Global Health Nursing Partnerships - Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing

2024-2025 Study Abroad Programs

The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing strives to educate nurses with a global view of health. Our international programming offers opportunities for undergraduate and graduate level students to participate in service-learning projects, clinical rotations, and nursing research in countries around the world.

These programs are open to all traditional BSN students and accelerated BSN students from any campus. The Tanzania experience is also open to DNP students for clinical credit. DNP students may attend the program in Guatemala but will not be able to get DNP clinical credit. Program fee will be added to your student account and due to the current funding model, you will not pay additional credit fees for this course (Nursing 469: Culturally Responsive Care in Nursing).

Upcoming Study Abroad Global Health Opportunities

Ipalamwa, Tanzania, November 15-30th, 2024

TRIP FULL - To be offered again in Fall of 2025

Help parents acquire essential services to prevent childhood stunting. Share knowledge, engage your skills, and offer encouragement through the Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) Tanzania demonstration program. Contribute to a program delivering on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and aiming to improve the lives of generations! This program is through Global Volunteers.

Activities include:

Home visiting to provide health education and support to families in rural villages
Working with interdisciplinary clinic staff to provide primary care and maternal child health services
Planning and delivering health education sessions to families with children
2 day all-inclusive safari experience with cultural activities

Approximate cost: $3,400 (program cost) + airfare (approximately $1,500). Program cost includes all ground transportation, meals, safari, and lodging.

Here is some additional information about the trip:

For undergraduate students in their final semester, the Tanzania trip (Nursing 469) will replace your Nursing 498 preceptorship. Due to the timing of the trip, it will not be possible for you to go to Tanzania and also do an in-patient preceptorship.

For graduate students, we will work with your lead faculty to determine the availability (if applicable) of earning clinical hours while in Tanzania.
If you travel during the scheduled dates, faculty will work with you to accommodate your other courses during the Tanzania experience. However, students will be responsible for ensuring that any clinical and course work is made up prior to or upon return from the trip. It is the students' responsibility to let faculty know early in the semester they will be traveling and arrange for make-up work.
After you sign up for this trip, you will be registered for Nursing 469. This course has weekly (typically in the evening via WebEx) required meetings that will prepare students for the trip and provide additional information about trip logistics and requirements.
Financial aid can be applied to the study abroad program fees. Please meet with a financial aid representative to discuss how this might work for you.
Fundraising is also an option to offset student cost. Students who register can organize fundraising with the help of faculty and the Office of International Programs. In addition, if you have airline miles, you may be able to use them toward your plane ticket.
There are several vaccinations that will be needed to travel to Tanzania. These will be covered early in fall semester and you will receive instructions about how to complete them prior to travel.
You will need a current passport that does not expire within 6 months of travel. Check your passport now to make sure that it does not expire before May 2025.

If you are ready to register for the trip, please fill out the registration form here (NRSG 469 Culturally Responsive Care in Nursing Tanzania, Fall 2024). In addition to filling out the registration form, a $350 deposit is required to confirm your spot. You can pay the deposit here (fee payments for faculty-led study abroad programs). If you are committed to going and paying the deposit at this time is a challenge, please reach out to Molly Secor or Toby Blake for assistance or to make other arrangements.

Priority will be given to students registered before June 1st.

After registering, you will receive more information about next steps that will likely involve fundraising over the summer. The Office of International Programs will work with students for group fights and take care of all program registration with Global Volunteers. You do not need to register on the Global Volunteers website.

If you have additional questions or need more information, please contact:

Molly Secor, MRJ College of Nursing: molly.secor@montana.edu

Toby Blake, MSU Office of International Programs: toby.blake@montana.edu

Antigue, Guatemala, March 15-23rd, 2025

International Volunteer HQ’s Medical Campaign enables groups of eight or more to do specific outreach work in and around Antigua. Campaigns involve visiting a number of different communities to provide basic health services, treatment and education and improving access to healthcare by taking it to people in their own neighborhoods. This program is through International Volunteer HQ.

Activities include:

Participate in interdisciplinary mobile outreach clinics to a variety of community settings
Provide health education seminars
Family stays
Variety of afternoon excursions available such as hiking, visits to cultural ruins

Approximate cost: $1,400 (program cost) + airfare (approximately $1,000). Program cost includes all ground transportation, meals, and lodging.

If you are interested in participating or have questions about either of these programs, please email Dr. Molly Secor at molly.secor@montana.edu

Past Study Abroad Trips

Ecuador Trip Video

“Global trends are transforming society, and at Montana State University we are preparing our graduates for the "borderless careers" they will enter. Among numerous benefits, international initiatives and experiences expand our horizons, enrich our breadth of appreciation of different cultures and help all of us become well-rounded citizens.” - Waded Cruzado, MSU President

Reference Guide: College of Nursing Global Health Experiences

Programs are offered to students on all MRJCON campuses; pre-requisites for each program vary. Programs are generally open to undergraduate and graduate students, but eligibility varies by semester offered and academic schedule.
Selection criteria include: flexibility and good academic standing, current enrollment in the College of Nursing, ability to contribute to a group effort, demonstrated leadership, and physical readiness for walking and completing responsibilities in inclement conditions.
Cost of program varies depending on the locale. Additional funds may be needed for immunizations, passport, and clothing/equipment.
Two faculty members from the College of Nursing are assigned to lead each international program with additional on-site support from partner organizations in country and 24/7 hour support from partner organizations and MSU.
Students must be prepared to share space, including sleeping space and bathroom facilities during the experience, privacy can be minimal.
Teamwork is essential during long, hard work-days.
Joint application and health clearance through Montana State University’s Office of International Programming and Student Health Services are required before students and faculty depart.

Funding and Support

The College of Nursing encourages students to seek financial aid to support global health learning experiences. We are happy to provide interested students with resources as they seek out additional funding. Lead faculty will be

able to help an interested student learn more about our programs, fill out paperwork and applications, obtain necessary documents, and prepare for his or her global experience.

Montana State’s College of Nursing welcomes donations from alumni and friends of the university to help make our students’ dreams a reality. For questions or conversations about donating to the College’s Fund for International Programming, please contact the College of Nursing at the address below.

International Coordinator for the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing

Inquiries about programs, applications, or partnerships may be addressed to:

Dr. Molly Secor
Associate Dean for Research
Montana State University – College of Nursing
PO Box 173560
Bozeman, MT 59717
molly.secor@montana.edu
406-994-2786

Faculty Lead Study Abroad Programs