Description

Learn first-hand the cultural, economic and system perspectives regarding the Irish social welfare system as it relates to Irish families at risk, in the Republic of Ireland's three largest cities.

Highlights

Ireland (3 parts)
The Social Welfare in Ireland program will begin and end in Dublin, Ireland's capital and largest city. The group then moves on to Galway, the Republic's third-largest city, known as Ireland's cultural heart, and a gateway to the Connemara and the Galway Gaeltacht. After Galway the group travels to Cork, the Republic's second-largest city and 2005 European Capital of Culture, before returning to Dublin.

Program Director
Steve Kapp, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the School of Social Welfare will be the faculty director of this program. Last summer, he met with faculty and staff at different schools in Ireland to begin to put the program together. He teaches SW 220 (Intro), research courses and evaluation courses in the School. Both his scholarship and teaching focuses on his experience/interest in agency-based evaluation of family services.

Academic Program
The focus of the program is services to families at risk. The deilvery of these services will be examined through the unique lens provided by the cultural, economic and system perspectives in place in Ireland. Towards this end, the program participants will meet with faculty, agency staff and service recipients in three locations: Galway (National University Galway); Cork (University College Cork); and Dublin (University College Dublin). The comparisons across these locations and the US will create an exciting forum for cross-cultural analysis and discussion of these vital services.

Accommodations
Students will be housed in university-owned student apartments at University College Dublin's campus, University College Cork's Castlewhite student apartments, and Corrib Village student apartments just north of the National University of Ireland Galway campus. Students will be housed in single occupancy bedrooms, with access to kitchens in each apartment.

Credit
Three hours of credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program. Undergraduate students will be enrolled in SW 560: Topics in Social Welfare: Ireland. MSW students will be enrolled in SW 855 Studies: Ireland. Ph.D. Students will be enrolled in SW 955 Doctoral Studies: Ireland.

* Pre-Social Work and BSW students can use the course towards a general education requirement or as elective credit.
* 1st year MSW students can enroll in this course even before they have completed all foundation level requirements and apply the credit towards advanced level coursework.
* MSW students can use this course towards the MACRO elective in the Clinical Concentration or towards the Advanced Social Administration selective for the SWAAP Concentration.
* Ph.D. students can use the course as elective credit.

Social work students should contact Dr. Steve Kapp in the School of Social Welfare for more information. Students from other KU majors or universities should contact their academic advisor for information about how this might meet requirements.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• Social Work

Cost in US$:

Experience Required

yes

Eligibility Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a GPA petition).

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available

Financial Aid KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program. Limited KU Study Abroad supplemental scholarships are available to KU degree seeking students. Applications are available online. The scholarship application deadline is March 1 for Summer programs. Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions. Social Welfare Study Abroad Scholarships The Dean of the School of Social Welfare has scholarships available for students in the School. To apply, please submit a one page statement which explains the connections/contributions that your study abroad program will make to your social work education. Submit the statement to Mary Ellen Kondrat, Dean of the School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS by March 1st. Application Procedures Final Application Deadline: March 1. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript

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