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.
Hillbilly Hymn: Celebrating the Context of the Holler
Instructor: Ian Urriola (iurriola@su.edu)
Travel dates: Jan 8 -14, 2023
Central Appalachia is one of the most misunderstood and exploited regions of our country. While on this week-long Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip, learners will be immersed in Appalachian culture as they serve alongside residents of the region and engage in light home repair, self reflection, and engage with history of the region and its people. This trip is done in conjunction with the Office of Spiritual Life, and in partnership with Appalachia Service Project.
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.
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.
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.
London Theatre and History
Instructor: Alanna Tierno (aropchoc@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.
Faculty GEL Program Proposal
Do you have a GEL course that you would like to create? Propose it now!
