• 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 Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo.
• Explore the island of Santorini, in Greece, at the end of the program.
• This program is offered in odd years; view the program page of the SPLH and Music Therapy program offered in even years.

Speech-Language-Hearing majors and students from other disciplines with an interest in working with people with different types of disabilities, will learn about speech and music therapy that is currently offered in Bulgaria and will offer formal and informal assessments of hearing and speech/language. Students will visit different settings such as a pediatric center and geriatric facility.

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 and the group will have a few days of activities there before traveling to the town of Veliko Tarnovo, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains in northern central Bulgaria. At the end of the program, the group will travel to Greece, where it is planned that the group will spend time 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 352/752 Examining Global Perspectives in Speech-Language-Hearing. It is anticipated that the program will service children on the autism spectrum; therefore, SPLH 352 will count towards the Undergraduate Certificate in Learning and Communication in Children with Autism.

Prior to the program, the group will meet two to four times with the faculty directors to receive an overview and orientation to the work that will be done in Bulgaria and build awareness and knowledge of the cultures of Bulgaria. Graduate students 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. It's planned that students will work in collaboration with local community partners to bring services to children and adults in the towns of Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo. 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.

Students will be housed in hotels or guest houses in double or triple occupancy in Bulgaria and Greece. All meals while on-site are included.

Students participating in this program will develop critical hands-on skills by working with Bulgarian clients and will also learn about Bulgaria’s history, cultures, and natural environment through the cultural activities and excursions. In addition to the KU and Therapy Abroad staff, there will be interpreters and a guide with the group for the duration of the program. 

While in Sofia, it's planned that the the group will meet with representatives from the Alzheimer Bulgaria Association to learn about their programs, including music therapy initiatives and opportunities for speech therapy, that they are implementing with the aim of improving the quality of life for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Additionally, there will be a city tour before leaving for Veliko Tarnovo. 

In and around Veliko Tarnovo, the students will participate in several days of clinical activities in a variety of settings. It's planned that the group will visit a government-run geriatric center in Stolat where people with various types of disabilities live. It's also planned to spend a couple of days at the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration in Veliko Tarnovo, which supports adults of all ages who attend each day for specialized care and services. The group will be able to observe the center's team of professionals, including Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapists, and join group activities such as art and music therapy. Students will also learn the valuable skill of working with interpreters to communicate with the clients. Finally, the group is also scheduled to visit a Center for Children with Disabilities in the town of Gabrovo, where students will spend time supporting local therapists providing speech therapy services. Students will be able to ask the therapists questions and observe how therapy differs in a new cultural context. At the end of each clinical day, students will write notes to document the client's response to treatment during the session. Additionally, each evening there will be reflection and discussion about the day's events. 

There are several planned cultural activities while the group is in central Bulgaria including visits to the Veliko Tarnovo market, Tsarevets Fortress, Dryanovo monastery, Bacho Kiro Cave, and Etara. Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest settlements in Bulgaria and is considered the cultural capital and historical center of Bulgaria. The Tsarevets Fortress is a medieval stronghold that features remnants of over 400 churches, 18 churches, and the royal palace. The Dryanovo monastery, founded in the 12th century, continues as a center for Bulgarian Christianity and culture today and is recognized as a Bulgarian monument of culture. Bacho Kiro Cave is a natural wonder shaped over thousands of years by flowing rivers and today visitors can see stalactites, stalagmites, and rock columns. Etara is Bulgaria's open-air ethnographic musuem where students will be able to experience traditional Bulgarian life and craftsmanship. 

After work with Bulgarian clients is finished, the group will fly to the island of Santorini, Greece, known for its whitewashed houses. While on Santorini for three nights, the group will participate in activities such as exploring the capital, Fira, Kamari Beach, and the coastal town of Oia, known for its whitewashed houses carved into the rugged clifftops. Students will return to the U.S. from Greece.

All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more. 

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. Before selecting a program, consider how your Traveler Profile 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. 

Check our Traveler Profile pages linked below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program. 

• Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
• First Generation Students
• Physical and Mental Health Histories
• Religious, Spiritual, and Non-Religious Students
• Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Students of Color Abroad
• Students with Children
• Students with Financial Need
• Veterans, Active Duty, and ROTC
• Visible and Invisible Disabilities 

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any accredited U.S. college or university. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Exceptions considered after submission of a petition.

Program Cost for Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Speech-Language-Hearing in Bulgaria.

Clinical Associate Professor Julie Gatts (jgatts@ku.edu) and Clinical Professor Matt Gillispie (wmg@ku.edu) from the Department of Speech-Language Hearing: Sciences & Disorders, will lead the Summer 2027 program. Professor Gatts has led this program numerous times.

Study Abroad Program Coordinator: Mari Keyser
Have a quick question? Email me at: mkeyser@ku.edu
Looking for more detailed information? Book an appointment.
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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.