Health Care and Social Policies in Sweden
Sweden’s system of comprehensive and publicly-funded health care and social services, available to all residents, ranks among the most successful in the world. Sweden leads the world in major health outcomes, such as infant mortality and adult life expectancy, far outranking the United States. At the same time, Sweden spends approximately half of what we in the United States spend on health care. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to learn how the Swedish welfare state is organized and to see first-hand how it works on all levels and in various locations around the Stockholm-Uppsala area. Students will learn about Swedish history and culture, and will be challenged to re-examine many commonly held assumptions about both Scandinavia and the United States.
A special feature of the program is a two day visit to Helsinki,
the capital of Sweden’s Nordic neighbor, Finland.
Two professors will guide and accompany the group, provide background lectures, lead discussions, and answer questions throughout the course.
Itinerary Highlights
- Visits and lectures by Swedish officials and professionals at sites including: the national health and social welfare planning boards, acute care hospital, geriatric hospital, nursing home, primary care clinic, hospital maternity unit, child day care center, adult assisted-living facility, psychiatric hospital, neighborhood social services office, immigrant assistance program, AIDS center, and national social insurance office.
- Daily lectures and discussions with Swedish officials, physicians, nurses, midwives, social workers, psychologists, physical therapists, government planners, childcare workers and politicians.
Discussion with representatives of major political parties in Sweden.
- Presentation on Swedish history and the rise of the Swedish welfare state.
- Participation in Swedish cultural events.
- Opportunity to participate in the traditional Swedish summer celebration.
- A day-trip to Uppsala for additional facility visits.
- Weekend cruise and sightseeing tour to Helsinki, Finland.
- A visit to the Nobel Banquet Hall and Nobel museum.
Program Faculty
The course will be directed by KU faculty members Mary Zimmerman and Professor Jan Thomas of the Director of Women's and Gender Studies, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio.
Academic Program
SOC 600 or SOC 780 Special Topics: Health Care and Social Policies in Sweden 3 credit hours
This three-credit hour course is offered through the KU Department of Sociology. Undergraduates will be enrolled in SOC 600; graduate students will be enrolled in SOC 780.
HPM 836 Special Topics: Health Care and Social Policies 3 credit hours
KUMC students may enroll under HPM 836.
There will be assigned readings for both undergraduates and graduates before departure and a required paper upon return.
Accommodations
Students will stay in double rooms in a small, comfortable hotel in one of the nicer parts of central Stockholm, and one night in a centrally located student dormitory in Helsinki. Breakfast is included in Stockholm.
An additional two nights will be spent in sleeping cabins on the Stockholm/Helsinki ferry. Breakfasts on the ferry are included in the program cost.
Dates
Depart US: May 17, 2010
Arrive Stockholm: May 18, 2010
Depart Stockholm: June 1, 2010
Eligibility
Open to undergraduate and graduate students from any accredited U.S. college or university with an interest in Health Care, or Social Policies. Also open to interested professionals in the field. Preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. All participants are expected to be at least 21 years old by the start of the program.
Credit
Three hours of undergraduate or graduate-level credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.
Cost: TBD (Summer 2009 costs listed below).
Program Fee: Approximately $2,590 ($2,790 for non-KU students). The program fee includes accommodations, breakfasts, all site visits, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, KU orientation, and administrative costs.
Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 3 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $620 *
Graduate Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 3 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $765 *
*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.
Additional costs: Airfare, lunches and dinners, airport transfer, passport fees, and personal expenses.
Note
All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.
Financial Aid
KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.
Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.
Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.
Application Procedures
Application Deadline: March 1, 2010. Early application is strongly encouraged. The program is limited to 18 participants.
Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application.
(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)
For more information contact:
Dr. Mary K. Zimmerman
Professor, Department of Sociology and
Department of Health Policy and Management at The KU School of Medicine
Lawrence Office: 741 Fraser Hall, 785-864-9413
Medical Center campus: 5002 Student Center
email: mzimmerman@ku.edu
Dr. Jan Thomas
Director of Women’s and Gender Studies
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio 43022
phone: 740-427-5097
email: thomasj@kenyon.edu
The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu
top