Temple Summer in Serbia

Disability and Social Services

Learn about social services for people with disabilities and explore themes of rehabilitation, inclusion, and educational techniques in East Europe on this five-week fieldwork program. Located in and around Belgrade, you will interact with local service practitioners, participate in supervised field experiences that engage clients with disabilities through a variety of activities, and compare social services in post-communist Serbia to the U.S. The program is open to students of any major with an interest in learning about life in Serbia and developing a cross-cultural understanding of social services programs and practices for people with disabilities.

Program Overview

Expand upon each of the links below to view more details about this program.

Academic Program

Initial course meetings will introduce you to Serbian language and culture in preparation for your two field experiences. You will then spend the majority of your course time at social services sites where, on a daily basis, you will attend on-going programs for adults and youth with disabilties and interact with service recipients and providers. 

You will participate in regular group check-in meetings to discuss your experiences, reactions and progress on coursework.

Language of Instruction

Formal instruction will be in English (which is the most common second language in Belgrade). Serbian language will be spoken at placement sites; however, many professionals and university students are able to communicate in English with varying levels of proficiency. Prior knowledge of Serbian language is not required to participate.

Course load

3 credits

Course Offerings

Choose from:

  • Recreational Therapy 4000: Special Topics in Disabilities, Recreation and Leisure (3 credits), or
  • Health Related Professions 2800: Special Topics in Health Professions (3 credits) 

If you have already completed these courses or have special needs due to your major/disciplinary requirements, you may discuss the possibility of an independent study or other alternative with the program director prior to applying to the program.

View all courses.

Location

The program utlizes the city of Belgrade, the University of Belgrade and a number of program centers and institutions in and around Belgrade to provide you with background of Serbian history and culture throughout its 2300-year history of being destroyed and rebuilt countless times. Field trips further your understanding of the academic content and the history and culture of Serbia and the surrounding region. 

Explore Belgrade!

Belgrade is the capital of the southeast European country of Serbia and has a population of about 1.6 million. It is located at the intersection of the Sava and Danube rivers, a strategic location where today, an old-world culture gives way to new-world nightlife. Belgrade (“Beograd” in Serbian) means “white city” the name given for the white cliffs overlooking the Danube where the old city sits. Western tourism has steadily been on the rise for the past 20 years, and English is the most common second language, particularly in Belgrade. 

Belgrade is a gritty city, home to a vast array of museums, an extensive network of public transportation, and Knez Mihailova, a bustling pedestrian avenue of cafes, restaurants, and coffee shops found alongside old-school dives and much of the oldest architecture in the city. The University of Belgrade's "Student City" (Studenski grad) is is located in New Belgrade, where program housing is arranged, and fieldwork take place at a number of program centers and institutions in and around Belgrade. 

Program Dates

Four weeks: Mid-May through late June

Tentative Program Dates

Departure from U.S. May 14
Arrival in Belgrade May 15
Orientation May 16-17
Classes begin May 18
Classes end June 14
Last night in housing June 16
Program ends June 17

Do not use the above dates to book your flight, as they are tentative and subject to change. Accepted students will receive confirmed program dates and flight booking guidelines from Education Abroad before making travel plans.  

Program participants are required to be present for the entire length of the program, from the official arrival date through the program end date.

Housing

Housing type: dormitories

University of Belgrade dormitories are standard, cost effective student dormitories, with 2-4 bed apartments located in the "student city" area of Belgrade. There are 11 student residencies in Belgrade in which the Temple group may be placed, including Studentski Grad, which, in addition to dormitories and a restaurant, has two libraries, a cinema and a theater building, conference halls and an open stage for summer concerts. Student residencies are vibrant places, where you can live, eat, study and meet new friends and colleagues.
 
Meals will be on your own most of the time, aside from both a program opening and closing group dinner. Food is relatively inexpensive in Belgrade, and even more so if you go to the open air markets selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Food at restaurants is also relatively inexpensive and dinner at a nicer restaurant can be had for about $30. Whereas, a pizza (available at most restaurants and quite good) will cost about $8.

Activities & Excursions

The unique placements available through the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation at the University of Belgrade serve as the primary sites for experiential learning, with additional field trips to further student understanding of the academic content and the history and culture of Serbia and the surrounding region. This includes one excursion to another city in the region, the location of which varies year to year.

Faculty & On-site Support

Faculty

Dr. Bryan McCormick, a Temple faculty member with extensive experience in Serbia, serves as program director, oversees the academic program and teaches on site.

View program faculty.

Program Costs

TUITION AND FEES (3 CREDITS)

Temple students pay their usual per-credit rate by school/college and residency.

Non-Temple students pay the non-matriculated student rate based on residency. For the 2023-24 academic year, PA residents are charged $749 per credit and non-PA residents are charged $1,349 per credit. *Non-Temple students: your program costs may vary depending on your home institution's billing model. Please check with your study abroad office about your school's billing policies.

All students pay:

  • University Services Fee
  • Serbia Program Fee, estimated at $1700, which includes housing in shared accommodations, orientation, airport transfers, bus pass, some field trips and a few group meals.

For complete details about billable costs and estimate for non-billable expenses, such as airfare, meals, and personal expenses, view the program cost sheet.

View detailed program costs.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

Education Abroad offers competitive, need-based scholarships for this program. Learn more about scholarships and financial aid.

 

Health & Safety

Staying healthy and safe abroad requires good planning and strong support. Review our health and safety page for important steps to preparing for study abroad, and details about international travel medical insurance and assistance provided by Temple.  

Contact

Eligibility Requirements

Temple programs are open to qualified students matriculated at any U.S. college or university.

You are eligible to apply if you meet the following requirements.

Are enrolled fulltime and will have completed 2 semesters before studying abroad
  • You are enrolled as a full-time matriculated student at the time of application as well as during the semester prior to studying abroad.
  • You will have completed at least two (2) semesters of college-level study by the program start.
Are in good academic standing and meet minimum GPA requirement for the program

You meet minimum cumulative GPA requirement, on a 4.0 scale from all colleges/universities attended. The requirement varies by program:

  • Temple Semester Programs: 2.75 (Internships: 3.0)
  • Temple Summer Programs: 2.5
  • Exchange Programs: 2.75
  • External Programs: 2.5

You remain in good academic standing from the time of application until the start of your term abroad; students on academic warning are not eligible to participate.

Have a valid passport

You will need a passport, valid well beyond the length of your program, by the application deadline.

View deadlines and validity requirements for your host country.

 

Are in good disciplinary standing

You are in good disciplinary standing at the time of application and remain so through the start of your term abroad. Students who have been found responsible for a code of conduct violation and will not be in good disciplinary standing (including disciplinary probation) may submit a petition for review.

Meet the minimum age requirement

You are at least 18 years old at the time of application.

For Temple in Serbia, the following eligibility requirements apply:

Temple’s College of Public Health requires students engaging in fieldwork to obtain background clearances and certain immunizations, and to complete specific trainings. More details will be provided to accepted students. Please contact the faculty director with any questions. 

Application Requirements

The standard application requirements pertain to all students applying to Temple programs.

For Temple in Serbia, there are no additional application requirements.

Admissions Timeline

  • Admissions is rolling (early applications encouraged).
  • Once you submit your application, you should expect a decision within two (2) weeks.

I'm so grateful to be completing an internship abroad, and can't wait for all the amazing things I will learn along the way. I hope I can shine a light on the field of Recreational Therapy and can bring my experiences back into the field when I return.

Claire Hershey spinning in front of trees - photo provided by Claire Hershey

Claire Hershey

she/her