Faculty-led Program in Ireland (Prof. Heinz/Plagge)

This transformative Faculty-Led Study Abroad program will focus on Ireland’s holistic approach to health and happiness where creativity meets culture, well-being intertwines with policy throughout the lifespan, and community is celebrated through collaboration. We will explore how health initiatives promote well-being and enhance the lives of those living in Ireland. We will learn about initiatives like Healthy Ireland, the Men’s Sheds Movement, and the Irish Traveller Movement by visiting local agencies and attending talks from professionals working in Limerick City. We will also visit several family owned businesses that promote creativity and sustainability and hear directly from these family members about how their way of life enhances their well-being and the communities they reside in.

Dates & Deadlines

App Deadline: December 15, 2024
Program Dates: May 19, 2025 to May 29, 2025 (Dates tentative)

To get started for Summer Break-Ireland 2025, schedule a meeting with an advisor using the link below.

Schedule First Steps Meeting

Interested in studying abroad in the summer of 2025 or later? Please fill out the waitlist form below and the study abroad center will notify you when applications for future terms open. If you are still deciding where or when you want to go abroad, you can also schedule an informational meeting with our office to learn more about the programs we offer and find one that works best for you!

Study Abroad Waitlist Schedule Info Meeting

Unsure where to begin? Visit our Application Process page to learn more!

Course Leader

Melinda Heinz, Assistant Professor

Department: Family, Aging, and Counseling
Phone: 319-273-5692
E-mail: melinda.heinz@uni.edu
Campus Address: LAT 225

Melinda spent a semester living in Ireland as a Fulbright Scholar in Ireland in 2022 where she studied Men’s Sheds in County Limerick. Since returning to the U.S., she has maintained relationships with colleagues from the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest and Irish Men’s Sheds members. Melinda has previously led study abroad programs to Ireland with students at Upper Iowa University and is eager to share her love of Irish culture with UNI students.

Anne Plagge, Assistant Professor

Department: Family, Aging, and Counseling
Phone: 319-273-5763
E-mail: anne.plagge@uni.edu
Campus Address: LAT 245

Anne brings nearly 15 years of experience working in the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting field, focusing on health, wellbeing, and policy. She is thrilled to work with UNI students to discover how wellbeing in Ireland is supported throughout the lifespan. Anne loves to travel and has visited several counties including Iceland, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Anne believes traveling to other countries helps us understand how humans are connected, and is excited to explore Irish policies that support communities and families with students.

Academics

UNIV 3003: Community and Wellbeing Through the Lifespan of Ireland (3 credit hours)

This is a UNIFI: Global Condition category course. It can count as a general education UNIFI elective credit under the category of Connect.

No prerequisites. All majors welcome. Participation in this program requires several class meetings during the spring semester, although the course is scheduled as a summer course. The Study Abroad Center will enroll participants in the course. Please contact the program's course leader for more information on academic requirements.

Talk to your academic advisor about how this course would work for you!

NOTES:

Students planning to participate in the spring commencement ceremony in May can enroll in this summer term program, however, their degree will not be conferred until the end of the summer term and is contingent on the successful completion of the program and all required coursework.
Students attending colleges and universities other than UNI are welcome to participate in this program. If you are not currently a UNI student, but would like to participate in this program, please contact the UNI Study Abroad Center prior to starting your program application.

Itinerary

Tentative Program Dates: Monday, May 19 - Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Dates do not include travel to/from destination)

Sample itinerary is subject to change. Activities throughout Ireland will be scheduled according to availability.

Day 1: Students arrive to Shannon Airport; travel to housing in Limerick City on their own via public transportation; group dinner in evening.

Day 2: Talks at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) to include: Irish Travellers Culture and Health Programme, Men's Sheds, a grassroots organization designed to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older men/Aging and wellbeing initiatives like Healthy Ireland, Maternal/Childhood/Young Adult policies that support wellbeing, such as parental leave policies and how those compare to the U.S., Community Development and Sustainability will also be highlighted.

Day 3: Students will visit two Men’s Sheds in Limerick today. St. Mary’s Men’s Shed is in downtown Limerick City where the men enjoy woodworking and playing music together. At the Dooradoyle Raheen Men’s Shed, we will meet with the men who tell us about how they started their shed and the activities they engage in and the benefits they receive from participating. Ireland has more than 450 sheds throughout the country. Men’s Sheds provide a gathering place for men to meet together, socialize, and enjoy one another’s company. The idea behind sheds is that “men talk better shoulder to shoulder rather than face to face” and are more likely to open up to one another while working alongside each other on activities such as gardening, woodwork, or other agreed upon activities.

Day 4: Student free day in Limerick. Limerick City has many interesting sites to explore including King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Hunt Museum where students can explore their own interests within Irish culture.

Day 5:Group tour to the Burren Perfumery; McKernan Woolen mills; Killary Sheep Farm in Leenaun; These businesses will feature conversations about how businesses or community initiatives can support creativity, culture, and overall wellbeing in Ireland. Today provides an opportunity to learn about family owned businesses and how they are supported in Ireland and gives students an opportunity to purchase handmade Irish goods. Students will return to Galway for the evening.

Day 6: Student free day in Galway. Galway is very walkable and students should take time to visit the Latin Quarter with local shops and eateries where you are almost sure to hear some street music being played by locals. Take a walk around the Salthill Promenade for a beautiful view of the Galway bay. Alternatively, students could take a day trip via bus to the Cliffs of Moher to experience one of Ireland’s most spectacular outdoor sites.

Day 7: Students will experience Irish railway by taking a train to Dublin. In Dublin, we will visit to the Irish Emigration Museum to learn more about Irish culture, design, and influence. Afterwards we will take the Jeanie Johnson Famine Tour where we will learn about one girl’s struggles during the Irish Potato Famine. We will end the day with a group dinner and traditional Irish dance and music.

Day 8: Students have a free day to explore their interests in Dublin. Students may consider participating in a guided tour or visiting other historical sites and landmarks such as the Dublin Castle, Book of Kells, Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse, or the National Museum of Ireland.

Day 9: As we near the end of our trip, we will take a tour of Glasnevin cemetery and learn about similarities and differences in how Americans and Irish individuals cope with death.

Day 10: Departure; group travels to airport on their own via public transportation.

Participant Info

Meet your Advisor:

Jamie is a full time study abroad advisor who will help you throughout the application process to Ireland, including documentation, finances, scholarships, and more. From your first steps meeting until you take off for your new adventure, Jamie will help you every step of the way.

Important information to review:

Study abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be challenged by new experiences in new environments and cultures. UNI study abroad programs are designed to prioritize educational opportunities for students. Students are encouraged to embrace the adventure of exploring how housing, meals, and daily routines differ abroad.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Review and follow the travel recommendations of the U.S. State Department for travel to Ireland

Housing & Meals

Students will stay in hotels arranged by the Study Abroad Center while abroad. The cost of these hotels are included in the “Program Cost” line item of the program cost estimate. A few meals are built into the “Program Cost” (example: all breakfasts at hotels and 2 additional group meals in Ireland). Students will pay for the remaining meals out-of-pocket while traveling and are encouraged to try the local foods.

Part of the course will be based on UNI's campus. While on campus, students will arrange their own housing and meals. The cost of housing and meals while participating in the on-campus component is NOT factored in the program's cost estimate.

Program Costs

Estimated Program Cost: $5,753*

*estimated total cost of participation, actual amount depends on type of housing accommodation selected, actual airfare purchase price, personal spending habits, and other factors

Estimated Total Program Cost	$5,753
Estimated U-bill Charges	$3,880
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs	$1,873

Ireland Summer 2025 Cost Estimate (PDF)

Cost of Studying On Campus at UNI*

*per semester, estimated, will vary per person

Tuition & Fees	$4,864
Room & Board	$4,824
Books	$400
Personal Expenses	$878
Transportation	$320
Total	$11,325

Source: https://admissions.uni.edu/cost-aid

‌Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to study abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to study abroad:

Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
- Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.

Must be over the age of 18 years old
Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
Must be in good standing with the university
UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible.