Previous Faculty Led Short-Term Programs

History, Culture, and Art in Senegal, June 2–15, 2024

Students are expected to participate in all group cultural activities as delineated in the course itinerary.

London Fine and Performing Arts, May 14–28, 2024

Students are expected to participate in all group cultural activities as delineated in the course itinerary; this includes visits to theatre performances, museums, and historic sites, as well as class discussion sessions.

Communicating Sustainability in Latvia, June 2023

The course guides explorations about the ways communication engaged in understanding nature and its people has regional and global consequences.  Through focus on narratives about sustainability, policy debates about responsibility, and environmental discourses about relations between people and nature, students will develop a deeper understanding of commonalities and differences related to international locales (geographical, economic, political, or social).

Geology in Italy, July 1-23, 2022

Geology in Italy explores the German-Speaking region of the South Tirol. During this 3 week program you will have the opportunity to experience a sustainable farm and 13th century castle in the town of Dorf Tirol. You will quickly become immersed in the culture and history surrounded by castles, fortresses, and churches. You will have time to experience the upscale shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants while also hiking the beautiful landscapes that are the Alps.

Walking Ancient Rome, June 2022

Walking Ancient Rome explores the history, society, and culture of the city of ancient and medieval Rome. The city’s ancient history is bound up with the history of the Romans’ territorial expansion in Italy and the Mediterranean. Its medieval history, meanwhile, is intertwined with the growing political and economic power of the Catholic Church. The course will thus examine these connections to understand the way people used and viewed Rome's urban space differently across time. We will gain access to these ideas through on-site exploration of Rome’s monuments and museums and through ancient, medieval, and modern readings regarding the importance of these sites and how they fit into differing perceptions of Rome. Additionally, living in Rome for three weeks will allow you to experience first hand the food, culture, people, and daily rhythms of life in the modern city. 

Aging in Greece, May 27-June 23, 2020

Aging in Greece (IS 2035): International service-learning course in Athens and the island of Ikaria that explores cross-cultural differences between Greece and the United States in the meaning and experience of aging, as well as in the social and institutional supports for the aging population. Focus on the role of the community and public sector in promoting optimal aging. Students spend two hours per day in the classroom and 4-6 hours per day at a nursing home. This program runs from May 27-June 23, is worth 4 credits, and has no prerequisites. It is led by Argie Manolis, and Tara Gromatka.

Education and Teaching English in Brazil, May 25 - June 8, 2020

Students will experience a meaningful entryway to Brazil. Students will develop an initial understanding of basic principles of teaching, learning and language acquisition; develop mastery of basic teaching methods. This program will be n country from May 25-June 8, and has no prerequisites. It is led by Sara Lam, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, and Kiel Harell, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education

Irish Drama: Print, Culture, and Performance. May 21 - June 11, 2020

Program focuses on the connections between Irish playwrights, their works and culture. Students will read notable Irish plays and then experience a wide array of theatrical performances in the countries of the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland. Places visited will include Dublin, Galway, Sligo, and Belfast. Significant cultural sites such as the Aran Islands, the Hill of Tara, and the stunning Cliffs of Moher, will also be visited. The program includes special seminars by guest lecturers, performance technique workshops for beginners, as well as cultural and historical tours. Irish Drama: Print, Culture and Performance can be used toward the IP (International perspective) or general education requirement. No theatre experience or theatre major is required. This program runs from May 21-June 11, is worth 4 credits, and has no prerequisites. It is led by Siobhan Bremer, Associate Professor of Theater, and Peter Bremer, Librarian.

Understanding Cuba: IS 2039, 2 cr (IP), Winter Break 2019 and 2020

"Understanding Cuba" is a two-week study-abroad course on Cuban history and politics with an emphasis on the interaction of humans and their environment. All course materials are taught in English; no prior experience in Spanish language is expected. For UMM students, the program serves as an elective for majors and minors in political science (comparative politics), history, and environmental studies. In this program, you will examine Cuba's contemporary political system and beliefs, its social, economic, and political history, and the ways that Cubans and their environment have shaped each other.

Chemistry, Empirical Inquiry, and Cultural Confluence in Thailand: (CHEM 1553), 4 credits, IP, prerequisite: CHEM 1101, June 1-June 22, 2019.

Application of science toward worldwide challenges in health and sustainability requires international and intercultural collaboration among scientists. A general background in chemistry and common goals with scientists worldwide opens the door for cultural exchange and provides the basis for this program in Thailand. Thailand is known for the beauty of its landscapes, delicious and bountiful cuisine, quality of its silk, and the warmth and gracious hospitality of its population. Long a hub of trade and commerce in Southeast Asia, Thailand's unique culture has many influences from its neighbors in the region as well as aspects introduced from Europe and the USA by means of trade and cultural exchange rather than colonization. This program is for students who wish to develop scientific, international, and intercultural skills to apply chemistry toward problems of both local and global relevance. You will reinforce basic chemical knowledge and skills while working alongside Thai and American students and faculty on chemistry activities with a connection to health, sustainability, and Thai culture.

  • Experience the frenetic vitality of Bangkok and ornate splendor of its Grand Palace and Buddhist Temples
  • Apply and reinforce your skills as a chemist while collaborating with with Thai and Amrican students and faculty in Maha Sarakham, the center of Isaan, Thailand's heartland
  • Learn about and experience other aspects of Thai culture, including its cuisine, traditional silk making, and traditional medicine

Chasing the Plague in Edinburgh: Scientific and Literary Perspectives on the Infectious Disease, 4 credits, IP, no prerequisites, June 4-26, 2019

Students will spend three weeks in residency in Edinburgh

"Chasing the Plague" will explore the scientific history and literature of plagues in Scotland, with a special focus on Edinburgh. As a city ravaged twice by the plague, Edinburgh represents the ideal location to explore how infectious disease has shaped and continues to shape culture, architecture, history, and identity. Students will spend three weeks in residency in Edinburgh discovering the city, gaining a first-hand understanding of its literary and scientific history, and occasionally traveling to nearby sites. Through a mixture of in-classroom lectures and reading discussions, site-specific activities around the city, and trips to related areas like Leith or Inchkeith Island, students will gain a greater understanding of the impact infectious disease can have on a population. In addition to engaging literarily with the plague, students will also be introduced to relevent topics in immunology and explore current research on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

  • Gain a better understanding and appreciation for the roles of infectious disease in shaping culture, history, literature, and scientific endeavours.
  • Read and write creative work informed by knowledge of and anxieties about infectious disease in a big city.
  • Learn about the complexities of the immune system and gain exposure to current infectious disease research.

Fine and Performing Arts of London: (IS 2013), 2 credits, FA, no prerequisites.

This two week arts and cultural experience will introduce you to the vast theatrical and artistic riches of London. It is a particularly appropriate destination, as London is a world capital of both genres.

  • Theatre: National Theatre performances and backstage tour, Globe Theatre performances and site tour, and other West End and fringe offerings to be determined by the production schedule
  • Art: National Gallery, Portrait Gallery, Tates Modern and Britain, Hayward Gallery, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum,and contemporary art galleries offering rotating exhibits.
  • Cultural: St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Covent Gardens, Camden Town, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, and other sites to be determined.

From the Caesars to the Saints: Walking Ancient Rome (HUM 1006), 4 credits, HIST, no prerequisites.

This course will explore the history, society, and culture of the city of ancient Rome. The city's history is bound up with the history of the Romans' territorial expansion in Italy and the Mediterranean. The course will thus also examine the connection between the city of Rome and the empire of Rome. We will gain access to these ideas through on-site exploration of Rome's monuments and museums and through reading ancient and modern author's writings on the importance of these sites and how they fit into the ancient Romans' conception of their city. Additionally, living in Rome for three weeks will allow you to experience first hand the food, culture, people, and daily rhythms of life in the modern city.

This is a listing of programs that traveled previously.  There is no guarantee that these programs will run in future years.  This list is provided to give you an idea of the variety of programs that are offered on a year to year basis.