CHP Global Health Programs: PT Service Learning Experience in Dingle
Dates & Deadlines
| Term | Year | Application Deadline | Decision Date | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | 2026 | April 29, 2026 | TBD | October 10, 2026 (Depart US on October 9) | October 17, 2026 |
Program Description
The Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy offers an opportunity for a global service-learning experience to Dingle, Ireland. Dingle is a small community that is rich in Irish traditional ways of living, language, music, folklore and there are many historic and archeological sites. Currently, the community is host to several Ukrainian refugee families. The context is rural. Health and education systems are very different to US systems. As a remote community, access to physical therapy services is challenging.
This experience affords our students an opportunity to learn about global health issues; cultural awareness, humility and competence; comparative health and education systems; social justice and access to care; and healthcare development/education programming for disadvantaged communities. We will primarily explore and learn within both health and community settings. This service-learning experience offers the opportunity to develop and run PT clinics for the Dingle community and surrounding areas. Students will also implement one or more community health programs that were developed in the PT 845 class during the previous summer. There is potential opportunity to collaborate with students and faculty from Munster Technological University in Tralee. Additional interprofessional opportunities may be available with OT students and faculty from SHU.
Complementing the traditional culture are the modern amenities that make Dingle ideal: banking institutions, high-quality medical facilities, retail shops, accessibility of bus and train services, a regional airport for travel throughout Europe and proximity to larger towns and cities such as Tralee, Cork and Killarney. Your home base is in the heart and soul of the Peninsula, Dingle Town; a thriving Irish fishing port teeming with restaurants, shops and lively pubs.
Part of the College of Health Profession’s mission statement declares that our mission is “to develop students who value compassionate service and who can further translate this service into a life-long responsibility to contribute to a more just society.” The overarching goal for the service learning experience is for students to commit to service as a means of giving back to communities in need during and after completing their education Sacred Heart University.
The October service-learning Dingle experience is open to DPT 2 students in Semester 3. There is a competitive application process which opens to students in the spring prior to the fall experience. The program provides supervised service delivery to people in the Dingle community and surrounding rural areas, including select community groups based on the PT 845 projects developed in the preceding summer. Principles of service-learning and collaborative, interprofessional practice and cultural awareness frame the objectives of the experiences.
Outcomes of Service-Learning in Dingle
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and PT practice skills within a community setting
- Students will experience a safe context within which to develop self-confidence, professionalism and ‘hone’ knowledge and practice skills
- Students will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide culturally competent care that respects and integrates local tradition, practices and belief through interactions with people of a diverse culture and different ways of living
- Students will experience meaningful involvement with the local community and other professionals from both SHU and the Dingle peninsula
- This experience requires critical thinking and self-reflection for a broad understanding and appreciation of the host country, your area of study, and relevant current issues, to support your development as a ‘well-rounded’ global citizen, well versed in health and human services delivery
Students will live in shared accommodations in a house with access to a shared kitchen to prepare meals.
Horseback riding and a tour of Slea Head are included as part of the experience. These excursions offer students the chance to explore the stunning coastal landscapes of the Dingle Peninsula.
Program Costs
The total fall 2026 program cost due to Sacred Heart University is $2,837.
- $955 confirmation fee
- $1,882 program fee
- $45 application fee
Program Fee Includes:
- Program orientation
- International airfare from NY area
- Local ground transportation to and from the airport in Ireland
- Shared accommodations in a house with access to a shared kitchen
- Student meals (seven dinners - including welcome group dinner and farewell group dinner)
- Extra-curricular activities (horseback riding and Slea Head tour)
- Field trips to sites
- Mandatory basic international health and evacuation insurance
Program Fee Does Not Include:
- Transportation to and from the airport in the US
- Some meals
- Major medical insurance
- Visa/resident permit fees
- Vaccination fees
- Trip cancelation insurance
- All personal expenses
Payment Due Dates
- Upon acceptance: $955 confirmation fee + $45 application fee paid online via credit card
- June 1: $1,882 program fee paid online via credit card
Amy Jennings
Study Abroad Coordinator, Office of Global Education
203-416-3160
jenningsa6@sacredheart.edu
This program takes place during fall break. Fall 2026 dates are October 10 (depart U.S. on October 9) through October 17, 2026.