Heightened Physical & Psychological Requirements for All Study Away: Study Away or Abroad can be a very different experience than an on-campus course, requiring both physical and mental adjustments which may not be typical for your on-campus experience. This includes requirements for physical activity such as more extensive physical movement (walking, touring, extended sedentary time during travel, etc.), requirements to manage luggage, often on uneven terrain such as cobblestone streets or buildings without elevators, or locations with limited medical facilities, potential extremes of weather and temperature.
Housing options are also significantly different from an on-campus experience. Some programs will use family homestays while others will require students live in pairs, triples, and quads. Travel is also inherently a stressful alteration to your normal routines, with greater flexibility, adaptability and resilience required, whether it is dealing with distinct cultures, language differences, feelings of “otherness” or lack of belonging, or simply greater ambiguity and unfamiliarity with surroundings.
We recommend that all students consider these realities of study away and abroad as they consider programs. Below we will list any known expectations which the faculty have identified for their specific course.
Expectations for Study on this Program:
- The program uses remote location(s) with limited access to immediate local medical or mental health support.
- It requires extensive walking or hiking to explore sites or participate in course activities, and physical activities that may be a challenge to some students, including but not limited to climbing, swimming, digging or other manual labor, or carrying items that weigh 40 lbs or more.
- The program also takes place in a location which may experience intense atmospheric conditions, including extreme heat, extreme cold, or extensive time outside in harsh conditions.
- Finally, this program features immersion in unfamiliar community settings, intensive exploration of identity or cultural difference, housing types unfamiliar to students, limited dietary options, or other potentially heightened-stress scenarios which may produce challenges to student mental health.
