Study Abroad & International Program

SSA offers a range of opportunities for students to learn about social welfare policy and practice internationally: in the classroom, through seminars and workshop presentations, a certificate program, and through experiential learning opportunities abroad. SSA’s orientation to international social work is designed to provide students with the opportunity to think about social problems, social policy, and social work practice in comparative cross-national perspective. Courses are integrated into the broader curriculum, providing all students with an opportunity to incorporate some international perspectives into their work locally; as well as providing students with an interest in working abroad or with immigrant and refugee populations at home, a foundation of knowledge to pursue these interests. Those with a particular interest can choose to concentrate in international social welfare by selecting a cluster of courses in the area and by applying for a select set of study and field experiences abroad.

Courses

SSA offers the International Social Welfare Program of Study as an elective sequence for master's students interested in understanding social welfare challenges in a globalizing world. This program provides students with the opportunity to think about social problems, social policy, and social work practice in comparative cross-national perspective, grounded in scholarship and practice around a set of concrete issues, including work with people affected by global processes (e.g., refugees, immigrants, victims of trauma or disaster or human rights violations), the role of state welfare policies and non-governmental organizations, approaches to community economic and social development, and political organizing and social movements within and across borders.

Courses are integrated into the broader curriculum, providing all students with an opportunity to incorporate some international perspectives into their work locally as well as providing students with a particular interest in working abroad or with immigrant and refugee populations at home a robust foundation of knowledge to pursue these interests.

In addition to courses taught by SSA faculty, one master's-level course is taught each year by a reknowned international visiting scholar who spends one academic quarter in residence as the Helen Harris Perlman Visiting Professor. The topic of this course changes based on the expertise of the visiting professor for a given year. Each visiting professor also presents and participates in seminars and symposia at the School and the University, is available to consult with SSA students, and engages with faculty around research topics of common interest.

To search the SSA course catalog, click here and choose the keyword "International" from the drop-down menu.

Additional courses are available at other units of the University including the Human Rights Program, The Harris School of Public Policy Studies, The Pritzker School of Medicine, The Law School, The Booth School of Business, and The Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture. Check individual school schedules for courses and times.

Seminars & Workshops

International scholars with expertise from a variety of international perspectives are invited to speak at SSA throughout the academic year. These scholars are in addition to the numerous speakers that are invited to University and to other units. To see a list of our previous and upcoming SSA International Lectures click here and to view the entire University calendar, click here.

Global Health Certificate Program

The global burden of disease poses a significant barrier to the well-being of people around the world. Students today are interested in addressing issues that cross national borders, including global health. To address this need, SSA's Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP), the Global Health Initiative (GHI), and the Pritzker School of Medicine (PSOM) have collaborated to develop a new Global Health Certificate Program. The new program will address issues in global health from the perspective of a variety of disciplines, including biomedicine, business, law, economics, public policy, social work and socio-cultural studies.

Please contact Laura Botwinick, Director of GPHAP, with any questions about the Global Health Certificate Program.

Study Abroad

A formal and intensive four-week, study-abroad program focused on urban poverty and community practice in India was launched in August, 2010 and was also offered in the summer of 2011. In collaboration with the Tata Institute of the Social Sciences Centre for Community Organization and Development Practice in Mumbai, SSA students have the opportunity to learn about key issues in international social welfare and gain academic and field experience in international social work practice. The program is open to students in the clinical or social administration concentration. There is an application process in the winter quarter for interested students. A similar program is being planned in China.

For More Information

Applications will be available during winter quarter. For more information, please contact Cristina Gros, Manager, International Programming and Continuing Education at 773.702.7107.