Global Experiential Learning Trips have traveled to learn in many locations around the world.
See all of Shenandoah’s Previous Destinations across the globe!
GEL 2019 Destinations
La Isla Bonita: Cultural Perspectives in Cuba
Cuba | All Majors
This trip will be academic in nature with emphasis on visiting culturally, historically, politically significant sites. These sites include Havana and Santiago as well as visits to Buena Vista Social Club, Hemingway’s residence, cooking schools, and Fidel Castro’s gravesite. By taking this GEL, you will receive 3 SU credits.
Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra Chile
Chile | Conservatory
The SCSO embarks on its third international tour to Chile in May 2020. 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.
Environmental Citizenship, Public Health, and Religious Diversity in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic | All Majors
This course will examine environmental sustainability in the Dominican Republic through the lens of public health and religious diversity, critically reflecting on what it means to be a responsible environmental citizen with attention to the global context in which we live. Students will trek into the central highlands of the Dominican Republic where mountainous landscapes, coffee plantations and alpine pastures stretch as far as the eye can see. Students will experience the area’s rich biodiversity while learning how reforestation and ecotourism efforts have affected the land and communities. As students are immersed in the local culture, the class will work together with non-profits and community members to build sustainable solutions to conservation, health and social challenges.
Special topics in Exercise Science in England
England | Business & Conservatory
This GEL course is designed to immerse students in the fields of Exercise Science, Health Professions, and Performing Arts Medicine. The group will stay at the University of Winchester, UK and meet with Exercise Scientists, Sport Performance coaches, Physiotherapists and tour facilities. We will travel to London to tour Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and meet with Dance Science faculty and tour the graduate research facilities. We will plan to take in some sporting and cultural events and meet with those involved in training for these events. You will be asked to research and discuss the facilities and professionals we will be visiting to have background knowledge prior to the trip. Upon returning, students will be asked to write a reflection paper on their experiences.
English History; Real and Imagined
England | All Majors
Students will enroll in one of two courses, in English or History, focused on how English history has been memorialized in literature or public history. The group will visit historic sites, museums, and locations of literary significance in order to explore the ways that history and heritage are remembered. The focus will be primarily on English history before 1800, including the Roman occupation, the real and legendary King Arthur, the age of Chaucer and the age of Shakespeare. Sites may include the Tower of London, Hampton Court, Museum of London, the British Museum, the Globe Theater, the Jorvik Viking Experience, Norwich, Stratford, Whitby, or points beyond.This trip will include substantial walking and standing as well as travel by public transportation, including subway, bus, or train. Some sites may include many stairs, narrow staircases, or confined spaces.
Adventures in Biodiversity and Ecotourism in the Amazon and Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands | Biology & Business Majors
Imagine having the opportunity to walk in Darwin’s footsteps. There’s no better laboratory for the study of ecotourism and biology field studies than the enchanted Galapagos Islands. Home to such astonishing creatures as the famous Galapagos giant tortoise, Galapagos sea lions, the adorable Galapagos penguin, bluefooted booby, frigatebird and the Galapagos rosy iguana as well as the finches whose varying beak sizes inspired Darwin. SU students who visit these islands will never forget the experience. From the beautiful blue waters filled with species found only here, to the highlands inhabited by giant tortoises, students will work to understand and protect this fragile ecosystem. In the Galapagos Islands, hikes will take students to beaches, volcanic craters, lava tunnels, and a number of bird nesting sites. Students will have opportunities to swim with Galapagos sea lions (which are very playful), and sea turtles, and visit an active volcano. During our time on the Galapagos Islands, biology students will make their own independent observations of the terrestrial and marine wildlife and habitats. Business students will observe mechanisms that the islands have employed to be at the forefront of ecotourism. Students will then come together to discuss how ecotourism, biology, and research all interact and depend on each other. Before flying to the Galapagos Islands, the group will experience several excursions around Ecuador, providing an opportunity to see Ecuadorian history and culture. Mainland trips include: a ride on the Quito cable car up Ecuador’s Pichincha Volcano on one of the highest aerial lifts in the world; a trip to Papallacta hot springs in the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest; a trip to the Pañacocha Protective Forest and the Cuyabeno Wildlife Production Reserve; a trip to the Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo) an Equator monument with different exhibitions; and a trip through Quito’s colonial city center. On a walk around the old town, you will view various palaces, monuments and cathedrals.
Exploring the Mediterranean World: Engaging Global Perspectives in France and Spain
France & Spain | All Majors
This GEL trip proposes a journey to France and Spain to explore the Mediterranean cultures of Nice, St. Tropez, Montpelier, Barcelona, and Valencia. Students will engage in the cultures at hand and some will receive language credit in Spanish and French. We welcome students from across the university. During the trip, students will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the melting pot that forms the Mediterranean world. As much as this region has a historic past, it is important to understand the contemporary culture of business, trade, tourism, and cuisine in the region.
Summer Arts Leadership Institute
Greece | Arts Management
The Summer Arts Leadership Institute will bring together American and European students for a 10-day intensive program in international and intercultural issues facing future arts leaders. The Institute will be hosted at the American University of Greece in Athens and will feature discussions with European cultural leaders, four half-day study tours of Athens, a guided day-long tour of Epidaurus and Mycenae, attendance at four evening performances in Athens, and even a leadership day at the beach.
Guatemala Physical Therapy Experience May
Guatemala |PT students in 2nd or 3rd Year
During this GEL, students will provide provide rehabilitative screenings and services to the free rehab clinic and school for children with disabilities in the town of Livingston (Fundacion Sueños Color y Esperanza) and in the rural community in the village of Punta de Palma for those unable to travel to the town of Livingston or the city of Puerto Barrios. They will also provide consultation and collaboration with Guatemalan PT’s, OT’s and Guatemalan therapy students on evidenced based therapy interventions. They will also have the opportunity have the share information and provide educational sessions with Guatemalan PT’s, OT’s and students. Additionally, the students learn about, and from, the Guatemalan therapists and students regarding practice delivery and intervention in lesser resourced settings. Students will stay at Mission El Faro, outside of Puerto Barrios Guatemala and have the opportunity to interact with members of the community while there. This international experience is an opportunity for PT students to experience PT in a new setting.
PT & OT Clinical Experience in Haiti
Haiti | PT & OT Students
This non-traditional clinical rotation takes place in Jacmel, Haiti. Our group will treat patients in an in-patient setting and also in a school based setting. Visits to rural homes and schools will also take place. Community Coalition for Haiti is the host organization and the group will be exposed to serial casting, equipment fabrication, and Inter professional interactions with nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and teachers. This course is only open to students in the PT and OT program.
Interprofessional Medical Mission in Haiti
Haiti | PA & Pharmacy Students
This is an interprofessional medical mission trip that will include physician assistants and pharmacists. We will be working with the Community Coalition for Haiti. The goals are:
- provide health care and education to needy individuals
- promote service values to students
- promote a team approach to health care
- faculty and student interaction
- learn and enhance clinical skills
- build cultural skills and international relations
International Education in Italy
Italy | Education Majors
This GEL is designed to contrast and compare educational programs in Italy with education in the United States. Special attention will be given to administrative leadership, curriculum, faculty and student composition, legal structure, and facilities. Join us to learn more about Italy’s K12 education system as you visit Florence, Venice, Bologna, and Rome and connect with other passionate students and teachers during visits to local schools.
International Interdisciplinary Healthcare in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland | MSAT or Dual Degree DPT/MSAT students
SUAT will take a group of 10 to 15 MSAT or Dual Degree DPT/MSAT students to Dublin, Ireland to participate in didactic and experiential teaching and learning activities with a cohort of Bachelor of Science in Athletic Therapy and Training students at Dublin City University
International Interdisciplinary Medicine in Panama
Panama | Graduate Health Professions Students
This course is an international interdisciplinary medical mission trip to Panama. We are hoping to have graduate health professions students including PA, PT, OT, AT, and Pharmacy. We will be collaborating with an NGO (Global Brigades) to help support on the ground in country logistics including transportation, lodging, meals, and medical clinical support staff. The leaders have not lead this exact proposed trip to Panama, but both co-leaders have been leaders on other similar interdisciplinary medical mission trips to Nicaragua and Ghana through Shenandoah.
International Business in Barcelona
Spain
This GEL course being offered by the Business School will be in Barcelona, Spain. It will provide an opportunity for you to experience firsthand business operations in varying international settings. The course includes lectures, meetings with distinguished professors, meetings with senior corporate executives, field trips to business organizations and cultural sites, classroom discussions, and assignments. The course has been designed to help you develop skills and perspectives to enable you to get the most out of the international experience. General and specific discussions led by authorities in their fields will enable you to better understand different business and economic views, values, and customs, and these will be integrated into the experience. The course is timely and appropriate as we observe the dynamics of globalization and international diversity.
Exploring Global Health and Policy Development
Switzerland | Graduate Health Professions Students
Students travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA). Prior to and during this trip, students learn how global health policy is shaped, how various health professions work within this interdisciplinary landscape, and explore the diverse cultural regions of Switzerland. When in Switzerland, students get the unique opportunity to see first-hand how policy is discussed and developed in the global landscape by participating in the WHA meetings held at the United Nations. Students will also have an opportunity to visit and meet with other organizations such as the WHO, Doctors without Borders, ICRC and participate in several professional networking opportunities. This is an experiential course utilizing discussion, inquiry and exploration of international health care policy creation.
Oral History Nyaka Grandmother Project
Uganda | All Majors
This GEL trip will offer students the opportunity to conduct oral histories and ethnographic interviews with grandmothers in rural Uganda. These women are part of the Grandmother Program, launched in Uganda in 2007 as part of Jackson Kaguri’s Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project (which also has constructed three schools in the region for orphans). Over 7,000 women are now part of the program, and all have a story to tell. We will collect these fascinating and inspiring stories and record them. In the process, we will increase the visibility of this important program and also help these women preserve their histories.
Two Bridges Catalina Island
California | All Majors
This 1-credit course is designed to introduce students to the structure and function of marine ecosystems with emphasis on coastal ecosystems, such as kelp forests, estuaries, and rocky intertidal ecosystems at Catalina Island in CA. Students will develop an understanding of abiotic and biotic processes and how these relate to the distribution and biology of animals and plants though hands-on learning and experimentation.
Experiencing the Roots of Jazz in New Orleans
New Orleans | Conservatory
The Jazz Education Network Annual Conference is the largest gathering of jazz educators and students in the United States. Prominent jazz artists provide concerts and masterclasses, high school and collegiate educators provide clinics and research presentations, and student ensembles perform. There is a large industry display room with the latest jazz education materials. The Shenandoah Conservatory Student Chapter of the Jazz Education Network is applying to perform, within a clinic provided by Robert Larson regarding Winchester native son John Kirby.
Theatre Design and Production in New York
New York | Conservatory
Trip to New York City to expose Theatre Design and Production students to the professional theatre industry. Primarily designed for Costume Design students, but other TDP students are welcome and would gain a lot from this experience. We plan to see two Broadway shows that are particularly strong in costumes and theatre design, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its Costume Institute, which will have a special exhibit running, visit the Garment District and the fabric stores there, visit professional costume shops such as Parsons-Meares, who builds costumes for Broadway, visit the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Museum (free), and visit vintage clothing stores in Manhattan. We also will connect with alumni from the program who are working in New York.
Diversity, Service, Reflection: Martin Luther King and Us
Washington, D.C. | All Students
This course is based on experiential and contextual learning and fulfills the Domain 5 “Moral Reasoning” requirement. Students will engage and explore the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as they apply to today’s issues January 13-21. During this time we will take part in workshops, trainings and service-learning opportunities in Washington, D.C. and in and around Winchester, VA. The final projects will be tailored to fit the interests, strengths, courses of study, and talents of the students and will be presented during Martin Luther King Week.
GEL 2018 Destinations
Belgium, France, & Spain | All Majors
Belize | Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy students traveled to the Toledo District of Belize, Central America with faculty member, Dr. Jill Boissonnault, PT, PhD. The students visited elementary schools in the district with Dr. Boissonnault and a representative of the Toledo District Ministry of Education (MOE). The DPT students presented a ‘Disability Awareness’ curriculum to the elementary school students.
Croatia | World Saxophone Congress
The World Saxophone Congress is the largest saxophone convention in the world. It meets every three years in a different world capital. 2018’s host city was Zagreb, Croatia, and the host institution is the Academy of Music at the University of Zagreb. This event was a unique opportunity for wind instrumentalists to experience an intensely musical and academic environment while also receiving a valuable world cultural experience.
Cuba | Spanish
England | Theatre
This year, the trip’s focus was on the musicals of the West End. The goal of the trip was to have students to begin thinking about and experiencing the possibilities of musical theatre outside of New York City. Students attended West End musicals and smaller musicals in different venues as well as had workshops with leading industry professionals.
Finland | Education
Over spring break, three faculty members from Shenandoah University’s School of Education & Leadership (SEL) took 19 doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students to Finland to study what is acknowledged as the world’s best educational system for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
READ MORE ABOUT THE 2018 FINLAND TRIP
France | Faith Seeking Justice Christian Leadership Program
Greece | Performing Arts Leadership & Management
The Summer Arts Leadership Institute brings together American and European students for a 10-day intensive program in international and intercultural issues facing future arts leaders. The Institute was hosted at the American University of Greece in Athens and featured discussions with European cultural leaders, four half-day study tours of Athens and a guided day-long tour of Epidaurus and Mycenae.
Guatemala | Physical Therapy
Guatemala | Music Therapy
The group traveled to Xela, Guatemala to work with the Highland Support Project. This GEL trip was also a service-learning Spiritual Life trip — a partnership between the Conservatory and Spiritual Life. Students learned how to teach and lead music classes for Mayan schools in the mountains by using music therapy techniques to engage in make meaning and purpose in the world, as well as practicing their profession in a multicultural context.
Haiti | Physical Therapy
This non-traditional clinical rotation took place in Jacmel, Haiti. The group treated patients in an in-patient setting and also in a school based setting.
Kenya | Physical Therapy
Morocco | Occupational Therapy
OT students visited Casablanca, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakech, and Rabat.
Rwanda & Uganda | Public Health, Education, & Health Professions
Education, health professions and public health students designed and delivered health education to teachers, who could then utilize this training in their classrooms and interact with primary and secondary school students by facilitating health trainings and a selected service project. This course examined the historical and social underpinning of the granny caretaker role within the context of orphaned and vulnerable children. They conducted qualitative interviews using ethnographic methods with the granny caretakers.
South Korea | Sport Management, Business, & Mass Communication to the Olympics
Shenandoah University, in conjunction with the Korean Olympic Committee, volunteered in the operations and execution of the 2018 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Sport Management, Business, and Mass Communications students got to see the Winter Olympics in a unique way that most people will never get to experience and gain valuable knowledge of a major international sporting event. Lessons such as event planning, event management, cultural understanding, marketing, and more were taught to the students through class discussions and this intimate first-hand experience.
SEE MORE OF THE 2018 OLYMPICS TRIP
Switzerland | Nursing & Health Professions
Students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) to learn more about global health policy and explore the diverse cultural regions of Switzerland. Students wrote issues briefs in preparation for the trip, and then, when in Switzerland, saw how policy is discussed and developed in the global landscape.
GEL 2017 Destinations
Belize | Nursing & Public Health
Nursing and Public Health students designed and delivered nutrition and exercise lessons for Mayan schoolchildren in 2017. They also participated in cultural immersion through presentations, workshops and discussions related to healthcare, disease prevention, sustainable agriculture, Belizean culture and traditional healing. They completed a hands-on service project of particular need for a low-resource community in Belize.
Brazil | Nursing
Nursing majors traveled with the school of nursing and the office of spiritual life to Brazil. Students spent a week on the Amazon River providing basic medical care to under resourced communities. The group traveled via boat down the Amazon river providing basic medical care to under-resourced communities. This trip was not only about providing care but also about building bridges between cultures and communities, students had the opportunity to engage individuals, practice their profession, and experience diversity in a service-oriented experience.
England | Theatre
Senior theatre majors traveled to London to be immersed in the rich culture of London and all its theatrical heritage. Activities included 8-10 theatrical performances; visits to historical landmarks such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s, Westminster, and many more. They went on backstage tours and attended workshops at major theatres. They also took day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Greece | Dance
Students interested in exploring dance in an international setting traveled to Athens, Greece. They explored some of the major sites in Athens, as well as took dance classes by artists/teachers Ana Sanchez-Colbert and Marielys Burgos. They participated in site-specific performances around the city of Athens. They also traveled to the island of Ikaria (in there Greek Isles) to take part in week-long contact improvisation workshop led by SU faculty member, Maurice Fraga.
Greece | Arts Management
The Summer Arts Leadership Institute brought together American and European students for a 10-day intensive program in international and intercultural issues facing future arts leaders. The Institute was hosted at the American University of Greece in Athens and featured discussions with European cultural leaders, four half-day study tours of Athens, a guided day-long tour of Epidaurus and Mycenae, attendance at four evening performances in Athens, and even a leadership day at the beach.
Haiti | Nursing, Graduate Health Professions
Students in the health professions experienced the unique healthcare needs of the Haitian population being served by the Community Coalition for Haiti Clinic in Jacmel, Haiti. The interdisciplinary team of students and faculty, including Nursing, OT, PA, and Pharmacy as well as Nurse Midwifery traveled and worked in the clinic in interdisciplinary teams that participated in running three surgical suits, a recovery room, a primary care clinic, pharmacy and rehabilitative care as well as public health outreach.
Haiti | Physical Therapy
This non-traditional clinical rotation took place in Jacmel, Haiti. Our group will treated patients in an in-patient setting and also in a school based setting. Visits to rural homes and schools took place. Community Coalition for Haiti is the host organization and the group will be exposed to serial casting, equipment fabrication, and Inter professional interactions with nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and teachers.
Japan | Music Therapy
Music Therapy students attended the 15th World Congress of Music Therapy conference in Tsukuba, Japan. Tsukuba is located in the northern Kanto region of Japan. The group completed cultural excursions and experiences that focused on the arts, historical, and geographical points of interest. The group participated in both the student portion and regular proceedings of the music therapy conference. Each student focused on one clinical population to learn about at the conference.
New Zealand | Sport Management
Students explored sports management and marketing in New Zealand. Sport management as a discipline continues to grow in Oceania, including New Zealand, across a broad spectrum of sports. The Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand is a leader in international scholarship around sport and is considered one of the premier sport organizations in the world. New Zealand has a wide array of sports, from rugby to outdoor/adventure sports, that are unparalleled in the rest of the world.
Nicaragua | Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, & Physician Assistant Studies
This was the 11th annual medical mission trip to Leon, Nicaragua. The inter-professional team consisting of community physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacy faculty, as well as students, embarked on a trip to provide medical care to those in need. The emphasis of the trip was General Medicine, Women’s Health, and Oral Health.
Scotland | All Majors
Students of all majors interested in environmental and cultural studies traveled to Scotland. They visited a variety of locations in Scotland. They examined Scottish Culture (particularly the Highlands) and Climate Change in Scotland and united the two topics through environmental experiential examples. They researching peat bogs and discussed their cultural use as a fuel source and how that fuel impacts the modern environment and climate change.
Spain | MBA & International Business
The course included lectures, meetings with distinguished professors, meetings with senior corporate executives, field trips to business organizations and cultural sites, classroom discussions, and assignments. General and specific discussions led by authorities in their fields enabled students to better understand different business and economic views, values, and customs.
Switzerland | Graduate Health Professions
Students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) to learn more about global health policy and explore the diverse cultural regions of Switzerland. Students wrote issues briefs in preparation for the trip, and then, when in Switzerland, saw how policy is discussed and developed in the global landscape.
GEL 2016 Destinations
Austria | Vocal Performance
Christmas in Mozart’s Backyard was a course designed especially for members of Cantus Singers in 2016. In addition to performing in historical spaces, students investigated the life and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the lens of his early childhood years, the formative years, and researched how his religious beliefs influenced his compositional style. Students experienced the social and cultural aspects of Mozart’s life in Salzburg.
Brazil | International Business & Entrepreneurship
England | Theatre
Senior theatre majors traveled to London to be immersed in the rich culture of London and all its theatrical heritage. Activities included 8-10 theatrical performances; visits to historical landmarks such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s, Westminster, and many more. They went on backstage tours and attended workshops at major theatres. They also took day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Fiji | Psychology
Those who journeyed to Fiji used their trip to study happiness in a place often called the happiest on earth. Psychology students traveled to Figi with Scott King | sking4@su.edu in 2016.
“Happiness is a growing field of study in psychology and one that Shenandoah hasn’t had in our psychology curriculum, so I built a course around the study of happiness, and if/why Fiji is indeed the happiest place on Earth,” said Associate Professor of Psychology Scott King, Ph.D.
Shenandoah students spent time with both students at Fiji National University and people living in small village on Kioa Island. “My most memorable part of the trip was the moment I learned why they were so happy,” said Lora-Maria Koytcheva ’19. “I spoke with various families, and people throughout Fiji, and they all equally expressed their love for their country. Studying their answers, I discovered that it is because these people are content with their lives and what they have. Being there really showed me that these people are happy with what they have, are surrounded by family, and are very close with their religion. They are not so much worried about competing with others. Especially in the villages, families wake up every day smiling and surrounded by love – you can really feel the happiness in the atmosphere wherever you are in Fiji! They go about their daily tasks, but they do it on Fiji time – so it will get done whenever it gets done! No rush, no deadlines to meet… no stress.”
A perspective on history, an understanding of special education in another nation, an intimate view of global health policymaking and an immersion in a renowned culture of happiness more than half a world away – not bad for a little more than a week of travel and some stateside preparation.
Lora-Maria Koytcheva | Psychology, ’19
My most memorable part of the GEL trip to Fiji titled “Fiji: The Happiest Place on Earth?” was the moment I learned why the people were so happy. I spoke with various families, and people throughout Fiji, and they all equally expressed their love for their country. Studying their answers, I discovered that it is because these people are content with their lives and what they have. Being there really showed me that these people are happy with what they have, are surrounded by family, and are very close with their religion. They are not so much worried about competing with others. Especially in the villages, families wake up every day smiling and surrounded by love – you can really feel the happiness in the atmosphere wherever you are in Fiji! They go about their daily tasks, but they do it on Fiji time – so it will get done whenever it gets done! No rush, no deadlines to meet… no stress.”
Guatemala | Music Therapy
Nicaragua | Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, & Physician Assistant Studies
This was the 10th annual medical mission trip to Leon, Nicaragua. The inter-professional team consisting of community physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacy faculty, as well as students, embarked on a trip to provide medical care to those in need. The emphasis of the trip was General Medicine, Women’s Health, and Oral Health.
Poland | Special Education
GEL-Poland was a special topics course that addressed the social and cultural factors that influence or determine the ways people with disabilities are regarded within society in 2016. Students explored the political, economic reforms and sociocultural contexts that promote the global inclusion of persons with disabilities, but in particular, aspects of Polish society.
Amanda Kicker | Biology & Secondary Education, ’18
GEL Poland was the best experience of my life! The trip’s focus was on learning about about how special education services are delivered in Poland now that the country has signed on to the U.N.’s Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Dr. Painter made sure that each of the attendees learned something about their specific field whether it be nursing or history related,” Kicker said. I recently changed my major and this trip made me sure of my decision to study education. Not only did we travel to three different schools working towards inclusion, but we traveled to Krakow to Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. The history in a book or in a movie is nothing compared to walking where those prisoners walked.”
Spain | MBA & International Business
The course included lectures, meetings with distinguished professors, meetings with senior corporate executives, field trips to business organizations and cultural sites, classroom discussions, and assignments. General and specific discussions led by authorities in their fields enabled students to better understand different business and economic views, values, and customs.
Switzerland | Nursing
Students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) to learn more about global health policy and explore the diverse cultural regions of Switzerland. Students wrote issues briefs in preparation for the trip, and then, when in Switzerland, saw how policy is discussed and developed in the global landscape.
Judith Pascarella | Physician Assistant Studies, ’17
GEL Switzerland represented a course change for me in my life and career, and I found attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) 69 particularly humbling. I learned a great deal about how global health leaders interact and the processes that govern change. I had so many meaningful experiences in this trip that allowed me to not only network with global health leaders, but also those individuals on the forefront who are making the changes discussed at the highest levels on the international stage. At the conclusion of the trip, the strongest take-away for me was that education, preventative health, secure systems, government support, and funding are the keys to success in global health initiatives. It is essential to be proactive rather than reactive. As the message spreads, the hope is that public health will become a natural part of daily governance rather than an afterthought. It felt like a lot of progress was made this year, and it was an unforgettable honor to be invited to attend history in the making.”
GEL 2015
Belize | Nursing & Public Health
Nursing and Public Health students designed and delivered nutrition and exercise lessons for Mayan schoolchildren in 2017. They also participated in cultural immersion through presentations, workshops and discussions related to healthcare, disease prevention, sustainable agriculture, Belizean culture and traditional healing. They completed a hands-on service project of particular need for a low-resource community in Belize.
Brazil | International Business & Entrepreneurship
Brazil | Nursing
Nursing majors traveled with the school of nursing and the office of spiritual life to Brazil. Students spent a week on the Amazon River providing basic medical care to under resourced communities. The group traveled via boat down the Amazon river providing basic medical care to under-resourced communities. This trip was not only about providing care but also about building bridges between cultures and communities, students had the opportunity to engage individuals, practice their profession, and experience diversity in a service-oriented experience.
England | Theatre
Senior theatre majors traveled to London to be immersed in the rich culture of London and all its theatrical heritage. Activities included 8-10 theatrical performances; visits to historical landmarks such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s, Westminster, and many more. They went on backstage tours and attended workshops at major theatres. They also took day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Nicaragua | Occupational Therapy
Poland | Special Education
GEL-Poland was a special topics course that addressed the social and cultural factors that influence or determine the ways people with disabilities are regarded within society in 2016. Students explored the political, economic reforms and sociocultural contexts that promote the global inclusion of persons with disabilities, but in particular, aspects of Polish society.
Spain | MBA & International Business
The course included lectures, meetings with distinguished professors, meetings with senior corporate executives, field trips to business organizations and cultural sites, classroom discussions, and assignments. General and specific discussions led by authorities in their fields enabled students to better understand different business and economic views, values, and customs.
Switzerland | Nursing
Students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) to learn more about global health policy and explore the diverse cultural regions of Switzerland. Students wrote issues briefs in preparation for the trip, and then, when in Switzerland, saw how policy is discussed and developed in the global landscape.
GEL 2014
Austria | Music Therapy
England | Theatre
Senior theatre majors traveled to London to be immersed in the rich culture of London and all its theatrical heritage. Activities included 8-10 theatrical performances; visits to historical landmarks such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s, Westminster, and many more. They went on backstage tours and attended workshops at major theatres. They also took day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
France | MBA & International Business
Poland | Special Education
GEL-Poland was a special topics course that addressed the social and cultural factors that influence or determine the ways people with disabilities are regarded within society in 2016. Students explored the political, economic reforms and sociocultural contexts that promote the global inclusion of persons with disabilities, but in particular, aspects of Polish society.
GEL 2013
Austria | Music Therapy
Belize | Nursing & Public Health
Nursing and Public Health students designed and delivered nutrition and exercise lessons for Mayan schoolchildren in 2017. They also participated in cultural immersion through presentations, workshops and discussions related to healthcare, disease prevention, sustainable agriculture, Belizean culture and traditional healing. They completed a hands-on service project of particular need for a low-resource community in Belize.
Brazil | Nursing
Nursing majors traveled with the school of nursing and the office of spiritual life to Brazil. Students spent a week on the Amazon River providing basic medical care to under resourced communities. The group traveled via boat down the Amazon river providing basic medical care to under-resourced communities. This trip was not only about providing care but also about building bridges between cultures and communities, students had the opportunity to engage individuals, practice their profession, and experience diversity in a service-oriented experience.
England | Theatre
Senior theatre majors traveled to London to be immersed in the rich culture of London and all its theatrical heritage. Activities included 8-10 theatrical performances; visits to historical landmarks such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s, Westminster, and many more. They went on backstage tours and attended workshops at major theatres. They also took day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
England | Business
Business student traveled to England to study in a two-week program on Emerging Global Economic Leadership at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University. The program consisted of lectures by Oxford scholars, a trip to the birthplace of the industrial revolution, an excursion to a Jaguar manufacturing plant, an information meeting at the London offices of Deloitte as well as Barclays, a visit to Stratford upon Avon to see MacBeth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and a weekend of sight-seeing in London. Students were in residence at one of the most historical campuses of Oxford – Magdalen College – and took formal meals at the high table.
France | MBA & International Business
Guatemala | Nursing
Ireland | Nursing
Peru | Outdoor Leadership & Education
Poland | Special Education
GEL-Poland was a special topics course that addressed the social and cultural factors that influence or determine the ways people with disabilities are regarded within society in 2016. Students explored the political, economic reforms and sociocultural contexts that promote the global inclusion of persons with disabilities, but in particular, aspects of Polish society.
Russia | Mass Communications
Spain | MBA & International Business
The course included lectures, meetings with distinguished professors, meetings with senior corporate executives, field trips to business organizations and cultural sites, classroom discussions, and assignments. General and specific discussions led by authorities in their fields enabled students to better understand different business and economic views, values, and customs.
GEL 2012
Belize | International Business
Cuba | Spanish
England | Theatre
Senior theatre majors traveled to London to be immersed in the rich culture of London and all its theatrical heritage. Activities included 8-10 theatrical performances; visits to historical landmarks such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s, Westminster, and many more. They went on backstage tours and attended workshops at major theatres. They also took day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Japan | Music Therapy
Israel | Health Professions
Spain | MBA & International Business
The course included lectures, meetings with distinguished professors, meetings with senior corporate executives, field trips to business organizations and cultural sites, classroom discussions, and assignments. General and specific discussions led by authorities in their fields enabled students to better understand different business and economic views, values, and customs.
Tanzania | Nursing
GEL 2011
Belize | International Business
England | Business
Business student traveled to England to study in a two-week program on Emerging Global Economic Leadership at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University. The program consisted of lectures by Oxford scholars, a trip to the birthplace of the industrial revolution, an excursion to a Jaguar manufacturing plant, an information meeting at the London offices of Deloitte as well as Barclays, a visit to Stratford upon Avon to see MacBeth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and a weekend of sight-seeing in London. Students were in residence at one of the most historical campuses of Oxford – Magdalen College – and took formal meals at the high table.
England | Dance
Panama | Business
Spain | Dance
Taiwan | Occupational Therapy
GEL 2010
Argentina | Spanish
Spanish students traveled to Rosario, Argentina’s third largest city, to participate in UCEL’s Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program. The three-week program was unique opportunity to earn three Spanish language credits while immersing oneself in Argentine culture. Living with a host family, attending classes and joining in many activities in Rosario, each participant made new friends and adapted to the local lifestyle while improving Spanish language skills and fulfilling academic course requirements.
England | Business
Business student traveled to England to study in a two-week program on Emerging Global Economic Leadership at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University. The program consisted of lectures by Oxford scholars, a trip to the birthplace of the industrial revolution, an excursion to a Jaguar manufacturing plant, an information meeting at the London offices of Deloitte as well as Barclays, a visit to Stratford upon Avon to see MacBeth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and a weekend of sight-seeing in London. Students were in residence at one of the most historical campuses of Oxford – Magdalen College – and took formal meals at the high table.
India | Business
Macedonia | Dance
Taiwan | Physician Assistant Studies
Thailand | Nursing
GEL 2009
Argentina | Spanish
Spanish students traveled to Rosario, Argentina’s third largest city, to participate in UCEL’s Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program. The three-week program was unique opportunity to earn three Spanish language credits while immersing oneself in Argentine culture. Living with a host family, attending classes and joining in many activities in Rosario, each participant made new friends and adapted to the local lifestyle while improving Spanish language skills and fulfilling academic course requirements.
Australia | Business & Arts Management
China | Business
England | Business
Business student traveled to England to study in a two-week program on Emerging Global Economic Leadership at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University. The program consisted of lectures by Oxford scholars, a trip to the birthplace of the industrial revolution, an excursion to a Jaguar manufacturing plant, an information meeting at the London offices of Deloitte as well as Barclays, a visit to Stratford upon Avon to see MacBeth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and a weekend of sight-seeing in London. Students were in residence at one of the most historical campuses of Oxford – Magdalen College – and took formal meals at the high table.
Spain | Dance
Taiwan | Occupational Therapy
GEL 2007
Argentina | Spanish
Spanish students traveled to Rosario, Argentina’s third largest city, to participate in UCEL’s Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program. The three-week program was unique opportunity to earn three Spanish language credits while immersing oneself in Argentine culture. Living with a host family, attending classes and joining in many activities in Rosario, each participant made new friends and adapted to the local lifestyle while improving Spanish language skills and fulfilling academic course requirements.
China | MBA
Ireland | Dance
Italy | Business
Spain | Dance
Thailand | Nursing
GEL 2006
Argentina | Spanish
Spanish students traveled to Rosario, Argentina’s third largest city, to participate in UCEL’s Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program. The three-week program was unique opportunity to earn three Spanish language credits while immersing oneself in Argentine culture. Living with a host family, attending classes and joining in many activities in Rosario, each participant made new friends and adapted to the local lifestyle while improving Spanish language skills and fulfilling academic course requirements.
Argentina | Business
China | MBA
England | Nursing & Graduate Health Professions
Ireland | Nursing & Graduate Health Professions
Poland | Special Education
GEL-Poland was a special topics course that addressed the social and cultural factors that influence or determine the ways people with disabilities are regarded within society in 2016. Students explored the political, economic reforms and sociocultural contexts that promote the global inclusion of persons with disabilities, but in particular, aspects of Polish society.
