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China: Disability in a Global Context

Graduate Study Abroad

This course explores the implications of disability in global contexts with varying types of health care and education systems for individuals with disabilities. It examines how local public and private sectors, including schools, hospitals, or transportation systems, affect the lives of people with disabilities in Shanghai. The students will explore and identify cultural and historical factors, which may influence a community’s view of disability. Students will gain knowledge of different professions through interactions with faculty, students, and community visits to develop inter-professional team-building skills. This course utilizes the reflective teaching model and experiential learning to enrich students’ understandings of the impact of context, including enablers and barriers to participation in daily life especially for people with disabilities. Students will learn about socialized health care, education, access and public transportation, and social welfare for individuals with disabilities in Shanghai.

Location:

Shanghai, China

Program Dates:

May 28 - June 11, 2025 (tentative; subject to change)

Faculty:

Tsu-Hsin Howe, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy.

Wen K. Ling, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy.

Application Deadline:

  • Priority Deadline: February 5, 2025
  • Regular Deadline: March 5, 2025 (admissions continue thereafter on a space-available basis)

Find the application link and instructions on the "How to Apply" page.

Who can participate:

  • NYU graduate students
  • NYU undergraduate students who have:
    • 96+ earned credits by course start date
    • related coursework
    • approval from the faculty director as well as their advisor
  • Non-NYU graduate students and professionals who are both:
    • U.S. citizens or permanent residents
    • Currently hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

Related areas of study:

  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Special Education
  • Childhood Education
  • Social Work
  • International Education

This is not a complete list. We value diverse perspectives in our programs and encourage students from other majors and professions.

How to apply:

The application link and instructions, as well as the deadlines and notification timelines, can be found on the "How to Apply" page

This is a credit-bearing graduate Global course, and students must self-register in Albert. There are two course options:

Occupational Therapy students and all other non-Physical Therapy students register for a total of 3 credits and take the following course:

  • OT-GE 2174, Section 099 (Class #TBC) - Disability in a Global Context (3 credits)

Offered through the Department of Occupational Therapy.

Physical Therapy students may register for the course below only after receiving approval from the program faculty leader. Otherwise, they should register for the above Occupational Therapy course:

  • PT-GE 2300, Section 099 (Class #TBC) - Independent Study: Disability in a Global Context (1 credit)

Offered through the Department of Physical Therapy.

Important Note: All program applicants must meet with their academic adviser to determine if and how this course may be applied towards their program requirements and degree completion.

Direct Costs Billed by NYU

Participants will be billed for the cost of the graduate course following the standard per-credit rate for NYU Steinhardt Graduate Study Tuition and Fees or the secured-rate Physical Therapy tuition. In addition, study abroad courses have a supplemental Program Fee that covers the cost of housing abroad, program activities and visits, group transportation in-country, and international health insurance. Students can expect to be billed:

For students enrolled in the "Disability in a Global Context" (OT-GE 2174) course:

  • Steinhardt Graduate Tuition (3 credits) - $6,555
  • Steinhardt Graduate Registration and Services Fees - $714
  • Program Fee - $1,800
  • GeoBlue International Health Insurance - Included

Estimated Direct Cost Total - $9,069

For Physical Therapy students enrolled in the "Independent Study: Disability in a Global Context" (PT-GE 2300) course:

Estimated Direct Cost Total - $1,800 + Steinhardt PTPS-DPT Secured-Rate Tuition

Tuition, Registration, and Program fees will be due based on Bursar's Payment Schedule for the current term.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Students are responsible for purchasing flights to and from the program location. Students will be notified when to book flights. We recommend comparing tickets on multiple sites to ensure the best fare. Past participants have used the following flight search engines: KayakGoogle Flights, and Student Universe.

In addition to airfare, participants should budget for other out-of-pocket costs, including daily meals (except for included welcome and farewell meals); transportation to and from the airport; passport and/or visa fees (if applicable); vaccination costs (if applicable); and other personal incidentals. These costs will vary depending on individual students' budgets, preferences, and choices. Students are encouraged to research potential costs by using online budgeting tools such as Numbeo, Expatistan, and Budget Your Trip.

Scholarships

NYU Steinhardt offers several graduate study abroad scholarships and maintains a list of additional external funding opportunities.

Study Abroad Budget Worksheet

Download and use this Study Abroad Budget Worksheet to estimate the cost of your study abroad experience. 

PLEASE NOTE: This spreadsheet lists possible expenses and may not be all-inclusive of program costs. In addition, your costs may fluctuate based on changes in currency exchange rates, airfare, varying personal lifestyles, etc. While this is a good tool for reviewing study abroad expenses, the results should be considered to be an estimate of the total cost of participation.

Housing

Students stay in shared-occupancy housing arranged by the Office of Global Affairs. Your housing is included in your Program Fee. Group accommodation dates correspond with the program dates listed above.

Flight, Travel, and Visa Information

Flight: Students book their own travel to coincide with program dates. Please keep in mind that flights arriving in Shanghai typically depart New York a day in advance. All participants are strongly encouraged to purchase refundable flights.

Passport: All program participants are required to have a valid passport, which must be valid for at least six months beyond the program's end date.

Visa: US citizens require a valid passport and a visitor's visa for travel to China.

All other passport holders should check their visa requirements on the embassy/consulate website respective of their nationality. For further guidance on visas and other non-immigration matters, contact OGS Outbound Student Services at ogs.outbound@nyu.edu.

Helpful links: US State DepartmentCenter for Disease Control, NYU Shanghai

Pre-Departure Resources

Visit the Steinhardt Study Abroad Resources website and get a head start on preparing for your study abroad program experience.

Policies

All applicants should review the Office of Global Affairs Short-Term Graduate Courses Policies page prior to applying to study abroad.

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