Faculty Led Courses

Warren Wilson College study away courses 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 four 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. All courses are 4 credits.

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 sufficient accumulated credit hours, a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application, residency, good standing in all areas of campus and academic life, your acceptance of program policies, and any course prerequisites.

To apply for programs: click the "search and apply for a program" at the left. This will bring you to our program database and application portal. From within the program database, click "list all" and search for the program you hope to apply to, or click "advanced search" and type in the program's information. 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.

Current 2023-24 Courses

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

Greece: Climate Change in Mediterranean Ecosystems

Credits: 4 (BIO 3XXX) Spring semester course with May travel in Greece for two weeks
Instructors: Alisa Hove (professor of biology) & Brian Conlan (Director of the Library)
Travel Dates: May 12-24, 2024

In recent years, global climate change has emerged as a complex and contentious issue facing humankind. This course introduces students to the discipline of Global Change Biology, which focuses on the biosphere's responses to large scale perturbations to the Earth system. The course will introduce the scientific basis for our understanding of the Earth's climate system, discuss how knowledge of past climate change informs our understanding of current impacts, and consider the predicted effects of climate change in Mediterranean type ecosystems (MTE's). MTE's cover 2% of Earth's land (only occurring in California, Chile, the Mediterranean basin, South Africa, & Australia), but harbor extremely high biodiversity. In part due to their characteristic climate, MTE's are experiencing some of the most intense effects of climate change. We will use case studies in conservation biology, fire ecology, & sustainable agriculture to consider the impacts of climate change in MTE's.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,500* + airfare (est. $1,300-$1,500)
*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 6th, 2023

Ireland: A Personal Book of Hours

Credits: 4 (PSY/ART 3750) Spring semester course with May travel in Ireland for two weeks
Instructors: Cristina Reitz-Krueger (professor of psychology) & Jessica White (professor of art)
Travel Dates: May 12-26, 2024

This Art & Psychology course is an introduction to the medieval Book of Hours and how it can be adapted to contemporary life. Especially popular in the Middle Ages, Books of Hours were devotional manuscripts that contained daily prayers and meditations that covered topics in everyday life from weather, to travel, to death and grief. Students will make personal books of hours using traditional European medieval materials and
techniques, then fill the books with texts utilizing a variety of calligraphy scripts and illuminated drawing techniques. Alongside our bookmaking, we'll explore the psychology behind mindful journaling, art as a form of meditation, and personal narrative. This course is a study abroad course
which includes a trip to Ireland where we will learn from primary sources held in the Special Collections at the Royal Irish Academy and the Book of Kells at Trinity Library.

Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $1,900* + airfare (est. $1,100-$1,300)
*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 6th, 2023