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UW Global Health Community Health and Health Disparity in Nepal

Students stand outside of a building and overlook the many green mountains in the distance.
Twenty students stand in a wooded area and throw up the "finger W" pose.
A group of students stand inside a building smiling.
A group of students in warm clothes stand around a sign that says "Poon Hill".
A bowl filled with small white candles and bright pink, orange, and yellow flowers.
Five students stand in front of a snow-covered rocky mountain.
A group of students as seen from the back sitting on a metal railing overlooking many mountains.
Many small boats, mostly blue canoes, sit on a lake as the sun peeks out from behind the mountains in the distance.

This program is not planned to run in Winter Intersession 2026-2027. We hope to offer it next in Winter 2027-2028.  

Nepal, Kathmandu

The UW Global Health, Community Health and Health Disparity program is offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in partnership with IAP.

In this field course, you will experience the beauty of Nepal's rich culture and mountainous landscape while learning about the opportunities and barriers to health and wellness in both rural and urban Nepal as well as local efforts to improve health and well being.

The program will expose you to the social determinants of health and the myriad of factors that determine the health of a population through hands on learning experiences, site visits, and conversations with local experts. You will learn firsthand about how inequity, poverty, education, and political instability affect global health and interact with local community members, engaging in a service-learning experience driven by local community needs and resources known as Shramadana. 

The program also includes a homestay in a rural village and hiking in the Himalayan mountains where you will visit villages and experience life and Nepali culture at high altitudes. Students must be ready to move through a busy and fascinating itinerary, and engage meaningfully with local experts, community members, and each other. Students will be guided to learn about the community, the country and about themselves through this fully immersive experience in the mountain region of Nepal, staying in very basic accommodations. This program is designed to push students to embrace new challenges and encounter difficult circumtances - to ultimately create a safe and productive space for learning and growth. 

To view program photos and learn about past student experiences, visit the "Student Voices" tab below.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Increase students’ knowledge, understanding, and practical field skills related to Asset-Based Community Development and its application to holistic health and wellness in village life
  • Learn how health and well-being are affected by social, environmental, political, spiritual, cultural, and economic conditions in rural Nepal
  • Develop cultural competency and engage in the international context, appreciating and honoring cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding, respect and collaboration
  • Build upon knowledge of organizations involved in improving health and well-being, including governmental, international, and local NGOs, faith-based programs, university-affiliated programs and social entrepreneurs
  • Gain exposure to practices in sustainable, holistic development and the need for cross-disciplinary partnerships to address issues of health and well-being in impoverished areas
  • Stimulate knowledge of the power of cultural norms and apply what they learn when they return to the US
  • Assess their own interests and capacities for international study and work, and to increase awareness to engage in those opportunities
  • Engage in service with local Nepali counterparts in ways that contribute to the community’s own vision and efforts to improve health and well-being
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and comparative perspectives with respect to experiences or cultural approaches to international challenges

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only.
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA required

  • Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate Student
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Global Health

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Hotels, Guesthouse, Local Hosts

Program Duration

Early January to mid-January

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2024 12/1/2023 Cost Details
Extended Deadline: 1/5/2024

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

You will spend time in Nepal in a rural village using an asset based community development model following the shramadana (meaning "a gift of labor") principle of the partner organization, Sarvodaya. You will also explore the Kathmandu Valley, and visit important local and international organizations working towards improving health in Nepal.

You will receive a total 2 credits of Nutritional Science 421 after successful completion of this program.  The study abroad program is approved as a field experience for the Global Health Certificate.

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Sweta Shrestha of the UW-Madison Master in Public Health Program