Social Policy Study Abroad Programs

I have had the best most life changing time in Cork, Ireland. The people I have met and the things I have done would not been possible without USAC’s study abroad program. I have loved every minute of my program and would recommend anyone considering studying abroad should just go for.

I cannot recommend this program enough. For anyone deciding between this program and another, I will say that this program provides opportunities for community, connection, and exploration of yourself and your interests, that I doubt you can find anywhere else. The program staff is incredible. The professors become like family. They are so warm and welcoming, and provide overwhelming support when any challenge arises. They are also primarily concerned with students learning and growing, so you get to have a learning experience where you can truly focus on following your interests and passions rather than just worrying about your grades. The curriculum in Delhi is a combination of language, lectures, and visits with NGOs and other groups. The combination of courses basically provides an education in the basics of public health, as well as public health issues specific to women and gender and sexuality minorities, and learning about how to conduct fieldwork. The lectures are interactive and you have the opportunity to learn specifically about your interests, whether they are more related to culture, community/public health, women and children, or queer issues. The combination of issues that are explored and the media through which they are explored- lectures, visits, and excursions- mean that you get a real understanding of the cultural, social, and political nuances generally and as they relate to public health. Also, because there are so many field visits and excursions that are based in connecting with community groups, you get the opportunity to really connect with local people who you share interests with. Many times throughout the program students would find ourselves talking with lecturers or visit hosts outside of class, looking to go deeper into topics or just talk about our lives or local culture. Many of them are such unique and courageous agents of change, and it was really exciting that SIT provided the opportunity to connect with so many incredible and progressive people. The excursions and ISP also provide the chance to travel around the country in a way that you would never get to experience by traveling alone. By going to different locations for the purpose of meeting with organizations or groups, Visit hosts often brought us around outside of meetings, so we got to explore with locals, and be part of their communities. Outside of having Delhi as a base location, I spent time in at least 8 different cities and towns as part of SIT. The ISP also provides the opportunity to dive deep into the area of your passion in anything you choose within the realm of health or gender/sexuality. I know that every year there are a number of students who return to India after this program because they have developed such a connection to the place and to the work that they have done. I highly recommend this program. It changed my worldview and the way I think about the impact I want to have, and how to go about it — not simply in the sense of having been exposed to a very different culture and environment, but even more because of the people I interacted with, and the nuances of the cultural context that I was pushed to grapple with, as a result of this program.