Rinker Center for Experiential Learning

students studying abroad

The Rinker Center for Experiential Learning will provide you with life-changing opportunities to travel the world and broaden your perspective on learning and life. Whether you spend an entire semester abroad, take part in a service trip taking your faith around the world or travel as part of an individual course, these are powerful experiences that can, and do, change lives forever.

Your Opportunities Abroad

Study Abroad refers to opportunities for our students to study abroad for an entire semester, including summer semesters! Students who study abroad during the fall or spring semesters are enrolled at a host university and complete 12-18 PBA credit hours while abroad. Summer semesters require 3-9 PBA credit hours. With more than 20 locations available, students will be able to find the experience that is best for them. You can browse the current program opportunities here.

Popular Locations

London, England
Cape Town, South Africa
Oxford, England
Florence, Italy
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dunedin, New Zealand
Armenia, Colombia
Paris, France
Seoul, South Korea
Valparaiso, Chile
Cusco, Peru

Requirements

Students must have Junior academic standing (60+ credit hours) and must have completed two semesters at PBA prior to their semester abroad.

Next Steps

Your next step is to set up an advising meeting with the study abroad advisor. In this meeting, you can ask more questions about your options and learn how to apply for your program of choice. Email the advisor at RCEL@pba.edu to request an appointment.

Questions?

Please contact the Rinker Center for Experiential Learning with specific questions.

You can also visit our Traveler Resources page on Canvas to meet the RCEL staff and access a wide variety of traveler resources.

Serve Abroad refers to service-oriented global opportunities that engage the student’s faith. The Rinker Center for Experiential Learning partners with various departments on campus (listed below) to provide these opportunities for students during winter-, spring-, and summer breaks.

Campus Partners

Campus Ministries
Gregory Center for Medical Missions
School of Nursing

Next Steps

If you are interested in serving abroad, visit the Serve Abroad module on our Traveler Resources page.

Questions

Visit Traveler Resources to meet the RCEL staff and access a wide variety of traveler resources
Please contact the Rinker Center for Experiential Learning with specific questions at RCEL@pba.edu

Class Abroad refers to PBA’s short-term faculty-led programs. Students have the opportunity to take PBA courses for academic credit that include an international travel component led by a PBA faculty sponsor. Class Abroad program offerings vary from year to year, and the travel component generally takes place over a school break –winter, spring, or summer.

Sample opportunities include:

Biology – Galapagos, Costa Rica
Business – Prague, Berlin, Barcelona, Milan
Catherine T. MacArthur School – Italy, Dubai
Counseling – Greece
Honors – Turkey, Germany
School of Arts and Sciences – Paris
Dance – Italy
Biblical Studies – Israel
Global Development – Costa Rica, Nigeria, Haiti
School of Education, Dream Semester – Australia, Germany, Zambia, Spain, Dominican Republic

Next Steps

If you are interested in enrolling for a class abroad, your next step is to create a Traveler Profile here using your PBA credentials. Then search for “class abroad” under the programs tab to see the current offerings.

Questions?

For more details, you can visit the Class Abroad module on our Traveler Resources page.
Visit Traveler Resources to meet the RCEL staff and access a wide variety of traveler resources
Please contact the Rinker Center for Experiential Learning with specific questions at RCEL@pba.edu

Travel abroad is for Faculty & Staff too! The Rinker Center for Experiential Learning is here to support you in your global travel experience – whether you are participating in a professional development opportunity, leading a trip for students or participating in a PBA service trip.

Benefits

When faculty and staff are traveling internationally on Official PBA Travel the following benefits are provided:

Administrative Support
Risk Management
International Travel-Insurance
International Medical-Insurance
Eligible Applicants & Permissions
Faculty/staff must have their Official Travel approved by their dean or chair of their department before registering through RCEL

Next Steps

Contact the Rinker Center for Experiential Learning at RCEL@pba.edu to register your travel.

Questions?

Visit the Faculty & Staff module on our Traveler Resources page for more details.
Visit Traveler Resources to meet the RCEL staff and access a wide variety of traveler resources
Please contact the Rinker Center for Experiential Learning with specific questions at RCEL@pba.edu

Life-changing opportunities to travel the world and broaden your perspective on learning & life.

See Opportunities

Spread Your Faith
Serve Abroad trips will take you into communities across the globe where you can learn from and serve alongside local partners. You may find yourself ministering to local groups, mentoring and working with children, providing essential healthcare services or helping to create necessary resources such as schools and access to clean water.
Learn By Doing
Through the various program offerings students have the opportunity to learn by doing, going, experiencing. They participate in valuable learning experiences within different global contexts, enhancing their understanding of cultural perspectives and developing transferrable knowledge and skills.
A Community Endeavor
Along with students, PBA faculty and staff also have regular opportunities for international travel. When any faculty or staff participates in a PBA international trip, RCEL provides comprehensive support in logistics, as well as travel and medical insurance to ensure the most stress-free and streamlined experience possible.

3.5K

The Center has sent over 3,500 PBA individuals to countries around the world since 2011.

30+

30+ international opportunities per year

1:1

You can meet with Rinker Center staff 1:1 to discuss study abroad opportunities.

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