FAQs about International Learning Opportunities and Faculty-Led Trips
1. How can I find out about short or long-term international opportunities available through WSU or the College of Nursing?
Contact Carol Allen, International Programs Coordinator
at the College of Nursing, carola@wsu.edu for
information on all international opportunities and to
plan for future trips. Check the International Learning
Opportunities section on the College of Nursing web
site regularly as all short term faculty-led trips will
be listed here. For study-abroad courses during the
regular semester or summer contact the Study Abroad
staff at WSU International Programs.
2. Can I participate in semester long study abroad while in the nursing program?
You can do this in an English speaking country, but it
requires careful early planning and often results in
lengthening your time to the degree since programs
cluster courses differently. If you are considering
this please contact Carol Allen as soon as possible,
preferably prior to entering the college of
nursing.
3. Can I get credit for participating in a health care opportunity overseas with a service learning abroad program, NGO, or church group?
Undergraduate students: You may be able to get academic
credit for these activities by registering for a 499
Independent Study. Careful planning is essential
especially if you want to be gone for a short time
during the regular semester. Please contact the
international programs coordinator at least one whole
semester prior to your planned participation.
Students in the RN-BSN program may be able to negotiate
partial or full credit for N465 or N495 for
international experiences. Talk to the faculty before
you sign up for the experience to determine whether
credit can be given and how much.
Graduate Students: You may be able negotiate with your
faculty for clinical hours or other credit depending on
the track you are enrolled in. Contact the course or
lead faculty.
4. I speak only English can I still go on a short-term service learning opportunity?
Yes, most opportunities require only English. Spanish
is an asset in Peru and is required for undergraduate
students on the Ecuador and Honduras trips. Read
information concerning the experience you wish to
participate in carefully to determine language
requirements.
5. I took Spanish (or another language) in high school but I am rusty and don’t know any medical terms in the language. How can I improve my language skills?
a. Take a class focusing on the language of your
choice. Medical Spanish or conversational Spanish
classes can often be found at the community college if
there is not a WSU class you can enroll in.
b. Watch movies, listen to radio, or TV programs,
and/or read magazines, books, or web sites in the
language of your choice.
c. Buy a CD language program and listen while you
drive.
d. Look for a conversation partner and practice
together. A good source for conversation partners are
ESL programs at local colleges or universities or on
your WSU campus or find a student who is a native
speaker and have coffee once a week.
e. Practice at every opportunity and don't worry about
making mistakes. I once told my roommate who spoke only
Spanish that her head was falling off!!! She laughed, I
laughed and I learned.
f. Even if you are a fluent speaker you will often need
a local interpreter to assist you with variations in
dialect and meanings.
6. What is the average cost of a short-term learning opportunity?
Costs vary widely depending on the length of the
program or trip, the location, and the food and housing
costs. Transportation (airfare) is usually the greatest
cost and airfares are rising. Look at the program you
are most interested in for specific information, Costs
for shopping, additional meals, and sightseeing side
trips are additional.
7. Are there scholarships, loans or fundraising opportunities available to help with the cost?
a. You can write travel costs into your financial aid
request if you plan in advance and register for at
least 6 summer credits.
b. Some loans and scholarships are available through
WSU International Programs as well as from various
groups that sponsor international learning
opportunities. We hope someday to have an ICN
international Travel Scholarship.
c. Students have held garage sales, bake sales, car
washes, etc to raise money. Other students have raised
money through their churches. More suggestions can be
found on the International Volunteer Programs
Organization web site
8. What semester do I have to be in to apply for a global learning opportunity?
a. You may apply during any semester after your first
semester of clinical. Graduate students and RN-BSN
students may apply at any time. Trip organizers will
identify the level of nursing skills required for each
trip. On some trips students from a variety of program
levels will be included on others only students who
have completed specified courses will be able to
participate.
b. We recommend that you talk to Carol Allen (carola@wsu.edu or
509-324-7262), the international programs coordinator
as soon as you know you want to participate in an
international experience even if you don't know which
one you want to try. Early preparation helps to make a
better learning experience.
9. What measures are in place to ensure my safety?
a. Faculty arranging trips consider safety when
developing programs in new locations and International
Programs staff closely monitor US State Department
Travel Advisories and news reports prior to and during
trips.
b. You are insured through WSU international programs
office (this involves a fee of $125 .00 for faculty led
programs). The insurance covers medical expenses and
evacuation costs if needed for medical reasons. In
addition International Programs registers all
student/faculty travelers with the US Embassy in the
destination country, and provides constant monitoring
of events that might pose a risk to travelers.
c. Although all efforts are made to assure student and
faculty safety, travelers are reminded that any place
in the world can become unsafe due a medical or natural
disaster, social unrest, or political upheaval. Every
effort will be made to protect student travelers but no
one can guarantee absolute safety.