Public Service Abroad
Many semester and yearlong study abroad programs offer courses or credit-bearing internships that include community service or service learning. In many cases, these courses can satisfy the public service graduation requirement.
The Office of Study Abroad administers semester and yearlong programs that contain public service and service learning components. To fulfill the public service requirement while on a Tulane Study Abroad Programs, students should notify the OSA study abroad advisor of this intent during initial study abroad planning and work closely with the study abroad advisor to identify an appropriate program.
In addition, the Center for Public Service (CPS) administers a variety of faculty-led International Service programs. A list of CPS International Programs is available online at international.cps.tulane.edu.
To qualify as a service learning experience and satisfy the public service requirement, courses you take abroad must demonstrate the same elements as service learning courses here at Tulane:
- Service in the community is tied to the learning objectives of an academic course
- Participation in a reciprocal service experience – the community directly benefits from the student’s service contributions; the student benefits from learning from the community
- Completion of 20 service hours (minimum) per 3 credit hours
- Reflection on the service experience through written, oral, or other creative means as a part of the academic course
Please note: To petition to receive credit for a non-CPS, proof of completion of the program is required. Students should retain copies of transcripts, syllabi, and other course-related documents from the study abroad program.
Receiving credit for a Study Abroad Program with a Public Service Component
As previously stated, to receive credit for Public Service completed abroad, students must demonstrate that the experience meets the same criteria for service learning classes at Tulane – namely that it is attached to an academic component and that the service benefits a community partner. Students may elect to participate in a Tulane faculty-led International Program administered by the CPS. Students who successfully complete one of these programs will automatically receive public service credit.
For Tulane Study Abroad Programs, students may fulfill the public service requirement by enrolling in a pre-approved course on a Tulane Study Abroad Program administered by the Center for International Studies. Students who wish to complete service learning while studying on a Tulane Study Abroad should contact the Center for International Studies. CIS maintains a list of programs that have been approved to receive Tulane academic credit.
To receive public service credit for a course taken abroad on a Tulane Study Abroad Program, students must complete the Public Service Credit Approval form (appendix i). The form asks students to explain how their course met service learning requirements. Supporting documentation is required. Students should keep syllabi, transcripts, activity log, and/or timesheets to demonstrate appropriate course content. Once the CPS Curriculum Committee approves the experience, a public service credit will be added to the transferred course on the student’s Tulane transcript.
Please note: Public service credit must be attached to a course. Students should work with CIS, the appropriate academic department and academic advisor to ensure that the paperwork necessary to transfer the study abroad course credits to their Tulane transcript has been completed. Students are STRONGLY encouraged to initiate this process before studying abroad.
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