Cassidy Sluss, Health and Culture in Bolivia, Summer 2026
A study abroad experience may offer the same credits and meet the same requirements as a typical on campus course, but pursuing academics abroad is truly an opportunity unlike any other. Not only is the scheduling different, many of these courses include field trips and excursions as part of the required content. This means that not every class is a lecture, many of them are very unique experiences that are only available abroad that are equally as educational as a typical lecture. The assignments then tie into both what is taught in lecture and what has been experienced outside of the classroom. In my experience, this makes the workload much more doable, because all instructors and group leaders are aware that a large portion of the learning comes from the experience, not traditional just instruction.
Additionally, my study abroad opportunity brought me to professors that I never would have had the opportunity to work with if it weren’t for my program. One of my professors (who became a personal hero for me) works at a different Pitt campus, meaning I never would have gotten to experience her teaching if it weren’t for my study abroad. My other professor was a professor at Universidad de San Simón in Bolivia. This was not only interesting because he was an instructor I would have never had the opportunity to learn from otherwise, it also allowed for our information about Bolivia to come from a person directly impacted by Bolivian politics and society daily, making the information that much more relevant and interesting.
Studying abroad makes everyone a more well-rounded student in and out of the classroom. It teaches resilience, independence, and confidence along with academic content. Particularly in a country like Bolivia, there is so much to be learned by experiencing the rich and complicated society alongside taking classes.
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