customized embedded programs

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Welcome to the penn state education abroad faculty-led embedded programs website!

Please use this site as a resource for developing your embedded program. We have provided step-by-step instructions and information on program development, the proposal process, implementation, and execution of the course. After reviewing the information on this site, please inform us of any concerns or questions you may have by emailing the embedded programs team at embeddedprograms@psu.edu.

A faculty-led embedded program is a short-term education abroad experience that is offered as a component or supplement to an academic course taught in residence on a Penn State campus or online. The international component is typically scheduled during a semester break or early summer, and it generally lasts 7-14 days.

A faculty-led embedded program can enhance the international offerings within a particular academic department, can support internationalization strategic goals of a college, and can allow for a student to gain valuable education abroad experience within the academic structure of a Penn State course.

The faculty leader assumes a great deal of responsibility for the development, proposal, implementation, and execution of the course – including the academic content, travel logistics, international site visits and activities, budgeting and payments, and health and safety of program participants. This may seem like an overwhelming list of responsibilities, but there are a number of support resources to help the faculty leader throughout the entire process.

In order to minimize institutional risk and to ensure compliance with University Policy FN20, Global Programs requires faculty and departments (graduate and undergraduate) organizing and/or sponsoring embedded programs to submit course information and essential documentation to Education Abroad via the online embedded course development and proposal process.

Please proceed to the "Program Development Checklist" page to determine which phase of the process you are currently in. From there, select from the tabs in the navigation pane for further details.