Warren Wilson College study away courses generally include fifteen weeks of on-campus coursework, class meetings and orientation sessions prior to travel. Course work in-country fits into students’ summer or winter break schedules with travel for two to three weeks. Students may continue to travel after the course is complete but are required to return to campus the semester following travel to complete assignments, reflect on their experiences and share their observations and stories with the community. Courses may be 4 credit, semester length courses or 2 credit, term length.

The costs of tuition, lodging, local transportation and most meals are covered by program fees and financial support from the College. Students are expected to pay for the following additional expenses: airfare, fees for passports, visas, tourist cards or other necessary documents; medical expenses (eg, inoculations) and medicines; tips; laundry; telephone calls; postage; gifts; fees for non-required activities or excursions; and an occasional meal.

Qualification is based on a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application, good standing in all areas of campus and academic life, your acceptance of program policies, and any course prerequisites.

To apply for programs: visit the application portal, and type in the program name: i.e. "Ireland". Once you have found the program and clicked on the link, you will see an "apply now" tab on the right side of the page.

France: Climate Crisis in Context

Credits: 4 Credit(ENS 3025) Spring Semester course with travel in France  
Instructors: Liesl Erb (Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies) and Amy Knisley (Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Law)
Travel Dates: Two weeks in May following Commencement

Study Away in France in Spring 2025 with Dr. Liesl Erb and Dr. Amy Knisley to explore how human communities in the US and France are finding resilience in the face of climate change. This course will investigate local, regional and global climate solutions in an effort to better understand our current climate crisis and reasons to remain hopeful in the face of a daunting climate reality. This 4-credit spring semester course will conclude with a two week trip to Paris, Toulouse, the French Pyrénées and the Mediterranean Coast.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,300* + airfare (est. $1110-$1500)
*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)

GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

Ghana: Pan Africanism in Ghana

Credits: 2 Credits Spring Semester course with travel in Ghana
Instructors: M.Z. Yehudah (Dean of Inclusive Excellence) and Sonce Reese (Assistant Director of Academic Engagement)
Travel Dates: Two weeks in May following Commencement

This course provides students with a unique opportunity to explore various perspectives about Ghana through an engagement of diverse media (literature, ethnographies, films, interviews, academic articles) and a special focus on how cultures of Ghana conceptualize and ultimately deploy aspects of their respective cultures to address their familial/community/societal needs. On-site in Ghana, students will be presented with experiences that will lead them to juxtapose the idea of Pan-Africanism with the existential experience of Ghanaians during the era of anti-colonial uprising and eventual independence of Ghana. Within Pan-Africanism we will ask about the life of the ideology since independence. How has it impacted national, continental, and international/ Diasporic social interaction & organization (sociology), advocacy (public/ community/ family policy), socio-economic groupings (political economy), education & socialization within family, community, national settings, community & municipal based ideas of health & wellness, and philosophies of spirituality and aesthetics.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,500 + airfare (est. $1400-$1900)

*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)

GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

Indonesia: Art and Social Change in Bali and Java

Credits: 4 Credits Spring Semester course with travel in Indonesia
Instructors: Siti Kusujiarti(Professor of Sociology) and Kevin Kehrberg (Professor of Music)
Travel Dates: Two weeks in May following Commencement

Bali and Java remain the most popular centers of artistic expression in Indonesia. This course will use traditional Indonesian art forms-including music, dance, and theater as a lens through which to view social change in Bali and Java. Using an interdisciplinary framework, the course will provide students opportunities to explore the ancient roots of Javanese and Balinese art, especially the performing arts, and discover the dynamic ways in which these traditional arts are changing in response to the pressures of globalization and international tourism. Onsite locations include Janabadra and Gadjah Mada Universities in Yogyakarta (Java), cultural destinations in Yogyakarta and Bali, and village homestays in central Java and Bali. Students will participate in community-engaged activities and direct interactions with local Indonesian artists, college students, professors, and community members.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,200 + airfare (est. $1500-$1800)

*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)

GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

Laos: Pass it Back: Exploring the Impact of Physical Activity & Social Change Organizations in Laos

Credits: 4 Credits (ECON/BUS 3025) Spring Semester course with travel in Laos
Instructors: Kristen Keane (Assistant Professor of Business) and Katie Wurst (Assistant Athletic Director)
Travel Dates: Two weeks in May following Commencement

The purpose of this course is to allow students to develop cultural competence skills within the context of social change business management with the participants and staff of the Pass it Back program. This course features a chance to learn a new sport as a method of enhancing physical activity access & leadership skills alongside individuals who are also in the beginning stages of knowledge acquisition in this domain. Opportunities to learn about how the historical context of U.S. & Laos interactions have played a role in shaping the economic environment leading to the necessity of this programming is also featured. Hands-on experiential learning through guest speakers, class discussions, program & project planning, & event implementation are highlights of what students can expect to experience within this course.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $1,900 + airfare (est. $1300-$1900)

*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)

GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

The Netherlands: Growing Resilience: Care Farming in the Netherlands

Credits: 4 Credits (SWK 3025) Spring Semester course with travel in The Netherlands
Instructors: Sarah Himmelheber (Assistant Professor of Social Work) and Marjolein Elings (In-country instructor, Project Coordinator and Scientist)

Travel Dates: Two weeks in May following Commencement

This course explores care farming, or the use of farming tasks and practices towards a therapeutic aim. Special attention will be given to the development of this style in the Netherlands as a treatment approach with multiple populations. Students will be introduced to typical needs of populations served by care farms including older adults, people with SPMIs, people with ID/DD, people coping with addiction, among others.

During the campus-based portion of this course, students will visit multiple facilities in the region that utilize interaction with plants and animals as therapeutic interventions, think critically about the model, and contribute to the development of a domestic Care Farming Network. Students will gain hands-on interaction with plants and animals as preparation for participation with the Noorderhoeve care farm in the Netherlands.

Rachel Himmelheber, Associate Professor of Creative Writing, will join the group for travel support.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,100 + airfare (est. $800-$1200

*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)

GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

Belize: Comparative Psychology and Cultural-Historical Studies

Credits: 4(PSY 3730) Fall Semester course with travel in Belize over winter break 
Instructors: Bob Swoap (Professor of Psychology) and Christine Swoap (Professor of Spanish Language)
Travel Dates: Dec. 27-Jan.6

Comparative psychologists study the behavioral patterns & minds of a wide array of animal species, including humans. There is an emphasis on discovering similarities & differences across species that may shed light on evolutionary & developmental processes. Belize has a rich marine life as well as diverse cultural and language traditions. We will use a comparative & cross-cultural lens to focus on marine species and on learning from the people of Belize. After the fall semester, we will travel together for an 11-day field course to Belize to assist researchers from EcoMar (focusing on conservation issues & marine research) and to learn about the country, its people, and its traditions. We will visit & learn about Mayan ruins, cultural heritage sites, etc. We will stay at a Belizean family-owned villa where Spanish and Mayan languages are spoken with regular opportunities to immerse ourselves in the culture and daily Belizean life.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,300* + airfare (est. $900-$1100)
*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: March 1tst, 2023