Short-term Faculty Led Programs

2024 Programs

Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia: Nations, Identities, and Democratization: Eastern Central Europe 

This short-term faculty-led study abroad program, led by Beth Admiraal (Political Science) and Renata Evan (Study Abroad) will allow students to discover Eastern Central Europe, a region with extraordinary diversity and--simultaneously--many shared experiences. This course will examine the nations and identities of both Slavs and non-Slavs and evaluate the role of (un)democratization in shaping or changing these identities. The study-abroad portion will allow students to better understand how identity is connected to place by visiting sites that played critical roles in shaping the people of Eastern Central Europe, including: the Jewish Quarter in Krakow, the Wieliczka salt mines, and Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland; the Devin Castle, St. Martin’s Cathedral, and the vineyards of Modra in Slovakia; and the Old Town Square, Museum of Communism, and the Prague Castle in Czechia. We will also take a day trip to Vienna to explore its history and relations with Eastern Europe. Our final stop will be an overnight in Budapest, Hungary, where we’ll step outside the Slavic world to encounter the Magyars through visits to places like Fisherman’s Bastion and St. Stephen’s Basilica. During our free time, students will be encouraged to explore the old town passages, local markets, and quaint shops. 

Spain: Travel Writing in Spain

Under the direction of Dr. Mike Little (English), students on this short-term faculty-led study abroad program will live in Seville and experience the art, architecture, history, and people of southern Spain while practicing the art of travel writing. In pairs, students will room with homestay families and have the chance to settle into the life of Seville rather than just visit. The goal for this course is to use those experiences to see the differences and similarities between life in Seville and the life they already know, all while helping students to develop the writing skills and cultural awareness that enable them to think meaningfully about who they are. Students will visit museums, landmarks, and churches, including the Alcazar, La Giralda, the Museo de Bellas Artes, and Plaza de España. They will also participate in guided tours of the oldest local markets and neighborhoods, learn to cook Spanish cuisine, and attend a traditional Flamenco show. From their base in Seville, students will travel to Granada, Cordoba, and the Roman ruins in Itálica. 

Costa Rica: Tropical Ecology, Conservation, and Sustainability

Under the leadership of Drs. Garrett Barr and Tammy Tintjer (King’s College Biology Department), this 2.5-week travel course introduces students to the remarkable biodiversity in the tropics, ecological research techniques, and a variety of stunning landscapes in Cosa Rica. This program is open to all majors and is a highly recommended way to enhance your Biology, Environmental, or Core Natural Science curriculum. The course, centered on a short-term study abroad program to Costa Rica, is designed to enhance student understanding of:

• Tropical Ecology: the hows, wheres, and whys of the incredible biodiversity in the tropics
• Conservation: efforts to conserve biodiversity in the face of global change
• Sustainability: the use of natural resources in sustainable and not-so-sustainable ways
• Science: the process of scientific research
• Culture: modern and historic cultures in Middle America

We will spend ½ of our time at a research station in northeastern Costa Rica where we will explore, participate in long-term research projects, and design and conduct our own research. We will also travel to the southeastern part of the country, visiting cloud forest, páramo (montane grassland), farms, wildlife refuges, national parks, and the Pacific Ocean. 

Peru: In the Holy Cross Tradition: Healthcare in Lima, Peru

In this program, led by Jean Denion and Megan Corcoran from the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, students will participate in a 2-week immersive healthcare experience in partnership with the Holy Cross Misson in Canto Grande. This program is designed for undergraduate students with a focus on studies in medicine/healthcare. The goals of this program are to provide students with an understanding of medical care in a developing country while building basic patient care skills that they can apply to their futures studies. Much of the time spent on this trip will be at Policlinico, working with the medical staff to provide care and disease education to the patients within that community. We will also provide outreach services to local schools and communities. Through planned excursions, students will also be able to experience the history and culture of Peru.