During the 2026-27 academic year, the School of Social Work will offer two unique opportunities for SSW students to travel internationally while earning elective credits.
A Global Course Extension involves a 1-2 week course in an international location that allows students to further engage and explore the themes and topics introduced in a classroom-based course. Each 2-credit Global Course Extension (SW785) builds off a 1-credit classroom-based Advanced Global Topics in Social Work course (SW789). Each pair of courses focuses on a specific global social work-related topic, such as migration, displacement, poverty, climate change, indigeneity, etc.
During winter term 2027, Dr. Katie Lopez will teach a Global Course Extension in Cuernavaca, Mexico. During spring/summer term 2027, Dr. Ashley Cureton will teach a Global Course Extension in Cape Town, South Africa.
Participation in a Global Course Extension requires that students satisfactorily complete the associated 1-credit Advanced Global Topics in Social Work course (SW789) during the same term. Additionally, students must apply and be accepted to participate in a Global Course Extension course through an M-Compass application process.
Mexico Information Session
Monday, September 14, 2026
12:30 - 2:00 PM EST
1636 SSWB & Zoom
Click here to RSVP for the Mexico info session.
South Africa Information Session
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
12:00 - 1:30PM EST
1636 SSWB & Zoom
Click here to RSVP for the South Africa info session.
2027 Application Deadline
Applications for the 2027 Global Course Extension in Mexico are due on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
Applications for the 2027 Global Course Extension in South Africa are due on Sunday, January 24, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST.
Eligibility
Global Course Extensions are open to online and residential Masters students, including pre-MSW students in the Ph.D. program, who are interested in engaging in global issues. MSIL and MSW students from all pathways and curriculum tracks are encouraged to apply. Students cannot participate in a course after they have graduated. However, students who will graduate in August 2027 are eligible to participate in the South Africa course.
MSIL students are eligible for the Mexico course only.
Students who have limited or no previous international travel experience are encouraged to apply. The Office of Global Activities offers a Passport Grant of $165 per person to Masters students who have never held a passport before. Students are automatically considered for the Passport Grant once they complete the Global Course Extension application.
Students can only participate in one SSW-funded international experience. Students cannot apply for and participate in both the Mexico and South Africa courses. Additionally, students in the Global Activities Scholars Program or funded through the Global Independent Study Grant are not eligible to participate in a GCE.
Funding
A $250 non-refundable program fee is required of all participants upon committing to a Global Course Extension. The cost of the Global Course Extension course is subsidized by the Office of Global Activities to cover in-country transportation, lodging, travel health insurance, activities, and most meals. Students will be responsible for the cost of their round-trip plane tickets, visa fees, immunization costs, and any discretionary spending.
Limited need-based financial aid funding is available to reduce student costs for qualified applicants. Students have the opportunity to apply for the scholarship through a separate application process after they have been accepted to the program.
Application Requirements
All applications must be submitted through M-Compass. Only complete applications will be reviewed. The application process includes:
- CV or resume upload
- One (1) recommendation letter
- Statement of interest
- Brief responses detailing:
- Previous travel experience
- Personal preparation and potential challenges
Students being considered for acceptance to the program will be invited to an interview with the course leads and Office of Global Activities staff.
Global Course Extension in Cuernavaca, Mexico during Winter 2027
Based in Cuernavaca, Mexico, this course will examine selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the Mexican context. Students will learn from local experts and visit community organizations to understand how Mexican social workers address social issues within their cultural context. Specifically, grounded in the principles of cross-cultural understanding and social justice, this course will focus on how social workers engage with issues of health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, the reduction of inequalities, and climate action.
Students will also participate in daily Spanish lessons to enhance their language skills by learning and practicing Spanish social work terminology. Language skills are crucial for social workers to build trust with individuals and communities, understand diverse cultural needs, advocate effectively, and navigate complex challenges. Finally, students will live with local homestay families during the duration of the course, offering an immersive opportunity to learn more about Mexican culture and practice their Spanish skills.
Mexico will take place during UM Spring Break, March 5-14. Exact dates are TBA.
Global Course Extension in Cape Town, South Africa during Spring/Summer 2027
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, the engagement course draws on the “grand challenges” facing social work professionals, encompassing a broad range of issues, from addressing gender-based violence to reducing extreme economic inequality.
This course will expose students to South Africa's distinct political context, exploring how social change, post-apartheid justice, and reconciliation have played a key role in its rich yet complicated cultural history. This course will be worthwhile for social work students who want to explore and implement African-centered interventions and approaches into their practice. More specifically, social work students will gain exposure to Ubuntu, a foundational African philosophy in South African social work that emphasizes "I am because we are"—the idea that humanity is defined by interconnectedness, empathy, and collective responsibility.
South Africa will take place between August 3 and August 20. Exact dates are TBA.
Apply
All applications must be submitted through M-Compass. Applications for the Global Course Extension in Mexico are due on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. The application portal will open after the information session.
The application portal for the Global Course Extension in South Africa will be opened later in the Fall 2026 semester. Applications for the Global Course Extension in South Africa are due on Sunday, January 24, 2026.
If you have questions, please contact OGA at (734) 615-0012 or [email protected].