Ramapo College of New Jersey

“ARGENTINA: Public Health”

2 credit, Global Field Experience, Spring Break Program

Fragmentation is a common trait of most Latin-American systems. In Argentina the lack of integration among sub systems has a deep impact on health care access and financial sustainability, leading to exclusion, inefficiency, inequality, lack of transparency in administration and one of the highest burdens of household catastrophic out-of-pocket spending in Latin America.

The national budget, although within the average of the region, is insufficient to cover the health care needs of the uninsured and to fully address the imbalances in social determinants of health. We first present the organizational and financial structure of the health care system. We then analyze the system dynamics and local health care history, and we explore a few possible lines of action and reforms for the next decade.

Argentina‘s health care system is young and developing. Although access to health care is a constitutional right, and the system strives to be greatly inclusive, its own complexity and fragmentation undermine those efforts. Capacity building and political determination are needed to undertake the deep health care reforms ahead. Only then can the constitutional commitments for health care be fully honored.

The purpose of this course (INTL 130) is to offer students a global vision of the Argentinean Health System, of health policies and healthcare delivery to communities. This course will also analyze transversal themes such as efficiency, equity and the quality of service delivery to patients in each of the sessions.

Educational visits are an important component of this program and provide different contexts in which to examine healthcare delivery and cultural aspect of Argentina.

Program Website (Information & Application)

Scholarships are available

Ramapo College of New Jersey

“CHINA: Community Health & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)”

4 credit, Summer Program

This course (SCIN 290 / NURS 290) introduces the students to both conventional and traditional healthcare systems in a metropolitan area of China, with emphases on the social and cultural determinants of health in the Chinese community, such as transportation, food, age and social habits.

Program Website (Information & Application)

Scholarships are available

Ramapo College of New Jersey

“GHANA: An Exploration of Public Health”

4 credit, Summer Program

Students will travel from Ramapo College – New Jersey to Ghana. They will reside and visit three main locations in Ghana: Kumasi (the main program base), Cape Coast & Accra. Students will be enrolled in NURS 365 – Public Health in West Africa. In each location, visits and guest lectures will allow the students to get first-hand contact and converse with members of the local and international healthcare communities, officials, as well as African students and academicians. Our academic base for the program will be at Ramapo’s partner institution Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in Kumasi. The study abroad program will also include guided tours of major historical and tourist attractions. A high proportion of countries with the poorest health indices in the world are located in West Africa and continuing problems in the sub region pose considerable challenge at efforts to improve the health of people living there.

Program Website (Information & Application)

Scholarships are available

Ramapo College of New Jersey

“PERU: Community Health & Human Services”

4 credit, Summer Program

This study abroad course (SPAN 325) in Peru provides students with the opportunity of engaging in hands-on field work in community medicine, while using their language skills and cultural competence. The emphasis in community medicine is on the early diagnosis of disease, the recognition of environmental and occupational hazards to good health, and the prevention of disease in the community. To this end, the course provides comprehensive health services ranging from preventive to rehabilitative services.

While in Lima, students will work with the guidance of a local placement advisor in the field for 25 hours a week and attend lectures for 20 hours in a four-week program. Ramapo faculty will, first, accompany students on these lectures and field hours and then meet with students to help them dissect the medical vocabulary and cultural contexts used in the local settings though lectures and class discussions. Students are required to take SPAN 202: Intermediate II or equivalent proficiency before this study abroad course, as a prerequisite.

Program Website (Information & Application)

Scholarships are available

University College Dublin

3-6 credits, Summer Program

This Program consists of a two week taught tuition period with an option for you to spend up to a further four weeks of research activity under the guidance of an experienced researcher. Therefore, there are two options: 2 week coursework only OR 6 week program (2 weeks coursework + 4 weeks research activities).

Program Website (Information & Application)

Scholarships are available