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Penn State Brandywine

International Programs

Study abroad with Penn State Brandywine.

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

* A pdf Reader is required to view individual course information.

Attention Brandywine students!  Apply for the International Studies Award.

Travel Abroad with Penn State Brandywine

Week-long trips abroad, with accompanying courses, were introduced at Penn State Brandywine in 1996. The program was designed with a threefold purpose:

  • To broaden a student's world view and cultural horizons to meet new job market demands;
  • To support the University's goal of students engaging in a significant international experience as part of their undergraduate years; and
  • To accommodate students' limited financial resources and time constraints.

The courses are scheduled during semester breaks, and students may take up to two courses, for six general education credits, usually from three or more offered. The timing and length of the excursions make them particularly convenient for non-traditional students. For traditional students, the trips provide a testing ground for Penn State's longer international education courses.

Trip organizers try to keep the costs for flight, hotel, and breakfast under $1300. There are optional excursions available at extra cost, but students can do most of their academic work using low cost public transportation. Off-season travel keeps costs down and also provides opportunities to participate in local celebrations, such as Epiphany in Spain, with fewer tourists present than during peak travel times.

While many experiences are enhanced by familiarity with the host country's language, all courses are in English. Multilingual teachers are available to assist students. Once abroad, students usually form small groups that may function independently. Participants experience the benefits of working in a small, spontaneous learning group, and discover the advantages of teamwork that accommodates individual learning styles. The environment facilitates informal student/faculty interaction; interdisciplinary faculty cooperation is encouraged.

Participants range in age from 18 to 80. Some are seasoned travelers; others are making their first trip overseas. Students from other Penn State campuses take the courses, as do students from other universities.

Faculty from various disciplines take advantage of the host country's museums and historic sites in their course offerings.

As a result of their initial week-long introduction to Europe, students have changed their majors to language arts, scheduled additional foreign travel on their own, and report that the international experience on their resumes proves to be of great interest to prospective employers.

For more information, please contact Gail Wray at gbw1@psu.edu.

 

Credit courses- Generally, at least one third of the course work must be completed prior to the trip, one third of the course work completed during the trip, and one third of the course work completed after the trip. Note that under-enrolled classes may be canceled and students will be notified.

 

Faculty, family, and friends are welcome to travel for no credit. Contact Celestial Voyagers directly to make travel arrangements.

Register in person in Main 105 or by e-mail to Registrar’s Office, Lisa Krol (lvm4@psu.edu, 610-892-1404) if you are not a Brandywine Campus student. Courses are listed as “Closed.”

Students wishing to register for six credits (two courses) on a trip must first have the approval of both instructors. (Because of course requirements on the trip, it is not always physically possible to fulfill the on-site requirements of two courses.) Once the student has the approval of the two instructors, the student must also obtain the approval of his/her academic adviser and the Director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Paul J. deGategno (bw-daa@psu.edu). Students must also have the approval of the Director of Academic Affairs if adding a trip course puts their credit level above 18 credits.

For information about travel arrangements, contact Celestial Voyagers at 1-800 651-6262 or web site http://celestialvoyagers.com/.

For academic information contact instructors of courses or Gail Wray at 610-892-1472 (gbw1@psu.edu). Price includes airfare and hotel double or triple occupancy. See trip details.

Scholarship Opportunities

Penn State Brandywine Students only:
Penn State Brandywine offers a “travel expense reduction” scholarship to Brandywine students who enroll in courses offered on our trips. Apply for the International Studies Award. 

All Penn State Students:
The Education Abroad website contains information on a wide variety of scholarship opportunities for Penn State students.

You will find the Guide to Education Abroad Scholarships and University Office of International Programs Scholarships on this website.  It contains information and links to several scholarships for which Penn State Brandywine students may be eligible.  Some of these scholarships are described below, but there may be others for which you are qualified.

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Education Abroad Scholarship
This scholarship provides recognition and financial incentive to undergraduate and graduate students from Penn State who are enrolled or planning to enroll in officially recognized short-term, faculty-led international programs. These programs are embedded as an add-on or supplement to a semester-length residential course, for which participating students earn credit. Programs usually last from a few days up to a number of weeks. All such programs must involve at least one Penn State faculty leader.

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Education Abroad Scholarship

Penn State Grant in Aid
The International Programs (IP) office offers named scholarships and need-based grant-in-aid to qualified students participating in Education Abroad approved international programs. Students must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid. Awards are made during each of the three semesters during the academic year.

Penn State Grant in Aid

Penn State Diversity Grant in Aid 
The International Programs (IP) office offers diversity grants-in-aid to qualified ethnic minority and/or disabled students participating in Education Abroad (EA) approved programs. Funding for these grants is made available through the University's Equal Opportunity Planning Committee. IP contributes additional funding and staff resources to this endeavor as part of its commitment to give members of under-represented groups greater access to educational abroad opportunities. Eligible students are members of an ethnic minority group or have a documented disability (covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990). Students must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid.

Diversity Grant-in-Aid Application (DGIA) 

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Support Grant available to members and non-members.
http://www.phikappaphi.org/Web/Scholarships/studyabroad.html

The Gilman International Scholarship Program for U.S. citizens receiving Pell Grants.

http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/index.html

Penn State Whole World Scholarship for Penn State undergrads on Penn State  programs in non-traditional locations.

Penn State Whole World Scholarship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Easy Steps for Travel Abroad at Penn State Brandywine

1. Review the list of destinations and courses offered on trips for the academic year on the campus website:  http://www.bw.psu.edu/Academics/intlprograms.htm or view the hard copy available in Vairo Library, Room 129 or contact Gail Wray at gbw1@psu.edu. Don’t Forget To Get Your Passport!

2. Choose a destination and courses (or courses – up to 6 credits) and contact the listed faculty member for syllabus details and any academic questions. Coursework will be  completed as follows:  1/3 prior to the trip, 1/3 during the trip and 1/3 after the completion  of the trip.   NOTE:  You do not have to take a course to travel on most trips, and  non- Penn State students, friends and family may travel as well. Any non-Penn State student  wishing to receive credit must register and pay Penn State tuition.

3. Register for the COURSE  in person in the Registrar’s Office (105 Main Building).  If you are not a student at Penn State Brandywine, contact Lisa Krol (lvm4@psu.edu, 610-892-1404) to register. NOTE:  If enrolling in a trip course brings you over 18 credits for the semester or if you intend to take two courses (6 credits) on a trip, you must have your academic advisor  contact Dr. Paul J. deGategno (bw-daa@psu.edu) to approve the “overload.”

4. Register for the TRIP itself by contacting Celestial Voyagers (1-800-651-6262) or via their website:  http://www.celestialvoyagers.com/.  They can answer all questions regarding the travel itself, hotels, itineraries, flights. Note: Penn State requires travel insurance and emergency contact information for participating students.

5. Send deposit and final payment to Celestial Voyagers by dates specified on the trip brochure and Celestial Voyager website.   NOTE:  Late penalties can apply.

6. Begin the independent work portion of the course (1/3 of the total course work should be completed before travel begins) and be in regular contact with the course instructor.  If possible, attend scheduled information sessions for general questions and advice.

7. Pick up tickets and submit pre-trip work on date designated for each trip.  NOTE: Late work will not receive full credit. If you are unable to pick up your tickets, you make arrangements with Celestial Voyagers prior to this date.

8. Go on the trip and complete assignments required during the trip.

9. Complete and submit all required coursework by the final due date indicated on the syllabus

10. Travel Again!  Earn the 18 credits required for the International Studies Minor!

 

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