Study Abroad

Faculty-led Programs

Writing (in) Place

Yucatán, Mexico
CRWT 3750
December 28, 2026 – January 8, 2027
Professor Liz Egan

This course challenges students to examine place and setting, both in the creative essays, stories, and/or poems they craft, and in the writing strategies and habits they cultivate. The course will include discus-sion and study of what it means to write in a place as an outsider, as well as from a place to an outsider; text translations and language-meshing; and how to adopt place-based writing strategies for a successful writing practice back home. Appropriate for all creative genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

International Business Latin America

Yucatán, Mexico
MGMT 2020/EMGT 600
Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 7, 2027
Professor Harvey Fiser

The Yucatán Study Abroad Program provides students with an immersive, place-based learning experience in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, centered primarily in Mérida with activities and excursions throughout the surrounding region. The program integrates academic coursework with direct engagement with the cultural, historical, social, and economic dimensions of the region. The program includes pre-departure academic orientation, on-site instruction and discussion, experiential learning through site visits and community engagement, and reflection and assessment.

Geopolitics and Global Business: East Asia at the Crossroads of Power

Japan (Tokyo)
ADMN 4750/GOVT 2750
Regular spring course with a trip to Japan during spring break
(March 14-20, 2027)
President Frank Neville

The course explores the intersection of global business and global security in one of East Asia’s major capital cities. Topics include supply chain resilience, manufacturing reshoring, US-China economic decoupling, the impact of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, burden sharing in Pacific security, and the role of Japan in the global economy. The 9-day in-country program will be preceded by five on-campus class sessions and followed by two more.

Beginning Printmaking: Spanish Pattern

Spain (Seville, Córdoba, and Granada)
Regular spring course with a trip to Spain during spring break
(March 14-20, 2027)
Professor Sue Carrie Drummond

This survey course covers the fundamentals of printmaking with a focus on pattern as a form of cultural identity. Students will develop technical skills in carving, inking, registration, and editioning while creating prints that explore repetition, symmetry, and variation. We will draw inspiration from the visual traditions of southern Spain, examining how Islamic, Christian, and Jewish influences intersect in the architecture, textiles, and decorative arts of that region. The course includes a trip to Spain and will serve as basis for observational research to create print-based compositions.

Archaeology in the Land of the Inkas

Peru (Cusco)
SOAN 3410
June 5- July 11, 2027
Dr. Véronique Bélisle

This course is a hands-on introduction to archaeological survey, focusing on an area of the Cusco region in southern Peru. Students will participate in the different tasks involved in archaeological fieldwork, including surveying, registering archaeological sites, recovering artifacts, and cleaning and inventorying archaeological materials. In addition to fieldwork, students will visit archaeological sites in the region (e.g., Machu Picchu), experience Peruvian culture, and interact with Peruvians on a daily basis.

African Wildlife Conservation: Politics, Ecology, and Conservation

Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Moshi, and Zanzibar)
GOVT 2770/BIOL 2750
July 7-28, 2027
Dr. Victoria Gorham and Dr. Will Selman

This course is designed to explore the intersection of politics and wildlife conservation in East Africa. Throughout this trip, we’ll be learning about East Africa’s extraordinary biodiversity by observing it, and discussing it, in a variety of ecosystems from the coral reefs of the coastal zone to the interior savannah. Because wildlife tourism is such a big industry in Tanzania, it follows that there are a variety of economic, political, and social dynamics that play on the ways that it’s practiced. One of the things that we’ll be considering is how governments regulate access to land as areas of conservation, but also of human habitation, land rights, human wildlife conflict, conservation areas, and wildlife trafficking. We’ll also think about the role of tourism in conservation efforts, and our role as tourists in perpetuating these dynamics.

Theatre Study Abroad: Traditional Theatre of Japan

Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto)
THEA 2900
May 10-25, 2027
Professor Sam Sparks

Journeying along the “flower way” to the “floating world,” students will examine Japanese culture, history, and art through the study of traditional Japanese theatre forms of kabuki, noh, and bunraku. Standing in contrast to modern Western approaches, traditional Japanese theatre emphasizes stylized performances and elaborate costumes. Performances of these traditional forms are rare in the US, so this course offers students the unique experience of seeing these forms in Japan.

Spanish in Spain

Spain (Alcalá de Henares)
SPAN 1000-3000
June 2027
Dr. Judith Caballero

Experience an unforgettable summer in Alcalá de Henares, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City and the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. Students live with carefully selected Spanish host families (double occupancy rooms), providing a true cultural immersion experience. All meals are included with host families. The program offers Spanish courses at all levels, including language, grammar, conversation, and literature. Students also enjoy at least two guided day trips to historic destinations such as Toledo and Segovia. During weekend excursions, transportation, admission tickets, and one meal per day are included, allowing students to explore Spain’s rich history and culture with ease. Improve your Spanish, experience daily life in Spain, and create lasting memories while studying in one of the country’s most fascinating historic cities.

International Business in Europe

Italy (Florence) and Germany (Munich)
MGMT4750/EMGT 600
May 2027
Professor Harvey Fiser

The Else School of Management Europe Business Study Abroad Program provides students with immersive, internationally-situated business education across multiple European business hubs. The program combines classroom instruction with company visits, site-based learning, and faculty-led discussions connecting business theory to practice in a global environment. The program includes pre-departure academic preparation, on-site lectures and seminars, structured visits to European firms and institutions, and reflective assessments.

Other Study-Abroad Programs

Links

• Foundation for the Advancement of
  Mesoamerican Studies Inc.
  FAMSI provides grants, resources and research forums for studies of Mesoamerican culture.

• Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia
  Mexico’s federal agency devoted to anthropology and history administers museums and archaeological sites.

• Society for American Archaeology
  A forum for archaeologists with resources for both students and professionals.

• The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
  Are you interested in studying or interning abroad but worried about the cost? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship provides up to $5,000 for U.S. undergraduate students receiving Pell Grants to help make global experiences more accessible. The application deadline for the next cycle is March 6, 2025, so don’t wait! For more information and assistance with your application, contact Marie Vanderford or visit here today!