September 5, 2024
Honors College offers five study abroad, experiential learning trips
In efforts to help Honors College students find opportunities to go abroad, the college has partnered with departments and offices across East Carolina University to offer five unique experiences.
Study Abroad
Baja California Sur, Mexico
As part of the spring 2025 Honors College seminar “Whale Tale: Big Challenges Facing the Ocean’s Biggest Mammals,” students will have the opportunity to travel to Baja California Sur, Mexico over spring break to observe whale migration and calving and the impacts of climate change. This immersive field experience will take students to the Gulf of California and the Ojo de Liebre lagoon as well as the desert and the Sierra de la Giganta Mountains. Dr. Tammy Lee and Bonnie Glass will teach the course and lead the study abroad experience. Students can earn natural sciences, global diversity and writing intensive credit.
The trip will cost $3,710, which includes tuition, in-country support, international medical insurance, roundtrip international airfare from RDU to Baja, Mexico, program excursions (including whale watching), and in-country housing and most meals. The application deadline is September 20, 2024.
Manchester Metropolitan University (England) & Universite de Tours (France)
The Honors College is partnering with universities in Manchester, England and Tours, France for bi-lateral student exchanges during the spring 2025 semester. Students would pay the same ECU tuition to ECU and will pay housing directly to the university abroad. Both programs have September 15, 2024 deadlines and there are scholarships available for the spring 2025 semester. There are a wide range of courses that students can take at either university.
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England, known for its culture, music scene, scientific and engineering output media links and sporting connections. Manchester’s sports clubs include Premiere League football teams, Manchester City and Manchester United. Also, Manchester is the third-most visited city in the United Kingdom by foreign visitors, after London and Edinburgh, and the most visited in England outside London.
Tours, France is a beautiful, historic city about an hour away from Paris by train. It’s renowned for its architecture and history, the Loire valley food and the Loire valley wine. Downtown Tours is five minute walk from the main campus and most student housing options are very close. There are also several parks within the city and the Loire river runs just behind campus.
Alternative Break Experiences
Northern Ireland
Over spring break 2025, students can travel with Dr. Diane Majewski for a Serve & Learn trip in Derry and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Students will visit both rural and urban settings, Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods. Participants will gain a first-hand look at the history of the Troubles, meeting with ex-combatants, politicians and youth workers with both experiences in the conflict and peace process. They will meet with local community and professional leaders; serve on projects developed by community leaders; and explore the country and culture through field trips, local presenters and community events.
The cost is to be announced but will include lodging, food, ground transportation, and all program activities. Students will purchase their flights separately, which averages around $575 roundtrip from RDU to Dublin. The application deadline is November 11, 2024.
Jamaica
Travel with Dr. Katie Ford to Jamaica right after the spring semester for a Serve & Learn in Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica. The May 12-19 trip embeds students into Jamaican culture through homestays and a wide variety of community engagement activities. Participants will arrive to/depart from Montego Bay and spend the program in one of two neighboring communities: Petersfield or Galloway. They will meet with local community and professional leaders; serve on projects developed by and implemented with PGBS members; and explore the country and culture through field trips, local presenters and community events.
The cost is to be announced but will include lodging, food, ground transportation, and all program activities. Students will purchase their flights separately, which averages about $450 roundtrip from RDU to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Applications close on February 7, 2025.