Music and Speech-Language Therapy in Bulgaria
Music and Speech-Language Therapy in Bulgaria
- 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 Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia, the capital city.
- Explore Varna, a city on the Black Sea, and surrounding areas
- This program is offered in even years; view the program page for the SPLH and Audiology program offered in odd years
Speech-Language-Hearing and Music Therapy majors, as well as students from other disciplines with an interest in working with people with different types of disabilities, will learn about music and speech therapy in Bulgaria and will offer formal and informal assessments of speech-language. Students will participate in therapy sessions with both children and adults that combine music and speech-language techniques.
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 be there for several days before traveling to the village of Veliko Tarnovo, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains in north central Bulgaria. Veliko Tarnovo will be the base for several days as the group will travel to nearby cities such as Stolat and Gabrovo. For the last part of the program, the group will travel to Varna, a city on the Black Sea, before spending on night in Bucharest, Romania to take the return flight.
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 or MEMT 598/798 Special Course: Music Therapy in Bulgaria. It is anticipated that the program will work with children on the autism spectrum; therefore, SPLH 352 will count towards the Undergraduate Certificate in Learning and Communication in Children with Autism. In addition SPLH 352 meets KU Core requirement 4.2 (original Core). Students in Core 34 can complete their global culture requirement by participating in this study abroad program and co-completing UNIV 342, an asynchronous Canvas course.
Prior to the program, the group will meet two to three 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 for these meetings or during meetings while abroad.
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.
The group will stay in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, and overnight in Bucharest, Romania prior to the return flight. Housing will be in hotels in shared accommodations. All meals on the program are included and will be a mixture of Western and Bulgarian cuisine.
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. In addition to KU and Therapy Abroad staff, there will be interpreters and guides with the group for the duration of the program.
Students will fly into Sofia, Bulgaria. While there, the group will go on a walking city tour and attend a performance of Bulgarian traditional music. Students will meet with representatives from the Bulgarian Association for Music Therapy (BMAT) to learn about the history and current state of music therapy in Bulgaria and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Bulgarian music therapy and how it compares with other countries. Students will also meet with the Alzheimer Bulgaria Association to learn more about the music therapy programs they are implementing to improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Then the group will travel to Veliko Tarnovo, which will be the homebase for the next week while offering speech and music therapy services to clients in the area. Students will work with the KU faculty directors and local professionals in pediatric day centers and long-term geriatric care settings doing small-group therapy, caregiver education, applied behavior strategies, and informal assessments, all while working with interpreters. There will also be time to speak with the local professionals to ask questions and learn about their work. At the end of each clinic day, students will write notes to document the client's response to treatment during each session. There will also be focused learning opportunities related to both disciplines and interdisciplinary practice during evening reflection and discussion time.
It's planned that the group will spend two days in Gabrovo at a children's center for 7 to 18-year-olds who attend daily for care and specialized support. In Stolat, services will be provided at a government-run geriatric home for people with disabilities, which houses around 30 permanent residents. Over two days, the group will visit the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration in Veliko Tarnovo, which supports more than 80 adults. Students will observe the center's team of occupational, speech, and physical therapists, join group activities such as music and art therapy, and lead stations and activities. In Sevlievo, the group will meet with municipality representatives, visit the hospital to learn more about the health system of Bulgaria, and visit the Sevlievo Center for Children with Disabilities to meet with speech therapists and other professionals. Finally, it's planned that the group will visit the University of Veliko Tarnovo's Speech Therapy Department to meet with professors and students. The visit will provide insight into speech studies, communication research, and university teaching practices, as well as discuss how music and speech therapy overlap and collaborate.
Throughout the program, there will be opportunities to experience Bulgarian culture through interactions with interpreters and residents as well as listening to traditional Bulgarian music and eating Bulgarian food. In addition to the city tour in Sofia, there are several other planned cultural activities. The group will visit Etara, Bulgaria's open-air ethnographic museum, where students can experience traditional Bulgarian life and artisanal work. There will be a day-long excursion to several sites of historical and cultural importance. The Tsareets Fortress is a medieval stronghold, once home to Bulgarian tsars, features remnants of over 400 houses, 18 churches, and a royal palace. The Dryanovo Monastery, founded in the 12th century, continues to be a central for Bulgarian Christianity and culture. The Bacho Kiro Cave is a natural wonder shaped over thousands of years by flowing rivers. Inside, there are fantastically shaped stalactites, stalagmites, and rock columns. There's also an optional visit to the ancient city of Nikopolis ad Istrum, which offers a glimpse into Roman urban planning, architecture, and daily life.
After work with Bulgarian clients is finished, the group will travel to Varna, a city on the Black Sea. En route, there is a planned stop at the Stone Desert of Varna, the only desert in Europe, which is home to giant limestone columns that have stood for millions of years. While in Varna, students will spend a day at the beach and visit the Sea Garden, the city's largest park, which is filled with flowers, sculptures, fountains, cafes, and pathways overlooking the sea.
The next day, it's planned that the group will visit several sites in the area. The Aladzha Monastery is the most famous medieval cave monastery on the Black Sea coast and is directly carved into the cliffs. Cape Kaliakra is a rock peninsula that juts out almost 1.5 miles into the sea and is on a cliff about 200 feet high. It is home to Black Sea dolphins and there are ancient Bulgarian legends about the cliffs. Then the group will head to Bolata Beach to relax and swim.
As the program is ending, the group will travel to Ruse, a Bulgarian city known for its elegant Neo-Baroque and Neoclassical architecture and beauty along the Danube River. The last stop will be Bucharest, Romania, for an evening city tour and dinner. The group will stay overnight in Bucharest and then take the return flight.
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 U.S. accredited college or university. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Exceptions considered after submission of a petition.
Professors Julie Gatts, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing (jgatts@ku.edu) and William Matney, Associate Professor of Music Therapy, (matneyb@ku.edu) will be the faculty directors on this program. Both professors have previously led study abroad programs to Bulgaria.
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 Romania; 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 Romania. Please carefully read the information on the website and be in touch with the program coordinator.