The Kinesiology Department is a great place to learn about science, research and the human body as they relate to health. Students in each of our majors share the desire to help the general population stay healthy, become educated about various health practices and be able to design programs to help regain function and mobility following injury, illness, or disease. We have three majors, Exercise and Movement Science (EMS), Health Promotion and Health Equity (HPHE) and Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE). Our students generally head to graduate school in various allied health professions including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Medical School or Public Health and these fields recognize the educational opportunities that accompany studying abroad.
Broadening your perspective about health, health care systems and culture in an international setting would be incredibly valuable for your future profession. The study abroad experience will help you to gain insight about your own beliefs and challenge you to consider the influence of contributing variables that are unique to a new and different setting. The programs recommended on this advising page were selected in cooperation with the International Academic Programs (IAP). Even if there aren’t specific HPHE courses offered by your desired abroad program, there are a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth in the experience that would benefit your education.
Health Promotion and Health Equity majors may want to consider a program that involves a service learning or internship component.
Information for Prospective Majors
Undeclared students considering a major in the Department of Kinesiology: You should consider studying abroad in any semester! Be sure to meet with an advisor beforehand to do some careful planning as there are a number of classes that are requisites to be eligible for a few of our majors. If you are able to fit the requisites into your plan, then your abroad experience, reflection of your learning, and unique perspective would strengthen your application. Once accepted or declared in our majors, there is still time to study abroad.
There is no application for the Health Promotion and Health Equity major and there is a lot of flexibility in the curriculum. Studying abroad at any time is possible as long as there is some planning and meeting with advisors.
Major Course Considerations
It is recommended that all of the core courses within the Health Promotion and Health Equity major be taken here at UW-Madison. These courses are as follows:
- ANAT&PHY 235: Human Physiology and Health
- Kines 150: Foundations of Health Behavior and Health Equity
- Kines 370: Planning, Facilitating & Assessment in Movement and Health Professionals
- Kines 566: Promoting Health in the Community
- RP&SE 316: Health Promotion for Individuals with Disability and Chronic Illness
- RP&SE 325: Self Management of Chronic Illness and Disability
- RP&SE 505: Biological, Psychosocial, and Vocational Aspects of Disabilities
- Coun Psy 237: Mental Health, Self-Awareness, and Social Justice: Working in Diverse Communities
- Coun Psy 531: Prevention and Intervention in Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- Coun Psy 655: Clinical Communication Skills
Other degree requirements could be taken abroad. Some classes that may be good to consider saving for your abroad experience are the 9-credits of electives in various topics such as ‘physical activity and public health’, ‘chronic Illness, disability and health’, ‘health equity, mental health and well-being’, ‘social determinants of health’ or ‘health sciences’.
While some study abroad programs have a focus on education, it is not essential for Health Promotion and Health Equity students to choose a study abroad program with a focus on education or health. You can choose from among hundreds of programs based on where you are interested in studying and what type of international experience interests you.
Mapping your Study Abroad Experience
Students usually plan to study abroad the Fall or Spring of their Junior Year, but all semesters can be possible with some planning with your advisors. You will want to make sure you are mindful of finishing pre-requisites and watching out for courses that may be semester specific such as fall or spring only.
Fall Junior Year
Kines 370
RPSE 325
Spring Junior Year
ABROAD
HPHE elective(s) abroad
General Education coursework
Fall Senior Year
RPSE 505
Coun Psy 655
Spring Senior Year
Coun Psy 531
Kines 566
Questions to Ask
To Ask Your Academic Advisor in the Department of Kinesiology
Health Promotion & Health Equity (Zoe Hurley: zehurley@wisc.edu)
- What classes must I complete for my degree (breadth/depth, major requirements, etc.)?
- Do I need to be on UW-Madison’s campus for any courses in my major?
- How many electives do I have outside of my major?
- Do I need to choose a program that offers Health Promotion and Health Equity courses?
- Can I take any remaining Liberal Arts classes abroad?
To Ask Your Study Abroad Advisor
- What may be some programs that fit with my interests?
- What are the costs associated with study abroad?
- How does financial aid work when studying abroad?
- What scholarships are available for studying abroad?
- What are the factors that may influence which program I choose given that there are so many choices for programs that allow me to take liberal studies and electives?
- What classes can I take abroad?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- How do programs differ in the types of intercultural opportunities or living situations offered?
Identifying programs that are right for you
Consider programs that are a good fit for your interests and what you want to get out of your international experience. Kinesiology students may choose to study in virtually any study abroad program! Some students choose programs with a focus on education, kinesiology or rehab psych coursework. Others choose their program because it has a focus on community health and development or has an internship opportunity in health. And others because they have an interest in a particular country/language.
The following are study abroad programs focused around themes that can be directly related to Health and Education. These programs may include internships, fieldwork or directed study opportunities. This is not an exhaustive list. Please explore all of your many options with IAP and find the program that fits your interests best!
If you are looking for a semester program that may allow you to enroll in education, kinesiology, or rehab psych coursework with local students from the host country OR with other US students, consider:
Australia: University of Sydney Exchange
Australia: Macquarie University Exchange
Australia: Monash University
Denmark: DIS Copenhagen
England: University of Leeds Exchange
England: University of Westminster
Italy: CIEE Rome Open Campus
Netherlands: University of Amsterdam Exchange
New Zealand: Massey University Exchange
Scotland: University of Glasgow Exchange
Sweden: DIS Stockholm
If you are looking for a summer program led by a School of Education faculty member that focuses specifically on Education disciplines, consider:
Colombia: UW Conflict, Human Rights and Education in Colombia
Costa Rica: UW Teambuilding in Costa Rica
Cuba: UW Exploring Cuba through Art
Ireland: UW Inclusive Physical Activity & Sports in Ireland
New Zealand: UW Environmental Exercise Physiology in New Zealand
Portugal: UW Movement as Medicine in Portugal
If you are looking for a summer program that has a focus on health and community development and allows you to travel with a UW faculty member and a group of UW students, consider:
Austria: UW Obesity and Health
Ecuador: UW Wellbeing through Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Health
Ghana: UW Ghanaian Health & Food Systems: Human, Agricultural & Environmental Health
Nepal: UW Global Health, Community Health and Health Disparity
Sri Lanka: UW Global Health, Community Health, and Asset-based Community Development in Sri Lanka
Tanzania: UW Health, Education, & Tanzanian Culture
Uganda: UW Agriculture, Health & Nutrition in Uganda
Uganda: UW Mobile Clinics & Health Care
If you are looking for a semester program that focuses on health and community development, possibly with an internship opportunity or directed research project, consider:
Botswana: CIEE Community Public Health
Chile: SIT Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment
France: UW in Paris
Ghana: CIEE in Ghana
Jordan: SIT Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action
Senegal: UMN MSID International Development in Senegal
South Africa: SIT Community Health and Social Policy
United States: UW Wisconsin in Washington