Study Abroad Opportunities With Service Learning Expand This May and Summer

Study abroad opportunities with a Service Learning component abound this May and summer! From Australia to Rome, the community-engagement emphasis of Service Learning allows students to see the world and make a meaningful impact through service. The service students provide abroad strengthens cultural understanding and humility while building transferable skills they can apply wherever their careers and lives take them. 

A new program receiving the Service Learning designation this year will be Cultural Perspectives on Health, Recreation and Sports in the Bahamas. 

In the Bahamas program, students gain hands-on experience by collaborating with local organizations to support community health and development through recreation and sports. This approach not only benefits the local population, but also enhances students' understanding of the practical applications of public health principles and the impact that recreation and sports can have on community development and tourism. 

All endorsed Study Abroad Service Learning programs award U of A credit, and the Service Learning designation appears on students' transcripts, recognizing the added academic rigor and community engagement these experiences provide. 

Undergraduate students participating in designated U of A-endorsed Service Learning programs abroad may be eligible for the John and Trudy Sher International Service Learning Scholarship Award, which supports students who demonstrate financial need. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Jan. 23, 2026. Contact the Study Abroad Office for more details on this scholarship opportunity. 

Service Learning Study Abroad Programs Expected for 2026 

Intercultural Communication in Rome (Summer) 
Led by Veronica Mobley 
Application deadline: Jan. 15, 2026 

Trekking Australia: Animals, Aboriginal Culture, Rainforests and Reefs (August Intersession) 
Led by Kathi Jogan and Ken Coffey 
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2026 

Cultural Perspectives on Health, Recreation and Sports in the Bahamas (May Intersession) 
Led by Lynette Washington and Simeon Hinsey 
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2026 

For more information on the Service Learning Initiative, including on-campus courses offered, visit their website or email the Service Learning coordinator at svclrn01@uark.edu.