China, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, and Thailand. The GEL program aims to make the world a learning laboratory for students, providing deep exploration into individual fields of study, the opportunity to understand where the United States fits in terms of the world viewpoint, and the ability to enhance skills in cultural sensitivity, flexibility, and capability to adjust and adapt.
Students apply for these short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If the course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.
For travel updates related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel recommendations.
Global Experiential Learning Trips for the 2022-23 Academic Year
Exploring the Aztec Empire
Instructors: Abigail Gomez (agomez@su.edu)
Travel dates: Jan 6 -14, 2023
This GEL trip will take SU learners to the modern day city of an ancient Aztec cultural center in México!
Students will have the opportunity to visit ancient ruins from the Aztec empire, participate in the culinary arts, visual arts, traditional craft and dancing during a variety of workshops, among other exciting experiences.
Scenic Automation in Modern Theatre
Instructor: David Steinmetz (dsteinme@su.edu)
Travel dates: Jan 8 -14, 2023
This trip to New York City will focus on the study of scenic automation as it is used in modern theatre…and there is no better place to study this than on Broadway!
Students who go on this trip will see 4 Broadway and/or Off Broadway shows, go on backstage tours to see the inner workings of the automated scenery up close, and visit a professional scene shop where the automated scenery is made. Through this process students will not only see professional automated scenery up close, but they will get to meet industry professionals working at the highest levels of professional theatre and ask them questions!
Theatre is very much a visual art form, and especially in the context of scenery. As a result, theatrical scenery frequently draws from the world of art and architecture. Since we are going to be in one of the largest cities in the world, we are also going to take advantage of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as studying the wide variety of architecture in the city, for example, the Empire State Building.
All of these experiences will combine to inform the student’s work as they reverse engineer their favorite automated scenic unit that they have seen on the trip. Using skills that they have learned in SU classes, each student will design, draft, engineer, and cost out the construction of their chosen automated scenic unit. Using research and pictures acquired on the trip, the final project should exhibit a polish that can easily enhance the students portfolio as they go onto seek entrance into grad school and/or entry into the professional world.
Athletic Training Experience in Dublin
Instructor: Rose Schmieg (rschmieg@su.edu)
Travel dates: Feb. 18 – 25, 2023
This one-week Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip will provide an overview of the Irish Health Care System as it pertains to prevention and management of injury.
Participants will learn from Gaelic Athletic Association Athletes while attending class, clinic and cultural activities with athletic therapy and training students from Dublin City University.
Education in Australia
Instructor: Catherine Dunn Shiffman (cshiffma@su.edu)
Travel dates: Mar 9 – 19, 2023
Spend time in “the land down under” and learn about Australian education and school administration/leadership in Perth – the capital city of Western Australia!
Participants in this Global Experiential Learning (GEL) program will spend time at Curtin University meeting with students, faculty, and education leaders to learn all about both primary and second teaching and school administration/leadership in Australia. There will also be planned cultural excursions, such as visits to an aboriginal culture center and a kangaroo sanctuary.
Esports and Thailand
Instructor: Joey Gawrysiak (jgawrysi@su.edu)
Travel dates: March 10 – 18, 2023
This trip to Bangkok will allow students to work with professional esports organizations in Thailand to plan and execute a professional esports event.
This GEL trip is intended for Esports majors, but other students may apply.
Interprofessional Panama Brigade
Instructor: Iain Pritchard (rpritcha@su.edu)
Travel dates: March 11 – 18, 2023
This inter-professional health professions brigade will travel to Panama over Spring Break 2023 to work with community health workers and local healthcare professionals.
We will be providing hands-on care and learning about local culture. We will also have the opportunity to learn from local pharmacy entrepreneurs and sustainable healthcare models in rural areas.
Wilderness First Responder Training
Instructor: Rose Schmeig (rschmieg@su.edu)
Travel dates: April 2023
In this hybrid course, you will become certified in Wilderness First Responding by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
You will learn online January through March on wilderness injury management and then for one week in April you will travel to the Landmark Learning Center in Cullowhee, NC for a 50-hour live training course where you will have outdoor wilderness injury simulation training, The course ends with a written and practical exam for WFR certification. You will learn from and with a myriad of health professionals. There will be time for team building and collaboration as students will be staying onsite in cabins and or tents.
Eligibility:
- Second-year Division of Athletic Training Students with GPA minimum of 2.8 may attend this GEL.
- Second-year Physician Assistant Studies students, Nurse Practitioner students and third-year Physical Therapy students may apply to this GEL. They must be in good academic standing and submit a letter of approval from their Dean or Program Director.
- This GEL is also open to SU MSAT alumni.
SCSO Argentina Tour
Instructor: TBA
Travel dates: May 22 – June 2, 2023
The Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) embarks on its third international tour to Argentina with performances in Bariloche, Cordoba, Rosario and Buenos Aires.
Previous SCSO tours to Spain in 2014 and Argentina in 2017 have included performances in major venues in Zaragoza, Castellon, Murcia and Granada (Spain) and in Cordoba, Rosario, Parana and Buenos Aires (Argentina). The SCSO international tours provide a unique cultural experience as well as a unique performance opportunity to its members by organizing concerts in major venues that are part of the host country/presenters’ subscription series. The performances are scheduled in such a way as to provide the students with a “professional” experience similar to those organized by major professional orchestras throughout the world. The SCSO has, thus, performed to almost sold-out concerts in each city it has visited.
London Theatre and History
Instructor: Carolyn Coulson (ccoulson2@su.edu)
Travel dates: May 25 – June 7, 2023
Come explore theatre and history in London, including experimental, site specific and non commercial performances! We will also see some more traditional fare and some tourist sites.
London Theatre and History
Instructor: Michelle Gamber (mgamber@su.edu)
Travel dates: May 28 – June 5, 2023
This is an OT GEL trip to Morocco for OTD and MSOT students to get hands-on experience working with culturally different patient populations.
Occupational therapy students will be exposed to a variety of clinical and health settings throughout Morocco. A Moroccan OT (who works in the US) will serve as our guide and will facilitate all in-country logistics.
Exploring the PA Profession: AAPA Nashville
Instructor: Erika Francis (efrancis11@su.edu)
Travel dates: May 2023
Explore aspects of the PA profession by attending the American Academy of Physician Assistants conference!
This course builds on foundational knowledge of the PA profession. Experiential learning opportunities are concentrated on engaging in a professional conference with a focus on programmatic core values and their connection to the PA profession.
PALM Summer Arts Leadership Insitute
Instructor: David Edelman (dedelman@su.edu)
Travel dates: June 28-July 9
The PALM Summer Arts Leadership Institute is a 10-day journey to Greece to explore both ancient and modern culture, to engage in conversations with leading EU and Greek cultural leaders, and to expand student’s understanding of leadership in the performing arts.
The trip will include visits to the 2nd millennium city of Mycenae and the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the seaside town of Nafpoli, a journey to the ancient site of the Delphic oracle; and a visit to the island of Aegina. Workshops and discussions with European cultural leaders, attendance at performances, and museum and cultural site admissions are included, as are most meals, hotel accommodations, and local travel.
Study at The Audencia Business School
Instructor: TBA
Travel dates: May 22-July 14
Study at Audencia Business School in France for 2 weeks in the summer and earn 6 credits at Shenandoah!
This unique summer abroad opportunity allows students to take 2 classes (modules) of their choice at Audencia Business School. Each module is an intensive one-week course, so students will study at Audencia for a total of 2 weeks. Students in this program will also complete assignments before and after their time at Audencia, facilitated by an SU professor.
Students are admitted into the Audencia courses on a first-come, first-served basis – the sooner you apply, the more likely you will be able to take the courses of your choice!
The Saxophone in France and Spain
Instructor: Timothy Roberts (troberts3@su.edu)
Travel dates: May 27-June 8
Travel to Paris and Sevilla, Spain to visit the birthplace and European “home” of the saxophone!
We will visit the Selmer saxophone factory in Mantes-la-Ville, France, perform a concert at one of the local Parisian conservatories, and take in an evening concert by The Orchestre de Paris. We will also spend a day sightseeing on the Champs-Élysées and other major attractions via the Paris Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
In Sevilla, we will perform a concert at the Conservatory of Music Manuel Castillo. We will also spend two days studying and experiencing the Spanish aspects of the instrument, attending concerts and classes and collaborating with the saxophone students at this conservatory.
Through the Lens: A Photographic Journey in Mexico
Instructor: Abi Gomez (agomez@su.edu)
Travel dates: May 30-June 7
This GEL trip will take SU learners to the metropolis of Mexico City, the magical town of Oaxtepec, and the natural wonder of Tolantongo, Mexico.
Watch this video to see some of the places and activities you will experience on this GEL!
This trip will focus on the art of photography, as learners explore the juxtaposition of ancient and modern, natural and man-made elements from the most populous city in North America to the state of Hidalgo, and the state of Morelos.
While discovering the elements and principles of art and design through the medium of photography, learners will also have the opportunity to visit ancient cultural sites and museums, participate in the culinary arts, visual arts and traditional craft, and dance during a variety of workshops, among other exciting experiences.
By taking this GEL, you will receive 3 SU credits that can be applied to the Creative Expression ShenEd sphere.
Physical Therapy in Guatemala
Instructor: Michele Wiley (mwiley@su.edu)
Travel dates: July 29-August 5
This summer, work with students and faculty from a PT program in Puerto Barrios at a school for children with disabilities, a hospital, and in the local villages. The instructors from each program provide lectures and collaborate in supervising students at the clinical sites.
Faculty GEL Program Proposal
Do you have a GEL course that you would like to create? Propose it now!
