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Short Term Program Information for Students

The Short-Term Faculty-Led Abroad programs are two or three week programs led by Washington College faculty during the college’s winter or summer breaks. Each program is dedicated to a specific area of study and is often counts as one course credit (4 credits) in the corresponding department. Students do not need to be majoring in that specific area to participate in these trips, however; all trips are open to all Washington College students.
 
Cost varies by program, and is usually a flat fee covering all transportation and accommodation fees and the College’s off-campus study fee for short-term programs (currently $445). These program fees are separate from a student’s standard tuition costs. Short-Term, Faculty-Led Abroad Program fees are eligible to be offset or covered by various Washington College scholarship and grant opportunities, such as the Cater Society for Junior Fellows. There is no limit to how many Short-Term, Faculty-Led Programs a student can participate in.
 
Each trip does not run every year – some run every other year. Please contact the program’s Faculty Leader(s) for details regarding program frequency.
 
Specific questions regarding application, trip details, or pricing should be directed to the program’s Faculty Leader(s), but the Global Education Office is available to answer any questions regarding travel abroad.

 

2024 Faculty-Led Trips

Costa Rica

Faculty Leader(s): Drs. Jennie Rinehimer & Madeline Poethke
Area of Study: Biology (4 credit BIO course)
Prerequisites: BIO 111 & BIO 112
Application Deadline: September 22, 2023
Dates: January 6-20, 2024
Download the Application for Tropical Ecology
Tropical rainforests are a center of biodiversity and are of significant ecological importance. This course will immerse students in the tropical rainforests of Central America, allowing for extensive observation and explorations of topics such as animal behavior, ornithology, herpetology, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. In addition to two weeks in a lowland tropical rainforest, the course will also feature pre-departure and post-travel class meetings and activities.


Spain
Faculty Leader(s): Dr. Libby Yost
Area of Study: Pre-Health
Deadline: TBD 
Dates: January 7-17, 2024
No Spanish language experience is required for this trip.
 
Cuba
Faculty Leader(s): Dr. Kenneth Schweitzer and Dr. Aaron Lampman
Area of Study: Music, Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, Black Studies, Latin American Studies
Courses: BUS Global Learning requirement, International Studies Experiential Learning requirement, Social Science distribution (or) Fine Arts distribution 
Application Deadline: October 13, 2023 DEADLINE EXTENDED! Contact Dr. Lampman or Dr. Schweitzer if interested.
Deposit: $500 non-refundable (put "Cuba Seminar" in the Notes)
Deposit Due: October 20, 2023
Passport Scan Deadline: November 3, 2023 (email scans to Dr. Schweitzer)
Balance Due: December 1, 2023 (put "Cuba Seminar" in the Notes)
Dates: January 13-21, 2024
If you will have difficulties meeting any deadlines, please reach out to Drs. Lampman & Schweitzer.

Ecuador
Faculty Leader(s): Dr. Rebecca Fox
Area of Study: Environmental Studies
Course: ENV 222 Summer Environmental Studies in Ecuador
Deadline: TBD
Dates: TBD (Summer 2024)
Maximum Capacity: 25
 


Global Business: Spain
Faculty Leader(s): Dr. Michael Harvey
Area of Study: Global Business / Business of Food and Tourism
Course: BUS 330 Global Business Experience
Priority Deadline: September 8, 2023
Deadline: TBD
Dates: May 20 - June 2, 2024
Maximum Capacity: 25
Cost: $6,000 for WAC students, limited scholarships available

Kiplin Hall: UK (England)
Program Director: Prof. Katie Charles (English)
Trip Leader(s): Vicki Barnett-Woods (Starr Center), Beth Choate (CES), Prof. Roy Kesey (English and Lit House) 
Application Deadline: March 8, 2024 (Apply Online)
Decisions & Notification: by March 25, 2024
Dates: June 1-9, 2024
Maximum Capacity: 6
Description: This trip is an all-expenses-paid research experience (travel, accommodations, and food), and not a credit-bearing course. Our team will work alongside Kiplin Hall staff to develop a prospectus of program development and interdisciplinary interpretation about its deep connections to Maryland history. Readings and research will be complemented by experiential learning, visits to important historic sites, some manual labor, and hiking in the Lake District and on the Yorkshire moors.
Learning Outcomes: Pre-and-post trip reading, data analysis, and report writing. Collaboration by students and staff to develop interdisciplinary materials to support our new focus on transatlantic, ecological, historical, and literary contexts. 
Information Sessions: 

  • Feb 29th at 5:30pm @ The Egg
  • March 6th at 5:00pm @ The Lit House






Regularly Offered Trips

Country
Faculty Leader
Area of Study
Session
Bermuda
Dr. Fox & Dr. Connaughton
Environmental Science
Summer
Europe
Dr. Harvey
Global Business
Summer
Cuba
Dr. Schweitzer & Dr. Lampman
Music & Anthropology
Winter
Ecuador
Dr. Sherman
Environmental Studies
Summer
England (Kiplin Hall)
Dr. Charles, et al.
English & Literature
Summer
England (Oxford Seminar)
Dr. Prud'homme
Politics, Religion & Culture
Summer
India
Dr. McCollum & Dr. Leupold
Music & Anthropology
Winter
Nicaragua
Dr. Carr & Dr. Van Meter
Biology
Winter
 
 
 
 
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