Important Dates
Tentative Travel Dates: October 17, 2025 – November 2, 2025
Interest Meetings: View on Office of Education Abroad event calendar here.
Scholarship Application Deadline: October 15, 2024
Application and Deposit Deadline: January 15, 2025
Program Description
This faculty-led program in Tanzania will focus on occupational therapy practices in clinics near Arusha to promote learning outcomes grounded in cultural humility and empathy; goals which are becoming increasingly more relevant in healthcare. At specific locations, students will focus on infusion of occupation throughout the occupational therapy process through experimental and service-learning opportunities at clinical and community sites under the supervision of local health professionals and staff. Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on occupational therapy field experiences at facilities that provide services to children and adults of varying abilities, such Step-By-Step Learning Center, the Plaster House, Faraja Young Women’s Development Center, and Shanga (tentatively). With supervision, students will perform occupational therapy, clinical observations, occupation-based evaluations, interventions, and recommendations for all contextual environments to be used by teachers and families. The engagements will also provide an opportunity for students to understand people as occupational beings in various contexts while analyzing the importance of occupational justice across borders. Additionally, partnerships with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University will give students insight into occupational studies in Tanzania, and the opportunity to engage with local occupational therapy students to empower them to develop meaningful learning relationships and intercultural relationships with their globally diverse peers.
Students will acquire unique insight regarding multicultural healthcare, cultural humility, and cultural diversity through hands-on activities, cultural tours and activities, observation and dialogue with local residents, healthcare professionals and researchers who are engaged in the nation-building of Tanzania. These intentionally designed experience will encourage students to critically reflect and critique the diverse perspectives and values they may hold and broaden their world view of people and place.
Health and Safety
Students registering for programs should carefully read through all health and safety information provided during the application process. In addition, students should honestly complete the ‘Health and Safety Form’ so that any health related concerns may be adequately accommodated on study abroad programs.
Participants will be enrolled in comprehensive international insurance for the duration of programming. It is the student’s responsibility to extend insurance cover if they stay abroad beyond UCA’s planned program dates. For information about international insurance coverage: https://uca.edu/globalstudy/health-and-safety/
Students must attend one health and safety meeting during the spring semester. Meeting dates will be announced after the application deadlines.
Faculty Leaders and Course Offerings
Dr. Brittany Saviers is the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Saviers’ expertise is in pediatrics and the lifelong value of play and creativity. Understanding the importance of fieldwork to the occupational therapy curriculum, Dr. Saviers is excited for the opportunity for students to develop a greater cultural awareness and appreciation through this international experience that is necessary when working as an occupational therapy practitioner in diverse settings with diverse client groups.
Courses offered by Dr. Saviers:
- OTHY 6203 Level I Fieldwork: Evaluation & Intervention
Program Cost
Once available, the 2025 program cost for ‘UCA in Tanzania: Occupational Therapy’ will be linked here.
Learn Swahili
Practice some Swahili before your trip at Mango Languages.