Faculty-led short term travel courses are an exciting, enriching way to study abroad. You will meet with faculty throughout the semester to prepare for travel through readings, lectures and coursework; then you'll travel during a semester break or during the summer to enhance your learning.
Belize
Open to: Undergraduate Students
BIO 422/422L: MARINE TOPICS: CORAL REEF STUDIES
Faculty: Jeri Fox, Ph.D.
This fall semester course presents an in-depth study of the biology and taxonomy of corals while examining the ecology of the coral reef system and the future of reefs, concluding with a field lab. Students will snorkel in the beautiful lagoons of Ambergris Caye, the Hol Chan and Bacalar Chico Marine Reserves. The group is housed in a field station on the northern tip of Ambergris Caye with access to the reef ecosystem, mangroves, seagrass beds, and jungle.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2021
Morocco
OPEN TO: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Students
OTR 699: Occupational Science in Morocco
Faculty: Kristin Winston, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
This spring semester elective course for second-year Occupational Therapy (OT) graduate students provides advanced study in occupational science, occupational therapy without borders, and interprofessional practice with emphasis on the cultural context of occupation. Students will explore the transaction of place, objects, and people as they engage in everyday occupation and service to expand occupational participation in Morocco. Occupational experiences with agencies and organizations in Morocco will provide population-based reflection and hands-on experiences. This course includes the development of a sustainable project with outcome measurement based in ecological theory. This course, designed to immerse the student in a new culture, will facilitate renewed perspectives of occupation, occupational therapy, interprofessional practice, and global understanding of the value of occupation in society. Students will travel to the University of New England campus in Tangier, Morocco in early to mid-January.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Morocco
OPEN TO: Doctor of Physical Therapy students
PTH 725: DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CULTURAL COMPETENCY EXPERIENCE
Faculty: Tara Paradie, PT, M.S.
This fall semester course will provide PT graduate students with knowledge regarding cultural competency and sensitivity through classroom learning and learning experiences within the community in Tangier, Morocco. Students will begin by researching and examining some of the differences between the U.S. and Morocco in the areas of public health, health care, and culture while on campus in Portland. As the course progresses, it will move the study of cultural competence beyond the classroom into the world around us. Students will travel to the University of New England campus in Tangier, Morocco, in early to mid-January in order to further experience the different cultures through learning activities. These experiences will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate cultural sensitivity with a variety of populations and in a variety of settings.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Galápagos
OPEN TO
Undergraduate Students
MAR 451: NATURAL HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF GALÁPAGOS FAUNA
Faculty: Kathryn Ono, Ph.D.
This is a spring semester course offered every other year that includes traveling to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands for 11 days at the end of the semester. Throughout the semester, students participate in lectures, discussions, research and presentations focusing on endemic species and the natural history, ecology, behavior and evolution of the animals and plants that inhabit the islands. The laboratory portion of the course consists of visiting the Galápagos Islands aboard a private yacht. Highlights of the trip include exploring the Otavalos Market (Ecuador’s largest indigenous market), walking in Darwin’s footsteps to explore the sites that inspired his legendary theory of evolution, up close encounters with species such as flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, Galápagos tortoises and marine iguanas, observing and discussing the effects of development on the islands, hiking on the islands, stargazing aboard the boat and snorkeling with Galápagos sea lions, turtles and other marine wildlife. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore one of the world’s most inspiring ecosystems.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Greece and Italy
OPEN TO
Undergraduate Students
BIO 290: ANATOMY THROUGH THE CLASSICAL & RENAISSANCE ART: A TRAVEL COURSE TO GREECE & ITALY
Faculty: Kash Dutta
In this spring semester course discover the intriguing connections between human anatomy and the art of the Renaissance masters, including Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Bernini. During your 10-day trip to Italy and Greece in May, you will tour historic sites in Athens, Rome, Florence, and Bologna, representing the birthplace of modern anatomical science in some of Europe’s oldest universities.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Guatemala
OPEN TO: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Students
OTR 699: Occupational Science in Guatemala
Faculty: Kristin Winston, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
This spring course will provide OT graduate students with knowledge regarding cultural competency and sensitivity through classroom learning and clinical observations in Guatemala. Students will begin by researching and examining some of the differences between the US and Guatemala in the areas of OT education, health care, and culture while on campus in Portland. As the course progresses, it will move the study of cultural competence beyond the classroom into the world around us. Students will travel to Guatemala for 12 days in late April and early May to visit hospitals, rehab settings, and non-governmental healthcare related organizations and local OT programs. These experiences will provide students with opportunities to demonstrate cultural sensitivity with a variety of populations.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Guatemala
OPEN TO: Doctor of Physical Therapy Students
PTH 725: DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CULTURAL COMPETENCY EXPERIENCE
Faculty: Jennifer Audette, PT, Ph.D.
This summer course will provide PT graduate students with knowledge regarding cultural competency and sensitivity through classroom learning and clinical observations in Guatemala. Students will begin by researching and examining some of the differences between the US and Guatemala in the areas of PT education, health care, and culture while on campus in Portland. As the course progresses, it will move the study of cultural competence beyond the classroom into the world around us. Students will travel to Guatemala for 12 days in late April and early May to visit hospitals, rehab settings, and non-governmental healthcare related organizations and local PT programs. These experiences will provide students with opportunities to demonstrate cultural sensitivity with a variety of populations.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Iceland
OPEN TO
Undergraduate Students
MAR 435: NATURAL HISTORY OF ICELAND
Faculty: Markus Frederich, Ph.D.
This spring semester course provides an in-depth study of the unique ecosystems for marine and terrestrial organisms, as well as the unique human history and culture of Iceland. You will explore geological features like volcanic craters and geysers, hike in the fault line between the American and the European plate and learn about adaptations to a subarctic climate. You will also explore the Viking history of Iceland, which is tightly related to the discovery of America, and Iceland's sustainable energy production.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Kenya
OPEN TO
Undergraduate Students
ENV 348: ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN EAST AFRICA
Faculty: Richard Peterson, Ph.D.
This is a spring semester course offered every other year with a 22-day field experience in Kenya in late May/June. Semester studies focus on understanding Kenya’s contemporary environmental, health and community development issues within East Africa’s political, cultural and historical contexts. The field experience features visits to leading universities, museums and national parks, an overland journey from Nairobi to Kisumu through the Great Rift Valley, homestays with Kenyan families, hiking in the Kakamega Rainforest, boating and birding on Lake Victoria, working with local partner organizations on soil conservation projects, and learning from and with community-based conservation researchers at a Maasai-owned educational resource center and conservancy in Kenya’s South Rift.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Mexico
OPEN TO
Undergraduate Students
CIT 420: GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
Faculty: Sam McReynolds, Ph.D.
This spring semester travel course fulfills the Citizenship graduation requirement and includes a nine-day trip to Mexico during spring break. Students will spend their first few days in Cuernavaca, an important cultural center in Central Mexico, where they will live with host families and immerse themselves in the community. They will then travel to the nearby village of Amatlán, where they will stay at an ecotourism center, teach English in a local school, and learn about Amatlán’s unique cultural heritage.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Panama
OPEN TO
Undergraduate Students
BIO 421: CONSERVATION & ECOLOGY OF A CARIBBEAN ISLAND
Faculty: Jeri Fox, Ph.D.
This spring semester course covers topics in history and geology of the Caribbean with an emphasis on the island of Boca del Toros in Panama. Students will study topics such as terrestrial, island and marine biodiversity, and the ecology and evolution of populations.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Cuba
Open To: Undergraduate Students
CIT 420: Global Citizenship
Faculty: Sam McReynolds, Ph.D.
Travel to Cuba to explore an exciting new era of U.S.-Cuba relations, while simultaneously fulfilling the Citizenship graduation requirement. During the course, you will learn about Cuban history, society and culture with a focus on the impacts of the Cuban Revolution. Highlights of your time in Cuba include engaging in cultural learning through discussions with Cuban people, visiting an organic farming cooperative and a local elementary school, and sharing in popular Cuban pastimes of music, dance, and dominoes.
Fall semester course with travel in January.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2022
Dominican Republic
OPEN TO: Undergraduate Students
SRM 290: LATIN AMERICAN SPORT AND GENDER
Faculty: Aimee Vlachos, Ed.D.
This fall semester course views sport as a social institution and a microcosm of the longer social processes that stage, reinforce, and perpetuate myriad inequalities in society. In this course, we analyze the gendered aspects of sport and the relationships among gender, sexuality, and sport in Latin America. We consider the ways that sport reinforces, and potentially undermines, heteronormality as well as hegemonic notions of masculinity and femininity. In January, you will travel to the Dominican Republic to more closely examine gender and sport in Latin America. You will also engage in a service learning project tied to promoting sport for the women and girls of Latin America. This course can fulfill a Social and Global Awareness (SGA) requirement.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2022
Thailand
OPEN TO
Doctor of Pharmacy students, fourth year
PHP 405: GLOBAL HEALTH
Faculty: James Krebs, Pharm.D.
This fall semester Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) explores the concepts of global health as well as contemporary health issues in Thailand. Through lectures and experiential learning, you will learn about social and environmental healthcare in the tropics, traditional and alternative medicine, border health and care of displaced persons, as well as clinical diseases in the tropics.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2022
Costa Rica
Open to: Undergraduate Students
BIO 257/257L OR BIO 455/455L: TROPICAL FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
Faculty: Greg Zogg, Ph.D.
This is a spring semester course that includes travel to Costa Rica for nine days over spring break, where you will explore the amazing biodiversity of both tropical rainforests and so-called dry forests. Students will conduct fieldwork examining how human-induced changes in the environment — such as defaunation, invasive species, and global warming — impact these two forest types. In addition, students will have the opportunity to zipline through the forest canopy, spend some time at the beach, and simply enjoy the sights and sounds of tropical forests. Upon return to the U.S., students will spend the rest of the semester drawing upon their travel experience to help them identify strategies to protect these natural systems from further human disturbance. Note that this course can be taken at either the 200- or 400-level, with students enrolling at the 400 level having greater expectations in terms of both depth of study and workload, and serving as research team leaders on group projects before, during, and after travel to Costa Rica.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2022
For faculty
Help to develop your faculty-led travel course is here!
Use our development grant to bring your travel course to life. This grant will help you travel abroad to explore the possibilities of starting your course.