Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 2.5 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application review
- Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
- 4 semesters of college-level Spanish language or equivalent (through SPAN 100)
Program Description
This program is a partnership with the University of Virginia (UVA) in Valencia, Spain. The “Comparative Health Care Systems” course examines the structure of health care systems in different countries focusing on financing, reimbursement and delivery systems, as well as their effects on cost, quality, efficiency and equity of health care services. Social, ethical, cultural and political issues that affect the delivery of health care services are critically analyzed. Roles of health care providers, consumers of health care services, and private/public interests within different health care systems are examined. Students will examine health system models and health outcomes worldwide, as well as investigate Spain's approach to healthcare, ranked 7th in the world, through visits to local health organizations and health care sites.
Through living with a host family, the Spanish language course, and cultural activities and trips offered during the semester students will improve their fluency in Spanish and get to experience firsthand the vibrant culture of Spain.
Dates
Summer: mid May - mid June
Refer to UVA's website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, with a population of around 800,000. Located on the Mediterranean Coast and surrounded by immense beaches, it gracefully mixes old and new, with modern public services, business establishments and leisure attractions, set against a backdrop of historically important civic and religious buildings, monuments and museums. Valencia is well located with respect to other interesting cities in Spain as well as continental Europe. With its own airport, much of Europe is accessible.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Penn State Global website.