Program Overview
Portugal was facing an opioid crisis in the late 1990s similar to what the United States is currently experiencing. Their response to the crisis was an innovative approach never before seen in Europe: in 2000, they decriminalized all illicit drugs and vastly expanded drug treatment. As a result of this public health approach, illicit drug use and related crime decreased, more people accessed treatment, and the “crisis” essentially ended. The proposed interdisciplinary course will have students examine Portugal's policies toward illicit drugs, both historical and contemporary, and the interconnections of law, criminal justice, and health policy. Students will critically analyze Portugal's approach to handling illicit drug use and compare their strategy with the United States' drug control policies.
Students will interact with Portuguese individuals and institutions that deal with drug issues, allowing them to analyze many Portuguese drug strategies that do not exist in the United States. Students will learn about the history of the United States' drug control strategies before arriving in Portugal, giving them the tools they need to critically examine Portugal's policies in a comparative perspective.
Students will earn 3.25 credits for this experience by registering for CRIMJ 497 in the spring semester for 3 credits and CRIMJ 499 for .25 credit in the summer session. The coursework for the spring CRIMJ 497 course will be online, asynchronous. Students will learn about the history of drug policies in the United States and contemporary drug issues. There will be several Zoom meetings before the May departure to Portugal where students will be encouraged to attend and meet the professor and other students participating in the program.
The travel component to Lisbon, Portugal will occur in May 2024, where students will meet Portuguese experts in drug policy and visit sites related to these topics. Students will also participate in cultural experiences, including a guided tour of Lisbon and a Fado concert.
Dates
Any pre-requisite courses are established by the faculty leader or department hosting the course. The following have been listed as pre-requisites for consideration to enroll in this course and travel on the embedded education abroad program:
- This course is open to students of all majors at all Penn State campuses. Priority will be given to Schreyer Scholars and Paterno Fellows.
- Admission in the course and permission to travel with the group are at the discretion of the program leader and/or academic department hosting the course. Academic standing and disciplinary or conduct issues may impact eligibility.
- The education abroad program may involve swimming at a local beach that is part of an optional activity during free time. Students must complete a Water Safety Acknowledge of Risk form in order to participate on the program.
Housing and Meals
During the embedded travel component, housing will consist of accommodations at a hotel/hostel.
Program Costs
Students pay regular Penn State tuition (either in-state or out-of-state) for the credits associated with the embedded course. Travel costs, lodging, meals, excursions, and other fees are determined by the program budget which is set by the program leader. Please consult the program leader for additional information.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
The Embedded Programs Scholarship is issued through Penn State Global Education Abroad for students studying on approved Penn State embedded programs. There is no application required to be considered for this scholarship. The Education Abroad scholarship selection team will utilize course rosters submitted by the embedded course leaders and will determine eligible scholarship recipients based on financial need.
Because of the volume of eligible candidates, awards usually go to students with the highest level of financial need as determined by the Office of Student Aid. Among those with the highest need, preference may be given to students with higher cumulative grade point averages and/or to those with no prior Penn State education abroad experience.
For More Information
For more information about this course, please contact the program leader: Jennifer Murphy by emailing jxm1192@psu.edu
How to Apply
The process for enrolling in an embedded course varies according to the instructor and/or department. The program leader has indicated that in order to enroll in the course and travel component, students complete the application form and return it by email to both Dr. Jennifer Murphy and Ms. Sarah Lyall-Combs by 5 p.m. on December 1, 2023.
Studying Abroad with a Disability
Many students with disabilities successfully study abroad each year. Please note that other cultures may have different attitudes and available accommodations regarding disabilities. While we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites and locations, specific accommodations may be arranged in consultation with our office, the Student Disability Resources office, and our partners abroad. To prepare for success, students are strongly encouraged to research the country and program location to consider if and how they will manage their disabilities abroad in advance of selecting a program. Students with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds can begin their research on our Diversity Awareness Abroad page.
