Across the globe, a critical skill for 21st century special educators is the ability to work effectively with students with special needs from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. International exposure to other cultures through academic immersion experiences fosters those skills by helping teachers cultivate a global perspective. This paper presents a model for developing and planning a faculty-led international field study course in special education for undergraduate and graduate students, based on an established sixteen-day, international short course abroad in Guatemala, in which curriculum, exploration and high-impact academic experiences come together to promote optimal learning. Site selection, curriculum development, logistical planning, recruitment, preparation of students, fiscal responsibility, risk management, challenges and rewards are discussed.