Eligibility

GPA	2.5
Hours completed	12
Student Judicial	Good status
Grad credit	Yes
Non-WIU	Yes
Pre-requisite	Restricted to Education majors
Student Year	Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate

 

Entry Requirements

Passport required--must be valid until November 30, 2020.

Visa required if not a US citizen.  It is your responsibility to check the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Embassy of Sweden websites for more information.  Visa costs not included in program cost.

 

Health Insurance

You must have international health insurance for the time you are on your program. Only two options are approved to meet this requirement:

• WIU student health insurance
• A supplemental policy (Patriot Travel Medical) from International Medical Group (IMG)

 

Health Precautions

Walking/mobility/travel - Expect to walk 5-8 miles/day.  It is not consecutive but scheduled throughout the day, sometimes over uneven terrain and up/down flights of stairs.  You will also be responsible for moving your own luggage. 

Environmental - Average daytime temperatures are in the 50s for this time period.  Sun protection is strongly recommended.  Daylight hours will be longer in Finland and Sweden than in the US; prepare for light/twilight much later at night/earlier in the morning .

Dietary - Some meals are included in the program cost. Contact Kim McDaniel  if you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Vaccinations - No vaccinations are required for entry into Finland or Sweden.  Up to date vaccination recommendations are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:  Finland    Sweden

Accessability and accommodation are very different than than found in the United States.  Please contact Disability Resources for questions on the availability of accommodations for your specific situation.

PLEASE NOTE   It is your responsibility to request accommodation from DR; faculty and staff are not legally permitted to inquire about such needs.  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange accommodations in your location.

 

Costs & Important Dates

Estimated Cost*	$4,165  SALE PRICE!!  Total starting November 1: $4,315
Included in the program	Roundtrip airfare from Chicago, in-country transportation, transfer from Finland to Sweden, double occupancy lodging, entry fees to scheduled sites, some meals
Application Deadline	November 10, 2019
Payments
Non-refundable Deposit	$315 due when accepted, payable to WIU.  Due to the unique payment structure of this Course, only cash, checks or money orders are accepted for the deposit.  Last day to submit: December 6, 2019
Remaining balance*	$3,850 paid to EF.  Price valid through October 31, 2019 $4,000 regular price paid to EF.  Price valid November 1-December 13, 2019 EF has a variety of payment plans.  For more information, contact Kim McDaniel

WIU reserves the right to adjust the cost or arrangements of this program due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond the University's control.  For details about this or individual withdrawals, see Cancellations and Withdrawals.

Important Dates

Passport copy deadline:  January 31, 2020  Failure to meet this deadline will result in removal from the group flight and increased costs with EF Tours.

MANDATORY Pre-departure meeting: TBA, Spring 2020

 

Academics

Credit offered

RDG 379 - Counts as an upper-division elective for Education majors/minors

RDG 679 - May count towards graduation requirements for Master's of Education

Please check with your academic advisor for more information on how this Course fits your specific academic needs.

 

Objectives/activities

• Gain a stronger understanding of how the Finnish and Swedish educational systems are organized
  
• Discuss elements of the Finnish education system that are responsible for its high overall ranking from PISA
• Examine the differences in how the educational systems and governing entities are organized in Finland, Sweden and the US

 

Class sessions

Active class participation, including contribution to discussions and attendance, is expected in all phases of the Course.  You are responsible for completing pre-departure assignments including readings and discussion participation, attendance and active participation during on-site visits, guest lectures and activities, and post-return assignments.  Questions about course content should be directed to Dr. Melissa Stinnett .

Student testimonials

Coming soon!