Study Abroad for Health and Exercise Science Majors

Study Abroad for Health and Exercise Science Majors

As future professionals in Health and Exercise Science we work with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.  As we continue to broaden our experiences the Health and Exercise Science Department encourages all majors within the department to study abroad and experience a new culture as part of their time at Rowan.

Please peruse the Rowan University Study Abroad Office for valuable information. They have the listing of eligible study abroad programs for Rowan students.  Furthermore, each semester there is a study abroad fair that we encourage you to attend.

Though it can seem intimidating to go abroad for part of your college education, remember that it is an investment in yourself, your education, and your understanding of the world. In short, it's worth every penny (and many programs have financial aid!)

Public Health Planning and Epidemiology in Europe (London, Paris, Florence & Rome) in May 2023

Drs. Nicole Vaughn and Shari Willis will be instructing two different 3 credit courses: “Program Planning and Leadership” (pre-req/co-req Health Behavior Theory) & “Public Health Epidemiology'' (no pre-req). These classes are open to all students regardless of major, but are required for Health Promotion/Wellness Management majors and Public Health and Wellness majors. For Community Health/Public Health and Wellness minors this class is an option. In addition, these classes may be taken as an elective for interested students after consultation with an advisor. All Rowan students are welcome!

The focus of the Program Planning and Leadership course will be how public health programs and interventions are planned in the 4 cities we are visiting.  We will learn about public health governments and non-government organizations and how they plan programs and promote health for their citizens. We will compare and contrast how data are gathered, any health disparities and how programs are designed by public health leaders in each country and the U.S. 

 The focus of the Public Health Epidemiology course will be the history and epidemiology of the diseases and other health related states facing the four nations we visit.  We will learn about cholera and the River Thames in London, smallpox and inoculation, wine windows and bubonic plague and COVID in Florence, malaria outbreaks in Vatican City and much more.

 The focal point of these courses will be the 10-day trip visiting London, Paris, Florence, Vatican City and Rome in May 2023.  The time spent in Europe is fully guided with some free time.  We will see the major sights and indulge in great conversations related to public health. 

Tuition for the course is part of your spring 2023 tuition.  The cost of the trip includes transportation, tours, entrances, and planned activities.  Fifteen meals are included.

A Taste of Italy

Contemporary Issues in Nutrition course (NUT 00420)

Dr. Leslie Spencer is teaching a special section of the 3-credit Contemporary Issues in Nutrition course (NUT 00420) in the spring 2022 semester.  This is a required course for Nutrition, Public Health and Wellness and Health Promotion/Wellness Management majors.  It is an elective for any other student who has taken Basic Nutrition.

The focus of this trip will be a 10-day tour of Milan, Cuneo, Florence (Tuscany), Bologna and Turin in which we learn about the Mediterranean Diet by visiting local farms, an olive grove, a Tuscan winery, and a restaurant where the Slow Food Movement originated.  Most evenings, we enjoy dinner prepared by local chefs which feature foods of the region.  We will also enjoy guided tours of the towns we visit to learn about their culture and history.  Italy is home of one of the Blue Zones (where the healthiest people in the world live), so there is much we can learn about their lifestyles and diet that are relevant to the fields of wellness and nutrition.

This special section of Contemporary Issues in Nutrition will feature 4 2-hour class meetings prior to the trip, in which we will discuss assigned readings and have discussions to prepare us for the trip.  Tuition for the course is part of your spring 2022 tuition.  The cost of the trip is $3,555 plus approximately $200 in spending money.  We will do fundraising for the trip and payment plans are available.  The EF Study Tours website for this project is: www.efcollegestudytours.com/2394314hn

Email Dr. Spencer at spencer@rowan.edu with your questions and/or to start the process of registering for the trip.