Social Work Abroad

PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS

This page offers suggestions of programs that may be a good fit for social work majors. Social work students interested in studying abroad should aim to do so in their sophomore year (summer or semester), and should aim to complete general education credits (Issues and Foundations) or minor requirements. Students already accepted into the social work program are eligible to apply for the GVSU faculty-led program. Social work majors are not limited to these programs or locations, the Padnos International Center is happy to help students find study abroad programs that meet their specific requirements or desired location.

FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS

Country	Program	Available Courses
Ghana	Social Work	UNDERGRADUATE: SW 354: International Service (3 credits) Fulfills General Education Global Perspectives requirement. Fulfills (1) General Education Issues course requirement. Reflection required. GRADUATE: SW 630: Social Work Global Service Learning (3 credits) Language of instruction: English Honors students: can be used to fulfill HNR 300, HNR 401, or HNR 499 requirements

Country

Program

Available Courses

Ghana

Social Work

UNDERGRADUATE:

SW 354: International Service (3 credits)

Fulfills General Education Global Perspectives requirement.

Fulfills (1) General Education Issues course requirement. Reflection required.

GRADUATE:

SW 630: Social Work Global Service Learning (3 credits)

Language of instruction: English

Honors students: can be used to fulfill HNR 300, HNR 401, or HNR 499 requirements

SEMESTER AND ACADEMIC YEAR PROGRAMS

Country	Program	Program Type	Notes	Courses
Australia	For more information, visit the University Sunshine Coast website To apply, check out the Sunshine Coast program brochure	Exchange		Pre-approved courses
Chile	For more information, visit the UBB website To apply, check out the UBB program brochure	Exchange	This program may be a good fit for social work students who are spanish minors or are looking to fufill spanish credits.	Pre-approved courses
Czech Republic	For more information, visit the ISA Prague website To apply, check out the ISA Prague program brochure	Provider		Pre-approved courses
Greece	For more information, visit the ISA Greece website To apply, check out the ISA Greece program brochure	Provider		Pre-approved courses
Italy	For more information, visit the Florence University of the Arts website To apply, check out the FUA program brochure	Provider		Pre-approved courses
London	For more information, visit the Kingston University website To apply, check out the Kingston University program brochure	Exchange		Pre-approved courses
South Korea	For more information, visit the TEAN Korea University website To apply, check out the GVSU in South Korea program	Provider	This is a GVSU Signature program, featuring additional support and discounts for GVSU students. This program is also available to students during thier Freshman year.	Pre-approved courses
Thailand	For more information, visit the Tean Mahidol University website To apply, check out the Tean Thailand program brochure	Provider		Pre-approved courses

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Country	Program	Program Type	Notes	Courses
Greece	For more information, visit the ISA Greece website To apply, check out the ISA Greece program brochure	Provider		Pre-approved courses
London	For more information, visit the Kingston University website To apply, check out the Kingston University program brochure	Exchange		Pre-approved courses
South Korea	For more information, visit the TEAN Korea University website To apply, check out the GVSU in South Korea program	Provider	This is a GVSU Signature program, featuring additional support and discounts for GVSU students. This program is also available to students during thier Freshman year.	Pre-approved courses
Thailand	For more information, visit the Tean Mahidol University website To apply, check out the Tean Thailand program brochure	Provider		Pre-approved courses

ACADEMIC ADVICE

Social work students should aim to study abroad before thier Junior year.
Students may NOT take the Social Work core courses abroad - SW 316, SW 317, SW 318, SW 319, SW 340, SW 341, and SW 348 must be completed at GVSU.
Courses will be reviewed on a case by case basis through the course equivalency process.
Students should be working with their CECI advisor to plan and make appropriate course selections for study abroad.
As juniors and seniors, students may wish to consider taking SW 354 abroad on Faculty-led program in Ghana. CECI encourages them to begin looking at these programs as early as possible for planning purposes.
Students interested in completing their Field Practicum abroad must discuss this possibility well in advance with Dr. Robin Smith-Colton and their field coordinator. While rare, it may be possible.
Students interested in earning Social Work elective credits abroad can have their study abroad program reviewed for potential SW 100, SW 380, and/or SW 499 credit. Prior planning is strongly encouraged so CECI advisers can figure out where these best fit into overall student degree goals.

To determine the GVSU Course Equivalencies for courses taken abroad, please visit our Course Approval page.

EXPLORE OTHER PROGRAM OPTIONS

There are other program options available. Schedule a study abroad advising appointment to learn more or browse our other program options:

Browse More Programs

IMPORTANT: You can also complete your General Education requirements abroad.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The McFadden International Child Welfare Scholarship

Explore more scholarship opportunities through our scholarship page.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT

CECI Advising Center

[email protected]

460C DeVos Center

Page last modified January 27, 2025

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