Best places to study abroad in college
Attending college is all about expanding your horizons and trying new things. One way students can is by studying abroad!
Carthage students have the unique opportunity to participate in a short-term J-Term study tour, during which they can travel abroad to participate in a culture-enriching experience. Each study tour focuses on a different area of study and can range from two to four weeks in either the winter or summer.
Take a look at some of the most popular trips! Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity.
8 exciting places to study abroad
1. Costa Rica
Being a relatively small country and home to 6 percent of the world’s biodiversity, Costa Rica allows travelers to experience all of its nature and culture with ease that provides an enriching adventure.
Carthage study tour: Photographing Nature in Costa Rica
This course starts with an introduction to digital photography and then students travel to Costa Rica for a 13-day abroad tour. Students photograph various organisms and learn about their biology while also learning about the conservation efforts that are going on in the country. After the tour is complete, students take what they learned and craft a project that utilizes visual imagery to educate others about the value of and/or threats to the biodiversity in Costa Rica.
Students studying biology, photography, or graphic design frequently take this study tour.
2. England
England is known for its rich cultural history, allowing travelers to be captivated by the impressive developments that made the world as we know it today. Through monuments, museums, galleries, markets, etc., travelers can receive an engaging cultural experience and meet different kinds of people from around the world.
Carthage Study Tour: Writers in Context: Jane Austen’s Persuasion
This study abroad course offers the opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the cultural, historical, and geographic contexts of the literature they study. Students will focus on Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” and travel to London and Bath, where the setting of the novel takes place.
This course is great for students studying English, creative writing, and history.
3. Honduras
This naturally diverse country is home to some of the most beautiful beaches, coral reefs, colonial towns, and archeological sites. When traveling to Honduras, visitors can gain vital cultural experience from the locals and see once-in-a-lifetime attractions.
Carthage study tour: Global Perspectives in Healthcare: Service Learning
This course implements health promotion activities and treatment of health problems within a Honduras community with needs. Students will learn about cultural differences related to healthcare, family, economics, technology, religion, and other aspects identified. Service opportunities include service to children, hair washing for children, assistance with medical/dental procedures, distribution of supplies, construction, and spiritual care.
The trip is healthcare-focused, but the experience has roles for all majors.
4. India
With over a billion people, India is home to many diverse communities, cuisines, religions, and languages. Travelers can go to each of its 28 states and immerse themselves in the historical and vibrant culture that will surely be the experience of a lifetime.
Carthage study tour: Healthcare in India: Traditional and Non-Traditional
This course will examine healthcare in India with a focus on class, gender, environment, and caste, among other topics in highly populated urban centers; hospice care and unique end-of-life ceremonies that pertain to a culture where many ascribe to the concept of reincarnation; and how particular groups and communities have been reacting and adapting to specific challenges unique to India. Studying these topics in a developing country, under the impact of globalization, will imbue a greater holistic perspective to students
This course is intended for students who plan to have careers in healthcare.
5. Italy
Italy’s rich cultural heritage of art, fashion, food, architecture, and cultural history is enough to entice people to its lands. Tourists can learn fascinating things in Italy through experiences they could not get anywhere else.
Carthage Study Tour: International Legal Environment and Business in the European Union
This tour takes students to Italy’s most major cities with a focus on the country’s role in the European Union. Students will also learn about Italy’s history, culture, politics, business, and legal system that gained them a spot in the European Union.
Although this course is intended for students majoring in management, anyone can attend.
6. Japan
A country that values respect, honor, and social harmony — travelers will indeed have a unique experience when visiting Japan through its fascinating display of the arts, nature, and history. The two contrasting sides of Japan, one part of the country displaying century-old traditions and the other dazzling cities, are sure to draw in its visitors for a rich cultural experience.
Carthage Study Tour: Discovering Cultural Traditions in Modern Japanese Society
This course allows students to learn about the rich cultural traditions of Japan and its evolution in contemporary Japanese society. Students work together to navigate a likely foreign cultural landscape through experiential learning to broaden their exposure to the interaction of cultural traditions and modern society across different geographical areas and to analyze the core themes of the course through multiple field research techniques such as direct observation, informal interview, photo voice, and journal keeping.
This course encourages students to learn broadly in the context of a rapidly changing civilization and develop an understanding of the class material by direct contact with the people, places, cuisine, art, architecture, religion, and social customs that serve as our unwritten text.
This course is intended for students from all disciplines. No Japanese language skill is needed to enroll.
7. Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a naturally diverse country with beaches, forests, jungles, volcanoes, and lakes. With 20 percent of its biodiversity protected by national parks and reserves and being a less developed country, Nicaragua is a destination that allows tourists to have a laid-back trip while giving them the experience of a lifetime.
Carthage Study Tour: Biology and Geography in Nicaragua
This course provides students with unique opportunities to practice clinical work or work on water and other environmental projects. Both aspects give students first-hand knowledge of the rural volcanic island of Ometepe, Nicaragua while they also learn the country’s fascinating history, culture, and environment.
Students majoring in biology or geography frequently participate in this study tour, but it is open to all majors.
8. Paris, France
Paris, France is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city welcoming travelers. Through culture, fashion, art, museums, monuments, and so much more, visitors can experience learning some of the most enticing historical history straight from the source when traveling to Paris.
Carthage Study Tour: Paris: A Capital Experience
Carthage students will embark on this two-week trip to France during this study tour to learn about French history and culture through the various places visited, including museums and monuments. Instruction includes learning about the main styles of architecture and principal schools of art; observing and reflecting upon appropriate public behavior within this cultural context; guided to make observations on the French daily way of life, including conversational styles, food and table manners, use of transportation, and use of public and private spaces; and making observations of public institutions in comparison to the U.S.
Students with minimal or no language knowledge will learn and practice basic greetings and expressions. In contrast, advanced French students will serve as interpreters.
9. Tanzania
Those who travel to Tanzania become a part of the country’s extraordinary environment. Guests can journey through the savannas and witness the country’s native wildlife. Travelers will also experience West African culture, society, and religion through the 120 ethnic groups, each with its own dialect, and receive a hands-on experience within the culture they couldn’t receive anywhere else.
Carthage Study Tour: Tanzania: Religion, Society, and Culture
This travel course at Carthage is a first-hand opportunity to study Tanzanian society and culture. Traveling across northern Tanzania, students immerse in the abundantly diverse social, cultural, religious, and natural surroundings of the country. Students participate in formal discussions with college/university professors, students, and spiritual leaders; interact with local people and participate in their cultural practices; visit contemporary sites that illustrate the tremendous social, cultural, and religious abundance of Tanzania; and embark on a two-day/one-night viewing trip covering the two most popular safari destinations.
This abroad trip is great for students studying religion or music, but is open to any major.