Developing a Short-term, Faculty-led Sports Medicine Study Abroad Experience

Context: While sports medicine study abroad opportunities have recently increased, the literature regarding their development is non-existent in athletic training education literature and very limited in general education literature.

Objective: The purpose of this manuscript is to draw upon my experience to describe the essential design elements that must be considered when planning and executing a short-term, faculty-led study abroad program.

Background: Faculty-led sports medicine study abroad experiences have become more common in the last 10 years. And while a number of these educational opportunities have been offered specifically to athletic training students, there is little literature devoted to their creation.

Description: I will describe how a short-term faculty-led study abroad program was developed, some of its essential elements, and other pertinent information gleaned during the experience.

Clinical Advantage(s): Faculty-led sports medicine study abroad programs can provide athletic training students with a unique academic opportunity for a multicultural experience without disrupting their academic progress with a semester abroad.

Conclusion: Developing a field study involves more than creating an itinerary and a budget. Short-term study abroad opportunities can provide an avenue for multicultural education; however, educational best practices need to be developed and shared.