Audiology and Speech-Language Services in Bulgaria
Audiology and Speech-Language Services in Bulgaria
Next offered Summer 2025
- Visit various clinical settings and offer hands-on services to both children and adults
- Learn more about Bulgarian culture and history by visiting sites of interest in and around Stolat and Sofia, the capital city.
- Explore Greece at the end of the program by visiting Athens as well as the island of Santorini
- View the program page of a similar program for SPLH and Music Therapy students, offered in even years.
Next offered Summer 2025
Speech-Language-Hearing majors and students from other disciplines with an interest in working with people with different types of disabilities will offer formal and informal assessments of hearing and speech/language. Students will visit different settings such as a hospital, geriatric facility, and home health visits. Additionally, the group will also run a Tykes Camp for children and their families with hand-on learning.
Bulgaria is located in the eastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. It is one of the oldest states in Europe, founded in the 7th century. Bulgaria is part of the European Union and is a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, which can be seen through its cuisine, architecture, and religious heritage.
Students will fly into the capital city of Sofia before traveling to the village of Stolat, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains in northern central Bulgaria. Before departing for Greece, the group will spend the night in Sofia and go on a city tour. While in Greece, it is planned that the group will spend time in both Athens and on the island of Santorini.
Three hours of academic credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program. Students will enroll in 3 credit hours of SPLH 452/752 Examining Global Perspectives in Speech-Language-Hearing. It is anticipated that the program will service children on the autism spectrum; therefore, SPLH 452 will count towards the Undergraduate Certificate in Learning and Communication in Children with Autism.
Prior to the program, the group will meet twice with the faculty directors to receive an overview and orientation to the work that will be done in Bulgaria, learn and practice how to conduct hearing screenings from a certified and licensed audiologist, and build awareness and knowledge of the cultures of Bulgaria. Graduate students enrolled in SPLH 752 may be required to facilitate discussions or prepare presentations for these meetings.
KU is partnering with Therapy Abroad, a program provider that works with local and international community partners to help achieve goals set forth for Bulgaria’s most vulnerable citizens. Students will work in collaboration with local community partners to bring services to children and adults in the town of Sevlievo. With an international focus on cooperative learning and capacity building for both visiting and hosting professionals, the team will take students through a cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-cultural program. Students will learn about diverse approaches to teaching and implement methodologies for designing and evaluation learning experiences used in the education of patients/clients, students, colleagues, and the broader community.
Therapy Abroad’s community partners have developed a new health clinic. Students will work directly in the pediatric clinic for the majority of their time, providing services and running a camp for kids with special needs. In addition, students will have the opportunity to visit and provide services in a long term care geriatric facility. Students will also be working directly with patients in the main hospital in Sevlievo. In addition to KU and Therapy Abroad staff, there will be interpreters and guides with the group for the duration of the program. At the end of each day, students will make notes to document the client’s response to treatment during each session.
While in Stolat, the group will stay at The Stone and Compass Center, which is a cultural retreat located on over 2,200 acres. The Center is geared towards brining together people from around the world to share in all the rich heritage that Bulgaria and Eastern Europe has to offer. Students will be in shared accommodations at the Center. There is also a pool and sustainable honey reserve on the property.
In the other locations, the group will be in hotels in shared accommodations. All meals on the program are also included.
In addition to developing critical hands-on skills working with the Bulgarian population, students can also expect to learn about Bulgaria’s history, cultures, and natural environment. This will be accomplished through the cultural activities and excursions that will also be part of the program.
Students will fly into the capital city of Sofia, Bulgaria, and then be transferred to the accommodations in Stolat, in the municipality of Sevlievo. Some of the planned cultural activities include visiting a public park where students can walk to Devetashka Cave and Krushina Waterfalls to explore. The group will also visit the Tsarevets Fortress and have time to explore Veliko Tarnovo, one of Bulgaria’s oldest towns which dates back thousands of years.
After work with Bulgarian clients is finished, the group will go back to Sofia to have a city tour and spend the night before flying to Athens, Greece. While in Athens, it’s planned that the group will take a food tour of the city, visiting places like Omonia Square and the Central Market, while learning about the history and traditions of local food. Students will then take a ferry to Santorini, a Greek island known for its whitewashed houses. While spending two days on Santorini, the group will participate in activities such as exploring the ancient tour of Akrotiri and the 18th century monastery and visiting a volcano and hot springs. Back on the mainland, a visit to the Parthenon and a tour of the Acropolis to visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus are planned. Students will return to the U.S. from Athens, Greece.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Additional Resources
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
Open to KU undergraduate and graduate students. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Exceptions considered after submission of a petition.
Professors Krysta Green (krystagreen@ku.edu) and Julie Gatts (jgatts@ku.edu) will be the faculty directors on this program. Professor Green has previously led study abroad programs to Peru and Belize.
KU Study Abroad Program Coordinator
The program coordinator in Study Abroad & Global Engagement for SPLH programs is Mari Keyser. Please schedule an appointment with her to learn more about the program or email her with any questions.
Passport and Entry Requirements
All U.S. citizens must have a passport to enter Bulgaria and Greece; no tourist visa is required. Your passport should be valid for six months beyond the return date. For students who need to apply for an adult passport, please view the processing times and request one soon. KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement has a Passport Center where students can apply for a U.S. passport.
Non-U.S. citizens are responsible for understanding their entry requirements. Read more about visas and entry requirements on the websites of the Embassy of Bulgaria and Embassy of Greece. Please carefully read the information on the website and be in touch with the program coordinator.