****Please note, all travel is pending international travel safety guidelines and local conditions. If travel is not allowed, alternative arrangements will be made for Iowa-based students and nationwide students would be responsible for determining alternative experiential learning sites.

Ghana

Do you have a passion for learning about new cultures? Have you always wanted to learn more about how to practice global nutrition? Our international community nutrition rotation in rural Ghana allows students to focus on policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to improve community health while the student concurrently completes their degree requirements in the online Master in Professional Practice program. Activities will include a combination of opportunities based on ongoing projects at the Nutrition Research and Training Centre in Asesewa, Ghana, West Africa.

Watch this short video below to learn about our student’s experiences in Ghana, Africa during their Community Nutrition International rotation.

Activities:

Our community nutrition rotation blends research focused on maternal and child health with cultural experiences. Guided by experienced professionals, you’ll learn to navigate the complexities of community nutrition interventions, gaining valuable skills that transcend borders. Students will engage in community nutrition assessment (policy and environmental scan, livelihood assessment, qualitative and quantitative research methods) for the target areas:
- child nutrition,
- maternal nutrition,
- household food security, and/or
- non-communicable diseases
Elementary and secondary school nutrition education
Exposure to community-based primary care and regional hospitals
Cultural immersive experiences that integrate food, health, and heritage – including visits to food markets, creation of culturally important foods such as fufu and banku as well as complimentary foods like weanimix or Tom Brown (Ghanaian breakfast porridge).
Visits to art and bead markets, ecotourism sites, and local seamstresses for customized clothes

If you wish to complete 200 hours of your community nutrition experiential learning in Ghana,

Complete and submit the Ghana Essay
Selection criteria will include a review of your essay and an interview to determine your suitability for the study abroad experience.

Program Fee: $3500 (this includes local transportation, hostel accommodations and dorm-style living with a University of Ghana student, one authentic meal daily, on-site preceptor, and translation services as needed)

Additional details, such as pre-departure requirements are pending.

Learn more about the Ghana rotation, costs, health considerations and the application process on the College of Human Sciences International programs page.

For more information about the Ghana Study Abroad experiential learning opportunity, contact Erin Bergquist: erin_b@iastate.edu

France

Visit Versailles, Notre Dame, Louvre, and learn about French culture and cuisine and obtain different perspectives in terms of diet, food production, food preparation, food consumption, and the major role of food in French culture in the “Cathedrals, Castles, Culture and Cuisine-sustainable, Safe, & Nutritious Food in France” study abroad trip.

If you wish to complete 100 hours of your food systems management experiential learning in Paris and surrounding regions of France,

Complete and submit the France Essay
Selection criteria will include a review of your essay and an interview to determine your suitability for the study abroad experience.
MPP students will be traveling with other ISU study abroad students; including a combination of Junior and Senior undergraduates as well as graduate students.

Activities

MPP students will be paired with other ISU study abroad students to learn about the issues surrounding the development of sustainable systems to produce food.
Students will
- Visit a dairy farm, vineyard, traditional bread bakery, cheese maker, chocolate maker, local farmers’ market wine museum and several significant cultural sites.
- Study the processing of raw commodities into food products and their subsequent sale.
- Obtain different perspectives in terms of diet, food production and the major role of food in French culture.
A 15-week departure course will be held one evening each week for three hours in the Spring semester.

Travel itinerary

Day 1 Departure from Ames to Paris
Day 2 Arrival in Paris – Discovery of the city, metro system, Eiffel Tower
Day 3 Dairy farm visit – all day; evening reflection discussion with students
Day 4 Vineyard visit – all day; evening reflection discussion with students
Day 5 Visit traditional bread bakery and cheese maker – evening reflection discussion with students
Day 6 Versailles-all day
Day 7 Musée du Louvre – all day; Jardin Tuileries; evening cruise on River Seine
Day 8 Notre Dame; Saint Chapelle; Place de la Concorde; Basilique du Sacre Couer du Montemarte; Montemarte district
Day 9 Free day to explore the city; shopping
Day 10 Palais Garnier; Basilica St. Denis
Day 11 Visit chocolate maker; Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés; evening reflection with students
Day 12 Musée du Vin; farmers market
Day 13 Perfume Museum; Arc de Triomphe; Jardin du Luxembourg
Day 14 Return to Ames

Additional costs

In addition to the MPP Tuition and Fees, the following expenses also apply:

France Fee: $4860 (includes airfare, lodging, some meals, transportation, entrance fees and program coordination)
International insurance: $1.62 per day (mandatory international health and emergency insurance coverage; total cost will vary based on number of days abroad and $20 is used as a budgeting estimate)
Out of pocket expenses: $210 for meals, $200 for incidentals, $135 for a passport if you do not have one
International scholarships are available through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad.

ISU Study Abroad

For general information about study abroad, visit ISU College of Human Sciences International Programs or ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad.

Questions

Questions about the France Study Abroad trip should be directed to Dr. Kurt Rosentrater (karosent@iastate.edu)