College of Social Work

International Opportunities

  • International Field Placement – Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

    Comunidad Connect offers an immersive field placement experience for social work students seeking meaningful, community- rooted practice in the Caribbean. Based in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, students spend several months to a full year embedded alongside local organizations, gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of international development, public health, and community empowerment. Placements are tailored…

  • Comparative Child Welfare Between the United States and Hungary (Summer 2028)

    Travel Dates: TBA The primary purpose of this short-term study abroad program is to compare child welfare initiatives between the United States and Hungary. Students will critically examine how poverty, structural inequality, and exposure to violence shape safety, permanency, and well-being for children, families, and communities. The program will emphasize respect for cultural diversity and…

  • Global Social Work in Action: Navigating Social Systems and Community Resilience in Chile (Summer 2028)

    Travel Dates: TBA The purpose of this short-term study abroad program in Chile is to enhance student preparation for professional social work practice within the context of global interdependence, international social work practice, and practice with diverse populations in the United States. Broadening our worldview as social workers leads to a deeper understanding of global…

  • Sustainable Social Work Practice in the Dominican Republic

    Travel Dates: July 8–17, 2027 Students will engage in a rich, cross-cultural, social work-centered learning opportunity that includes investigation and discussion of sustainable approaches to practice in the Dominican Republic. This course will include a service-learning experience in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; class discussion time in the Dominican Republic; and online instruction prior to and…

  • Social Justice & Social Change from a Global Perspective: Study Abroad to Kenya

    Travel Dates: May 28–June 13, 2027 This short-term study abroad program in Kenya prepares students for professional social work practice in an interconnected global context. Grounded in international social work and engagement with multicultural populations, the course combines academic preparation with immersive, community-based learning. Anchored in the Ubuntu philosophy of shared humanity and collective responsibility,…

  • Dementia Awareness Enhanced Through Faith Leadership in Ghana

    Dr. Tiffany Washington recently conducted international research focused on enhancing dementia awareness through faith leadership in Ghana. With support from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium and the UT College of Social Work, while partnering with the Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Association of Ghana, Washington delivered a culturally grounded dementia education initiative designed to strengthen public understanding…

  • A World of Learning: UTCSW Students Reflect on Summer Abroad Experiences

    This summer, a group of UT College of Social Work students traded classrooms for the streets of Rome, the communities of Kenya, and the neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Through the UTCSW’s international study abroad programs, these students didn’t just earn course credit — they gained once-in-a-lifetime perspectives on global cultures, social work practices, and…

  • Meet Nicole Choppin: Coverdell Fellow and MSSW Student

    Nicole Choppin joined the Peace Corps with a clear goal: to fully immerse herself in a culture completely unlike her own. Drawn to the program’s emphasis on language training, long-term service, and community integration, she found herself in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, ready to learn, live, and grow alongside the people there. Now back in…

  • New COIL Faculty Projects Enhance Global Learning at UT

    Two UTCSW faculty members are spearheading innovative Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects in the 2024-2025 academic year. Dr. Mary Gitau and Dr. Phyllis Thompson, along with Distinguished Lecturer of Italian Dr. Renée D’Elia-Zunino, are aiming to enhance global learning and foster international partnerships, bringing diverse perspectives into the classroom and promoting intercultural dialogue. Each…

  • International Field Practicum in Ghana

    BSSW/MSSW Field Placement in Ghana Since 2013, the BSW/MSW Practicum Field Placement Program in Ghana has supervised 78 BSW and MSW students from 17 various US universities, including Colorado State University, University of Alabama, University of Denver, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin and Walla Walla University. Students have been placed with…