Plus3 Nursing

 

Plus3 is your first chance to study abroad at Pitt. This two-week, three-credit interdisciplinary experience will give you a firsthand glimpse of globalization through site visits, discussions with experts, and academic lectures that provide cultural and political perspectives.

 

Plus3 programs are open to first-year students only. Applicants apply during the fall semester of their first year and participate in the program in the May immediately following their first year.

 

Tentative 2024 Plus3 Nursing Programs:


United Kingdom: Intersectionality at the Crossroads of Education and Healthcare

For Nursing and Education students

The academic focus of this program is an introduction to public health nursing and early childhood education contextualized by intersectionality. Built upon a comparative, multidisciplinary framework, this course addresses education, health services, and social services for children, young people, families within the context of race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality while providing students with a broad perspective on the distinctive healthcare and education systems operating in the United Kingdom and the United States.

  • Site visits may include: Public and private hospitals and schools, Birmingham City University, NGOs 
  • Cultural activities may include: Birmingham Museum of Art, Shakespeare Memorial Room, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Black Country Living Museum, Birmingham Jewelry Quarter, Blenheim Palace
  • Locations may include the city of Birmingham and daytrips to London, Oxford, and Stratford-upon-Avon

Check out Pitt Plus3 UK blogs for experiences of past participants

Argentina: Healthcare Management 

For Nursing and Business students

This program will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the impacts of globalization on healthcare in a middle-income country. You will focus first on understanding major themes in global healthcare, such as global burden of disease, determinants of health, and health and economic inequality. Background on Argentina's history and politics will provide you with a foundation to use during your site visits within the healthcare industry and Q&A sessions with industry stakeholders. By the end of this you will have an understanding of the mechanisms of delivering, financing, and managing healthcare in Argentina. 

  • Site visits may include: Universidad Austral, Universidad Nacional de la Matanza, Uni Hospital Universitario Austral, public and private hospitals
  • Cultural activities may include: City tour of Buenos Aires, tango lesson and show, visit to an Estancia (Ranch), Plaza de Mayo, and MALBA museum

Check out Pitt Plus3 Argentina blogs for experiences of past participants

 
 
UK: Located in the heart of England, Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK. Packed with history, arts and culture, this vibrant city was a global manufacturing powerhouse, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and was known in the Victorian era as the ‘Workshop of the World’.
Argentina: Explore the unique neighborhoods and thriving business culture of Buenos Aires, a vibrant port city and the gateway to Argentina. Learn to tango like the locals, appreciate Latin American art at the MALBA, cheer on the soccer team, and navigate the cobblestone pedestrian streets.

Where You'll Live: 

UK: Accommodation will be in shared hotel rooms in Birmingham, near major attractions, shops and restaurants. Accommodation will have air conditioning and wifi.
Argentina: Accommodation will be in Buenos Aires, near major attractions, shops, and restaurants. Accommodation will have air conditioning and wifi.

What You'll Study: 

You will receive three academic-credits for Plus3. For School of Nursing students, you should check with your academic advisors for confirmation on what Plus3 could fulfill towards your degree.

Plus3 Academics
Plus3 is a 3-part program that occurs during the spring term with international travel the first two-weeks in May.

  • Pre-Departure Orientations and Workshops – Three to five cohort meetings with your faculty leader and program assistant in the spring term will help to prepare you for your time abroad.
  • Field Study – Company visits, guest lectures lectures, and a reflection blog comprise the academic portion of your two weeks in-country.
  • Post-Program Project – You will complete a project (details determined by the faculty member) that acts as a summary for your experience. 
Comparative Health Issues: Within Health Care Systems (Global Seminar in Buenos Aires) (NUR1140)

This three-credit research-focused study abroad opportunity is meant to engage and encourage cross-disciplinary learning between business and nursing undergraduate students at the University of Pittsburgh. The academic focus of this experiential course is an introduction to healthcare management contextualized by globalization. Built upon a comparative, multidisciplinary framework, this course addresses conflicts between economic and clinical priorities, associated health disparities, and the variability in services and outcomes while providing students with a broad perspective on the distinctive healthcare systems in the hemisphere—specifically between those operating in Argentina and the United States. Plus3 Argentina is offered as a follow-up to the CBA course Managing in Complex Environments (BUSSPP 0020) or Introduction to Professional Nursing (NUR 0051). The course is conducted through pre-departure lectures and discussion sessions and a required trip abroad to tour local and multi-national healthcare organizations, attend lectures, and visit cultural sites.  

Intersectionality at the Crossroads of Education and Healthcare (NUR1711)

Each Plus3 program has a designated Faculty Leader and a Program Assistant; they will oversee academics, manage logistics, and travel throughout the Plus3 program.
The Faculty Leaders for 2023 are:
Plus3 Argentina Faculty Leader: Dr. Grant R. Martsolf
Plus3 UK Faculty Leader: Dr. Melissa Marks

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Lynnea Lombardi

Hi! I’m Lynnea, a proud two-time Pitt alumna and an international education enthusiast. When I was a student at Pitt, I studied abroad in South Korea and also visited China as a student leader. I previously lived in South Korea, where I taught English in a beautiful coastal town. I’m always excited to support Nursing students in their journey to study abroad. Please email me or make an appointment so I can get to know you and your goals.

 

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

  • Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
  • Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
  • Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
  • Select Study Abroad Virtual Advising as the Location
  • Select Study Abroad Program Specific Questions as the service
  • Select my name and find a time that works for you!

Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!

Your In-Country Contacts: 

Dr. Grant R. Martsolf

Dr. Martsolf is a professor in the School of Nursing and a Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. He is a health services researcher and public policy expert. His research  and teaching focuses on a wide variety of healthcare policy issues. He has many years working in international healthcare settings particularly in Haiti and Iraq. For more information on Dr. Martsolf, please visit his bio.

 

E-mail: 

Dr. Melissa Marks

Melissa J. Marks, EdD, the Director of the Education Program, developed the Plus3 syllabus for Nursing and Education in Birmingham with the recognition that issues of diversity impact both professions (e.g., economic disparities within society), that education, health, and societal impacts are interrelated, and that specific “soft skills” are needed by both groups.  At the university, she teaches a wide variety of courses, including strategies, diversity, social studies methods, and general teacher education courses. She was awarded the PGAA Outstanding Faculty Award (2009), The Pitt-Greensburg Distinguished Teaching Award (2016), and the University of Pittsburgh’s Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching (2017).  

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

  • Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
  • Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
  • Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
  • Select Study Abroad Virtual Advising as the Location
  • Select Study Abroad Program Specific Questions as the service
  • Select my name and find a time that works for you!

Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!

Items Billed by Pitt

 

Program Fee & Tuition

In-state

$5400

Out-of-state

$5600

Study Abroad Fee $300 $300
Total Billed by Pitt $5700 $5900

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Additional Spending Money ~$400-$600

 

   

 

What's Included: 
  • Accommodation during pre-departure orientation in Pittsburgh and duration of Plus3 program
  • Tuition for three Pitt credits
  • Round-trip international airfare*
  • In-country transportation
  • Excursions
  • Some meals
  • Visa (where applicable)
  • International health insurance

The program fee will cover most of your expenses, but your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you will need while abroad. Visit our budgeting page for more information. Please keep in mind that you are also responsible for the following:

  • Study Abroad Fee 
  • Additional spending money 

 
 

Scholarships 

Check out the scholarship page.

 

When You'll Go: 

The Plus3 programs run during the month of May, typically the second and third week.

What Else You Need to Know: 

Admission Requirements: 

  • First year, first semester students from the School of Nursing and Pitt Business  (Argentina) and School of Nursing and School of Education at either Greensburg or Oakland campus (United Kingdom) *School of Education includes Oakland undergraduate students who are anticipating entry into the School of Education 
  • Plus3 program applications will not be accepted without a passport that is valid at least six months past the program end date. Must have applied for a passport or already hold a valid passport by the application deadline. ​​​If you do not have a passport or need to renew yours, get started right away. Check out our helpful Passport Guide for more information.
  • Must have a clean judicial record
  • Minimum of a 2.75 GPA at the end of the first semester