Study Abroad as an Online Student: Cassandra Ellis (Bachelor of Social Work)

Before she chose to enroll, Cassandra Ellis felt a strong, almost inexplicable pull toward the University of Cincinnati. 

You might call it intuition or a divine message. Whatever it is, Cassandra has followed her internal sense of direction throughout her education. It led her back to her hometown of Cincinnati, to the field of social work, and on a study abroad trip to Ghana. 

We spoke with Cassandra about how she found her calling, as well as how online learning allowed her to pursue that calling in Cincinnati and abroad.

A Cincinnati native, Cassandra is no stranger to UC. Both of her parents were Bearcats themselves, and Cassandra fondly recalls her childhood walks around campus. Even so, she never expected her passion for social work to bring her back to her hometown.

She started receiving emails from UC about the online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program. There it was again: that pull toward home, before she even fully understood it’s meaning. 

A year later, Cassandra moved back to the tri-state area and officially enrolled in the online BSW program. 

“It was the perfect choice because it did not limit me,” she said. “I could continue doing my community-based work while earning my degree.” 

Cassandra’s passion for serving communities was what initially drew her to social work, but her lived experiences kept that purpose burning bright. 

“I have experiences that have shown me how systems can either uplift people or leave them behind, especially older adults and individuals experiencing homelessness,” she said. “Those experiences didn’t discourage my calling. I knew I wasn’t just meant to witness these gaps, but to be part of the solution.” 

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, some of the primary factors that cause homelessness include stagnant wages, inadequate access to health care, lack of affordable housing, and other systemic barriers. These are more than statistics for Cassandra; they're reflective of reality and of real people’s stories.

That ability to be vulnerable about her experiences has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her UC experience. She was surprised, in fact, by the sense of connection she’s felt as an online student. 

The lack of a physical classroom doesn’t prevent her from connecting with her classmates. For Cassandra, access is less about physical proximity and far more about mindset. As online learners, the BSW students support each other and learn from each other’s experiences. 

This openness has carried into Cassandra’s relationships with her instructors as well. They don’t just assign lectures and grade assignments. Instead, they encourage reflection and discussion. They hold space for students’ lived experiences and their value in the classroom. 

 “I have felt seen not just as a student, but as someone with a voice and perspective that matters,” Cassandra shared.

During the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 300,000 US college students studied abroad, yet many online learners count themselves out of these opportunities. Why?

According to the Institute of International Education Open Doors Report, nearly three quarters of students who study abroad participate in summer term or semester-long programs. Adult learners don’t often have the option to leave their jobs and other responsibilities for an entire semester. 

Short-term study abroad programs, ranging in length from ten days to two or three weeks, are far more feasible for adult or nontraditional students. They give online learners the same immersive travel experience with minimal disruption to their lives at home.

Despite being one of UC’s first online students to study abroad, Cassandra said that the opportunity never felt out of reach. She joined her fellow social work students and faculty on a ten-day trip to Ghana, Africa, to study multicultural and global perspectives in behavioral health. 

“It was an invitation to step beyond the screen and experience social work in a global context,” she said. “I wanted to see the world through a different lens, to understand how communities approach behavioral health and support systems outside of the United States.”

Can ten days abroad alter or shift your perspective in a major way? For Cassandra, the answer was yes. Her experiences in Ghana impacted her as both a future social worker and as an individual.

“My first impression was a deep sense of energy and connection,” she said of her arrival in Ghana.  

She saw firsthand how community plays a role in behavioral health—not just as a concept within the classroom, but as a continuous, lived experience. Social work is about more than policies and systems, and seeing the crucial role of community in Ghana pushed Cassandra to take a more open-minded approach to what will help in each situation—as well as what is already working within a specific population.

Participating in lectures at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) was another cornerstone of Cassandra’s travels. “Being in that academic space, in a different country, reminded me that learning has no boundaries,” she said. “It also deepened my respect for how behavioral health and community care are understood and practiced globally.” 

However, Cassandra’s most impactful experience occurred outside the classroom as she stood upon the grounds of Cape Coast Castle. 

As one of about forty major holding sites in the transatlantic slave trade, it’s now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic and global significance.  

“That moment shifted me,” Cassandra recalled. “It deepened my understanding of generational trauma, but also of the generational strength that our ancestors had to endure. And as a future social worker, it reinforced my responsibility to honor that history by advocating with intention, compassion, and truth.”

She found herself looking beyond academics and remembering the humanity at the heart of social work. As she connected with communities in Ghana and stepped outside her comfort zone, she became more confident, more capable of adapting and learning in any environment.   

“It made me slow down, listen more, and become more aware not just of others, but of myself.

When asked to reflect on her overall study abroad experience, Cassandra called it a journey within herself.

“It pushed me beyond what was familiar and invited me to really reflect on who I am, what I carry, and how I show up in the world,” she said. “Standing in places like the Cape Coast Castle and the Elmina Castle, I had to sit with history in a very real way. It strengthened my sense of purpose.” 

Along with an increased awareness of herself, Cassandra’s perspective on social work has expanded as well. 

One of her key takeaways has been the importance of empathy and humility in social work, particularly in a global context.  

“While the challenges people face, like poverty, trauma, and access to care, can look different across countries, the need for dignity, respect, and connection is truly universal. Effective advocacy starts with understanding and a willingness to learn from the people we serve.”

In many ways, Cassandra’s travels both reinforced and reshaped her goals for the future.  

While she still sees herself working with underserved populations, she also wants to contribute to social work on a global scale. She never felt limited as an online learner; similarly, her degree in social work doesn't limit her to serving a singular population. 

“This journey reminded me that my purpose isn’t limited to one space,” Cassandra said. “It’s about showing up wherever I am called to serve.” 

As for UC’s online BSW program, Cassandra recommends it wholeheartedly to other adult learners.

“If you’re looking for a program that will meet you where you are and still challenge you to grow, this is it,” she said. “The support is there, the connection is real, and the learning is meaningful.” 

The curriculum is a perfect fit for individuals who are passionate about making a difference in communities—both locally and globally. UC’s program allowed Cassandra to earn her degree without giving up the work that was meaningful to her. She wasn’t limited as an online learner. In fact, the opposite was true.

“Sometimes we place limits on ourselves before anything else does,” she said.  

Although she became one of the first online UC students to study abroad, Cassandra initially had doubts that the opportunity was for her. “But instead, I chose to lean in and take that leap of faith.

Now, she urges other online learners to take the same chance.  

“It was something I felt pulled toward, even before I fully understood why,” she said. “Don’t overthink it. Don’t talk yourself out of it. That experience will stretch you, ground you, and open your perspective in ways a classroom alone can’t.”

Cassandra’s story shows how truly limitless online education can be, particularly when you’re willing to say yes to opportunities and go outside your comfort zone. To hear more from Cassandra, watch the video below.

If you’re looking to go back to school online, you have options at the University of Cincinnati. Our online Bachelor of Social Work degree program combines immersive learning with the flexibility you need as an online learner. And your education doesn’t have to begin and end on a screen—you can continue your learning in your community and even abroad. 

You don’t have to apply right now. If you have a dream or goal that you don’t how to reach, our dedicated team can help you make a game plan.  

Connect with your Enrollment Services Advisor today and see how online learning can change your future.