Want to spend the summer in Spain? Don't we all! While that is certainly an option, it is not at all necessary!
If you choose to fulfill the study abroad/internship option by traveling, great! There are a ton of experiences you can do that won't take you out of your life for an extended amount of time.
Embedded options
Several courses offer what is called "embedded travel" experiences. These are courses that are offered online with an embedded travel component at some point in the semester (typically spring or fall break). Often the travel portion of the course is only one week in length, and then students return home to continue the coursework online.
Penn State Brandywine
Penn State Brandywine regularly offers Gen Ed courses that contain this type of embedded travel experience. Enrolling in a Gen Ed that also has a travel component will fulfill two of your degree requirements at once! If you were to enroll in the course and successfully complete the associated coursework, including the travel, you would fulfill both a Gen Ed requirement (GH, GS, US, IL) and the ESP study abroad/internship requirement. You can learn more about what's offered through Global Programs.
Other embedded options
You can find more courses that offer an embedded travel component by visiting the Penn State Global Programs Office website and entering your search parameters on the Programs Search page. Just be sure to clarify that the coursework before/after the trip is offered online!
The GREEN Program
We have had a few students travel with The Global Renewable Energy Education Network (GREEN) Program, otherwise known as TGP. TGP is a great fit for ESP students because their travel education programs focus on issues related to energy, sustainability, and policy. TGP is constantly opening up new and exciting opportunities in new places that have unique energy and sustainability opportunities or challenges. They typically offer trips to:
- Iceland
- Peru
- Jamaica (new!)
Each trip is 8-10 days in length and is intensely focused on learning about the culture and surroundings as well as energy and sustainability. They do a great job of mixing up 50 hours of educational programming with adventurous activities such as hiking, zip lining, white water rafting, snorkeling, 4x4 excursions, etc.
A TGP program is not credit-bearing. So, if you're interested in pursuing a TGP experience, first contact Brandi Robinson in order to discuss how you'll earn credit for your travel. So, in short, a TGP trip, while amazing is less of a "value" than one of the embedded type of experiences discussed previously.
Notes
- There are scholarships available for TGP trips:
- Students are eligible for aid through the Education Abroad office! If you are Pell eligible, you may automatically be eligible for some funding towards a study abroad experience from the Education Abroad office.
- Ask TGP about scholarships
- Get in touch with Karen Marosi, the Engagement Coordinator the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences to see if there are other available, not listed here.
Other study abroad options
We recognize that you're all different, and maybe there are some of you that have the ability and desire to study away for an entire semester! If that's the case, great! Penn State Global Programs offer a host of amazing opportunities all over the world. We have had students that were able, study entire semesters in Costa Rica, Germany, etc. If you find a program that you're interested in, but you aren't sure how that would work with your ESP degree requirements, please reach out to Brandi Robinson (bjn151@psu.edu) so that she can help you get things figured out!