International Elective. 0 Credit Hours

Catalog description

Students will work with the course director and Assistant Director of Global Health to identify an appropriate international elective site, using established sites/programs or one that the student discovers on their own. All rotations must be vetted and approved by the course director and will adhere to a community service-learning model that is a structured educational experience combining community service with preparation and reflection. Students are expected to help shape the learning experience around community-identified needs and advance insight related to the context in which service is provided, the connection between service and academic coursework, and students' roles as citizens and professionals. Students will spend 4 weeks living and working at an international service site. Sites may allow for a range of experiences, such as participating in patient care, conducting clinical or public health research, and/or participating in a language immersion program. There may also be opportunities for patient education and emphasis on efforts of local empowerment, aiming to build up the communities in a sustainable way. Regardless of the focus, all sites must be supervised by qualified health care providers. Students are encouraged to integrate themselves into the health care delivery system, to explore community needs that they could address, and when possible, to strive to make an impact through community education, home visits, and research. Reflection essays serve as a way to process experiences, including clinical cases, new perspectives gained, and analysis of health care disparities, and strategies for the overcoming poverty-related health problems. Students are encouraged to share their experiences upon return through a formal presentation.