What type of visa do I need?

This varies widely based on where you are traveling, your country of origin, and the purpose of your travel. Visit the website of the embassy to which you are traveling to learn more about specific visa requirements.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

International Travel Preparation, Safety, & Wellness

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International Travel Preparation, Safety, & Wellness

Instructor: Anna Kalbarczyk

19,435 already enrolled

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

465 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

465 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

3 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Foundations of Global Health Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Whether you've traveled before or not, living and working overseas can be challenging. Learn how best to prepare and make the most of your time internationally.

This course will prepare you to work and live overseas. It explores the epidemiology of common morbidity and mortality among travelers and examines key prevention, safety, and travel medicine principles and services to contextualize risks and maintain wellness. The course reviews applicable interventions, appropriate vaccines, and personal protection methods to prepare you to respond to expected and unexpected situations and will challenge you to examine travel health and safety priorities through case studies and discussions. The Honors Lesson will assist you with personal preparations for travel through the creation of a country-specific profile.

In this module, we'll go over the basics of preparation, planning, documentation, and insurance. Thinking ahead about all of the elements you'll need is an essential part of the process.

What's included

9 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

9 videosTotal 108 minutes

Welcome and Overview3 minutes
Project Planning16 minutes
Working in the Field5 minutes
Tales from the Field: Steve Harvey19 minutes
Preparing to Travel20 minutes
Travel Advisories4 minutes
Health Insurance7 minutes
Emergencies9 minutes
Tales from the Field: Summer and Shaun26 minutes

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Syllabus10 minutes
Foundations of Global Health Specialization10 minutes
Ouma and Dimaras: Views from the global south10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Nuts and Bolts of Travel Preparation30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Introduce Yourself10 minutes

It's easier to stay healthy if you know how to anticipate potential challenges, minimize your risk, and access the care that you need.

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 82 minutes

Travel Health Overview4 minutes
Vector-Borne Diseases and Prevention17 minutes
Food and Waterborne Diseases19 minutes
Rabies, Altitude, and Sun Exposure7 minutes
Injuries5 minutes
Tales from the Field (Julie Denison)5 minutes
Finding Care Overseas5 minutes
The Returned Traveler8 minutes
Mental Health Considerations for Travelers6 minutes
Burnout and Vicarious Traumatization8 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Rates of intentionally caused and road crash deaths of US citizens abroad10 minutes
Aid workers, assuming survivors' agony, at risk of 'vicarious trauma'10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Travel Health & Prevention30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Zombie Penguins10 minutes

In this module, we'll cover strategies for staying safe while traveling, measures you can take to minimize risk, as well as specific advice for women and LGBT travelers.

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 94 minutes

Conceptual Framework for Safety While Traveling12 minutes
Moving Around18 minutes
Staying Safe12 minutes
Looking After Yourself16 minutes
Tales from the Field: Joanne Katz21 minutes
Safety and Gender-Based Violence7 minutes
Lesbian-, Gay-, Bisexual-, Transgender-, Queer-, and Intersex-Specific Considerations9 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

A few resources on safety10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Current Events in Health and Travel10 minutes

In this final module, we'll address matters of cultural competence and the ethics of travel. Travelers have responsibilities to the people who live and work in the countries they are visiting, and it is important to keep th

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 63 minutes

Cultural Competency6 minutes
Culture Shock14 minutes
Tales from the Field: Courtland Robinson16 minutes
Ethical Considerations of Training7 minutes
Ethical Practices/Behaviors in Global Health8 minutes
The Importance of Learning Languages11 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Culture Shock and Travelers10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Staying Safe and Cultural Competence & Ethics30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Country Profile Project120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Ethical Dilemma10 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(113 ratings)

Anna Kalbarczyk

Johns Hopkins University

4 Courses20,414 learners

Offered by

Johns Hopkins University

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Reviewed on Sep 2, 2020

Great course with lots of helpful information. It is definitely geared towards international health students, however I have found it to be very informative as a language student.

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2017

Very informative course for those who are considering overseas travel for work, or extended stay. Also serves as a great reference for those who are already seasoned travelers.

Reviewed on Jun 25, 2020

It was an amazing experience learning from Coursera and our mentor Anna Kalbarczyk who has helped me in various problems the one can face while traveling.

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Frequently asked questions

No, this course is intended to prepare you for international travel and arm you with critical decision making skills. For up-to-date information on these topics please visit embassy and airport website as applicable.

This course has been designed for student, business, and recreational travelers. Early module emphasis is on specific project planning which is most closely related to student needs. However, the health and safety modules are useful for anyone planning to live, work, study, and/or explore international settings.

No, the information provided in this course is for anyone planning to travel internationally. As an instructor, my personal perspective is primarily that of a US citizen. However, we have tried to weave in stories from non-US citizens and provide examples of resources for anyone traveling to an unfamiliar location (even if that unfamiliar location is the U.S.!).

Unfortunately I cannot recommend any companies. However, I would encourage you to look into what you may have available through your university, company, and/or current insurance. If you are already covered by an entity, they may have additional services you can purchase for evacuation or international care. You may also look into institutional security firms to see what services and/or supplemental insurance they provide.

The goal of this course is not to provide specific medical information; rather, it aims to direct you to appropriate resources for everything associated with travel. Please consult your travel doctor or primary health care provider for specific health advice. However, when you go your appointment, arrive armed with the information you have learned here and advocate for yourself!

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.