Welcome
Welcome PSU parent to PSU Study Abroad.
Your student has made an exciting choice to participate in the Pittsburg State Study Abroad Program. This will set him/her apart from other U.S. university students.
Your student will work closely with members of the PSU staff and faculty to prepare for his or her time abroad. Please talk with your student about these preparations.
The idea of studying abroad may be new to you and your student. Hopefully, you can find answers to some of your questions by going through the sections below. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me using the information listed at the bottom of the page.
Sincerely,
Julia Helminiak
Study Abroad Coordinator
Program Details
Ask your student about the program that he or she has decided to participate in. At Pittsburg State we have several options for Study Abroad.
First, there are PSU Faculty-led Group Study Abroad programs. These programs are short term programs led by members of PSU's faculty. If your student has decided to participate in one of these programs, you can contact the faculty leader to find out more about the program. Other questions can be directed to the Study Abroad Coordinator.
Second, there is a PSU program called PSU in Paraguay. This program gives students the option to complete some of their PSU general education requirements in Paraguay. Classes are taught by PSU faculty in English. They last three to four weeks. For questions about the program, you can contact Dr. Alice Sagehorn in Curriculum and Instruction. Other questions can be directed to the Study Abroad Coordinator.
Third, PSU has sister schools all over the world. Being a PSU student allows your student to participate in our exchange agreements with these schools. Your student can spend a summer, semester, or year studying at a university overseas. He/she will continue to pay PSU tuition during the time he/she is abroad. Your student will pay room and board at the host institution. For questions about these programs, contact the Study Abroad Coordinator.
Finally, we allow students to look for programs that are not sponsored by PSU if none of our Study Abroad Programs fit their needs. Students may go with other universities' programs or with other study abroad organizations. For questions about the program, you can contact the Program Coordinator of the program your student has chosen. For other questions, you can contact the Study Abroad Coordinator at PSU.
Top
Health and Safety
The administration at PSU is concerned about our students' health and safety abroad. Therefore, we require all students who are studying overseas to purchase international health insurance. If your student is covered under your insurance, you will need to talk with your insurance company about how coverage works abroad. To meet our requirement, the coverage must include Repatriation and Medical Evacuation. We do have international health insurance through HTH Worldwide available to purchase in the International Programs & Services Office. You can contact the Study Abroad Coordinator for more information about this coverage.
To understand more about the coverage offered through HTH Worldwide, click here.
To find out more about the medical issues involved in preparing for study abroad, click here.
It is always better to be well informed to understand the issues and risks that are specific to study abroad. The Center for Global Education has published online a comprehensive handbook about Study Abroad that includes a section for parents. One suggestion for parents is that they also acquire a U.S. passport that will be valid for the time their student is abroad in case of an emergency.
As part of your student's preparation to go abroad, he/she is required to visit a health professional for a Pre-departure travel consult. This consult can be done at the Student Health Center here on campus. During the consult, your student will be advised about immunizations that are suggested for the place he/she is visiting and also be given advice about how to stay healthy abroad.
The government provides several resources that are useful for traveling abroad. First, you can access important health and safety information for foreign countries by visiting the U.S. State Department's web site www.travel.state.gov and from the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.
Top
Financing Study Abroad
When your student is deciding on the program that is right for him/her, talk with them about the financial obligations that come with Study Abroad. Be clear with your student about how you will support them financially. Also encourage your student to visit with a Financial Aid counselor on campus to discuss loan options and the Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss scholarship options that are specific to Study Abroad.
The Funding page on this web site is a good place to get a search for funding a study abroad experience.
As you are calculating the costs for Study Abroad with your student, remember to include application fees, Visa expenses, insurance fees, airfare, travel expenses, tuition, room and board, and other expenses.
Useful links
Make sure to check out the Resources page where you can get information about international calling cards, exchange rates, student travel sites, passport information, and much more. This should help you and your students have the resources you need to be well prepared for his/her Study Abroad experience.
Contact Us
Contact Julia Helminiak, Study Abroad Coordinator with any questions or concerns. Her office is in International Programs & Services on Pittsburg State University's campus and her phone is 620-235-4221. For more complete contact information, visit the Contact Us page.
Top |
