Study Away
Study Away is part of the college’s broad efforts to hone students’ understanding of the complexity of national and global problems and their skills for collaborating across intellectual, societal or geographical boundaries. The term Study Away in the JMHC refers to global and local learning across the United States and abroad. Through these off-campus, domestic or international experiences, students earn credit learning about technical topics while developing their intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These programs take place over October break, Spring break, Summer, or the entire semester.
Purdue has made a commitment to making Study Abroad affordable through guaranteed scholarships based on financial need. Learn more about Purdue's Giant Leaps Scholarships for short-term programs over Spring Break, Maymester, and summer, and for semester-long programs! You can also check out the Experiential Education Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities for study away programs.
John Martinson Honors College students may also be eligible for Global Enrichment Grants to support study away, internships abroad, and intercultural leadership. Courses and study away programs are listed by period in which offered.
Fall 2025 Courses (Full Semester)
Instructor: Multiple sections/instructors
Class Meetings: Asynchronous Online
HONR credits: 2
“Exploring Place” is an examination of the cultural, social, and historical dynamics that influence communities and relationships of a site. Blending independent study and distance learning, in this experiential learning course, the student and the instructor work together to design an individualized, in-depth study of the place in which the student is located. This study will be attentive to the social, cultural, political, economic, and other forces that have shaped this place historically and today, while also focusing on community life and the relationships between residents, institutions, organizations, and others. Exploring Place offers students the opportunity to better understand the people and places around them, expand their worldviews, and increase their self-awareness as they engage within these spaces and understand their place in them.
This course meets the university core requirement for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS).
Instructor: Dr. Nathan Swanson
Class Meetings: 10.30–11.20am ET Tuesdays and Thursdays (Synchronous Online)
HONR credits: 2
In this course, students from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana), Unisinos (Porto Alegre, Brazil), and Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (Cuzco, Peru) will collaborate virtually in interdisciplinary teams to identify solutions to a global or trans-local challenge. The theme for Fall 2025 is “The Future of Humanity in Times of AI.” At the start of the course, students from all three universities will meet together to learn about the topic from a range of disciplinary perspectives through guest lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions. Students will then be divided into interdisciplinary teams with members from all three universities and provided a prompt related to the theme. Teams will spend the remainder of the course focused on researching, developing, and packaging their solutions, which they will present publicly at the end of the term. In addition to increasing knowledge of the topic and improving teamwork skills, students in this course will advance in intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes through their international collaborative experience.
Those completing this course will be given first priority to enroll in a subsidized study abroad program to our partner university in Brazil over the subsequent Spring Break period for additional credit.
October Break 2025
Chicago, Illinois
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Muiris MacGiollabhui
Number of credits: 1 HONR credit
This fall break course will bring students back to the nineteenth century in Chicago at a time of steam engines, robber-barons, and railway strikes. In Chicago, we will explore the lives of laborers, who were often migrants newly arrived in the United States, as they navigated the crushing economic inequality of the Gilded Age. We will explore the rise of labor unions and radical agitators who faced off with men like Rockefeller and Carnegie. This is a three-day, two-night trip back in time.
There is an additional fee for this course, estimated at $660, which includes transportation, lodging, and some meals.
Camp Tecumseh, Brookston, Indiana
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Adam Watkins
Number of credits: 1 HONR credit
Honors Leadership Retreat is for Honors students who want to take meaningful steps on the path to becoming an exceptional leader. The retreat consists of a highly interactive two-day, one-night stay at Camp Tecumseh over Fall Break. Here, students can explore principles of leadership excellence in a fun, supportive, low-stakes environment, while also making connections with other Honors leaders. The fundamental tenets of the Leadership Development Pillar will be explored, including collaborative leadership; social responsibility; and personal leadership strengths, styles, values, and commitments.
There is an additional fee for this course, estimated at $200, which includes transportation, lodging, and meals.
Spring 2026 Courses (Full Semester)
Instructor: Multiple sections/instructors
Class Meetings: Asynchronous Online
HONR credits: 2
“Exploring Place” is an examination of the cultural, social, and historical dynamics that influence communities and relationships of a site. Blending independent study and distance learning, in this experiential learning course, the student and the instructor work together to design an individualized, in-depth study of the place in which the student is located. This study will be attentive to the social, cultural, political, economic, and other forces that have shaped this place historically and today, while also focusing on community life and the relationships between residents, institutions, organizations, and others. Exploring Place offers students the opportunity to better understand the people and places around them, expand their worldviews, and increase their self-awareness as they engage within these spaces and understand their place in them.
This course meets the university core requirement for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS).
Instructor: Dr. Nathan Swanson
Class Meetings: 8.30–9.20am ET Tuesdays and Thursdays (Synchronous Online)
HONR credits: 2
In this course, students from Purdue University, National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), and National Taiwan University will collaborate virtually in interdisciplinary, multinational teams to identify solutions to a major global challenge. In Spring 2026, we will focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing such challenges through a critical application and evaluation of AI tools. The course includes a range of disciplinary perspectives through guest lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions to build the foundations for the team-based project. Teams will spend several weeks of the course focused on researching, developing, and packaging their solutions, before presenting them publicly at the end of the term. In addition to increasing knowledge of the topic and improving teamwork skills, students in this course will advance in intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes through their international collaborative experience.
Spring Break 2026
Cordoba, Granada, and Seville, Spain
Program Dates: March 14–22, 2026
Faculty Program Leaders: Erika Kvam and Dr. Natasha Duncan
Number of Credits: 2 HONR credits
"Culture and Heritage in Practice: Andalusia, Spain" brings together the practice of institutionalizing culture and heritage and the discourses around these representations. Over Spring Break, students will be immersed in Andalusia, Spain, a region with rich histories of cultural confluences, where events in three distinct periods of history have fundamentally shaped the cultural tapestry of the region: the Ancient Period marked by Roman conquest, Islamic Rule, and the Christian Reconquest. In this program, students will be challenged to think critically about cultural representation and examine representations as manifested in museum curations, architecture, statues, iconography of the Andalusian region via hands-on activities, and tours of museums and cultural sites. By visiting Cordoba, Granada, and Seville, students will discover how cultural curations are shaped by colonial legacies, power, and imaginations of the nation.
Estimated Program Fee: $2,100
Not included in estimated cost: airfare and some meals
Callout Dates: September 18 (5.00pm, HCRS 1066) and October 9 (5.30pm, HCRS 1066)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=2037
Program Dates: March 13–22, 2026
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Muiris MacGiollabhui
Number of Credits: 2 HONR credits
Have you ever wondered what has inspired such intrigue about a small island on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean? This study away class will bring the island of Ireland, past and present, to life for students. Whether walking the same paths taken by James Joyce’s characters in Dubliners or witnessing the social phenomena that inspired Sally Rooney’s Normal People, students will be immersed in the culture and identity of Ireland. This class will dive into the history of the Republic of Ireland and ask a pertinent question: What does it mean to be Irish? Over nine days, students will visit the four corners of Ireland, learning the history of Ireland, its colonial past, and also envisaging the future of Ireland.
The course completed through this program fulfills the university core requirement for Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM).
Estimated Program Fee: $2,300
Not included in estimated cost: airfare and some meals
Callout Dates: September 18 (5.00pm, HCRS 1066) and October 9 (5.30pm, HCRS 1066)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=1766
Program Dates: March 14–21, 2026
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Felisa Higgins
Number of Credits: 2 HONR credits
This study away program invites students to explore how global systems of trade, politics, and culture intersect in Panama, one of the world’s most important gateways. Supply chain management has emerged as a defining element of competitiveness and geopolitical influence, and Panama, bridging the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Panama Canal, provides a unique vantage point for examining these dynamics. Through visits to the Canal, government agencies, and multinational companies, students will see firsthand how global logistics networks operate and how they shape economic and social life. By linking business, history, politics, and culture, this program highlights Panama’s unique role as a global hub while fostering intercultural understanding.
The course completed through this program fulfills the university core requirement for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS).
Estimated Program Fee: $2,000
Not included in estimated cost: airfare and some meals
Callout Dates: September 30 (5.00pm, HCRS 1066) and October 7 (5.00pm, HCRS 1066)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=2044
Program Dates: March 13–22, 2026
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Nathan Swanson
Number of Credits: 2 HONR credits (with 2 additional HONR credits earned in the Fall Solutions Lab Global course)
Designing and implementing solutions to major global challenges requires interdisciplinary thinking, collaboration skills, and intercultural competencies. These are all put into practice in the “Solutions Lab Global” class in which Purdue students work virtually with students at Unisinos in Brazil to develop solutions to a global problem. This Spring Break study abroad program flows from this course, enriching the virtual experience with a visit to Unisinos. Participants will learn about student life in Brazil, interact with Brazilian peers, visit sights in Porto Alegre, explore the local region, and be immersed in Brazilian culture through homestays and program activities. The program concludes with a visit to Rio de Janeiro, a city rich in history, culture, and nature.
The course completed through this program fulfills the university core requirement for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS).
Note: Priority for enrollment in this program will be given to students enrolled in Solutions Lab Global: Brazil & Peru (HONR 22200) during the Fall 2025 semester.
Estimated Program Fee: $595
Not included in estimated cost: airfare, visa, and some meals
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=1736
Maymester / Summer 2026
Program Dates: May 9–25, 2026
Faculty Program Leaders: Dr. Dwaine Jengelley and Dr. Mehmet Kocaoglu
Number of Credits: 3 HONR credits
This interdisciplinary Honors Maymester course examines the role of sport in shaping community life, civic engagement, and public life in contemporary Türkiye. Based at Selçuk University in Konya, students will connect with scholars, major soccer and basketball clubs, organized fan groups, NGOs, and local governments in Konya, Ankara, and Istanbul. Through site visits, conversations, and lectures—including attending live soccer games—students will explore how sport intersects with issues such as community development, public-private partnerships, social infrastructure, and everyday life. From the chants of ultras to the business of sport, this immersive experience offers a firsthand look at how sport shapes civic life beyond the playing field. Alongside sport-focused visits, students will also participate in cultural site visits in Konya, Ankara, and Istanbul, situating sport within the broader historical and civic life of Türkiye. Open to students from all majors, this course is designed for those interested in global sport and the interdisciplinary study of social institutions.
Estimated Program Fee: $2,700
Not included in estimated cost: airfare and some meals
Callout Dates: September 24 (5.30pm, HCRS 1054) and October 21 (6.00pm, HCRS 1066)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=2022
São Paulo, Sorocaba, and Manaus, Brazil
Program Dates: May 18–30, 2026
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Anish Vanaik
Number of Credits: 4 HONR credits
Brazil has a long record of global leadership on the climate crisis—and a long list of vulnerabilities to climate change. In this Maymester program, students will witness both of these first-hand as they travel to Brazil to study the causes and consequences of climate change and to explore solutions. During the first week, students will study under Dr. Danilo Aguiar and faculty at the Federal University of São Carlos (State of São Paulo) through lectures, field trips, and workshops, and experience cultural immersion through homestays. They will learn alongside Brazilian peers, expanding their perspectives on the climate crisis and offering opportunities for intercultural exchange. During the second week, the program moves to Manaus in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to explore the role of rainforests in climate change mitigation. This Amazon adventure includes three days of camping and exploration in the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Students will prepare for this Maymester experience through an online course the preceding spring semester focused on theories and concepts related to climate change.
The course completed through this program fulfills the university core requirement for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS).
Estimated Program Fee: $3,700
Not included in estimated cost: airfare, visa, and some meals
Callout Dates: September 24 (5.30pm, HCRN 1145) and October 16 (5.00pm, HCRS 1054)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=1966
Program Dates: May 10–31, 2026
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Nathan Swanson
Number of Credits: 6 HONR credits
Known in Arabic as Umm ad-Dunya, or Mother of the World, Egypt’s cultural and political influence has long expanded well beyond its borders. In this Maymester program, we will explore Egypt as a modern society with pronounced ancient roots, as a diverse crossroads of three continents, and as a cultural force in a globalized region. We will consider how history is mobilized to define the nation today and look at the ways that institutions position Egypt over time within broader geographies of people and places. We will also study Egyptian culture, with a focus on diversity in Egyptian society, and analyze ways that globalization has shaped Egypt’s economy and built environments. Through our unique program sites, we will observe thousands of years of engineering, trace ongoing legacies of imperialism, and experience globalization from the perspective of the Global South. Program activities include walking tours, museum visits, historical attractions, cultural institutions, meetings with local scholars, visits to traditional markets, a boat ride on the Nile River, and more. While based primarily in Cairo, a bustling city with a metropolitan area of 20 million residents and dozens of distinct districts and suburbs, we will also visit Alexandria, Port Said, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea.
The courses completed through this program fulfill the university core requirements for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) and Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM).
Estimated Program Fee: $5,100
Not included in estimated cost: airfare, visa, and some meals
Callout Dates: September 17 (5.30pm, HCRN 1145) and October 21 (5.00pm, HCRS 1066), or you view the "on demand" callout here.
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=1764
Program Dates: May 10–30, 2026
Faculty Program Leader: Dr. Dino Felluga
Number of Credits: 6 HONR credits
“Italian Discoveries" combines two courses, “HONR 315—Across Differences: Da Vinci’s Renaissance” (an investigation of interdisciplinary genius and of the scientific and artistic revolutions of the Italian Renaissance) and “HONR 313—Science, Technology, and Society: Our Postmodern Present” (an exploration of the scientific and artistic revolutions of our present). This program brings together the best of Italy, from the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany to the fishing villages of Le Cinque Terre—from famous cities to small villages known only to locals. We begin in the incomparable city of Venice, where we will complete all our in-class instruction while discovering why this unforgettable city is unique in all the world. We then visit the postmodern city of Milan before enjoying a two-day break that gives students an option to explore other areas of Italy on their own or to join a group heading to Le Cinque Terre. After our vacation, we move to Florence, the epicenter of Renaissance art and science. During this last week, we will enjoy a day trip to the most perfectly preserved medieval jewel of Italy, San Gimignano, where we will celebrate our last supper before returning for a last free day in Florence.
The courses completed through this program fulfill the university core requirements for Science, Technology, and Society (STS) and for Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM).
Estimated Program Fee: $6,900
Not included in estimated cost: airfare and some meals
Callout Dates: September 18 (6.00pm, HCRS 1066) and October 29 (12.00pm, Zoom)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=1535
JMHC Signature Program for Rising Juniors and Seniors
Medellín, Colombia
Program Dates: May 16–June 27, 2026
Program Contact: Dr. Natasha Duncan or Dr. Nathan Swanson
Number of Credits: 9 HONR credits
The John Martinson Honors College Signature Program for Rising Juniors and Seniors brings together global learning, cultural immersion, and professional and leadership development, all in one unique study away program! During this six-week summer experience, students will gain hands-on professional experience each day through placement with a local business or organization in Medellín, while also studying innovation and sustainability with faculty at Universidad EAFIT. Intercultural activities and Spanish language instruction will enhance the Colombian cultural experience and provide participants the tools to build an international professional network. Program activities will also include community visits, industry tours, and field trips in the local area. In addition to earning HONR credits for the program courses, students will fulfill UCC core requirements, and students who have not yet completed their scholarly project can enroll in HONR 22100 (Exploring Place: Internship) during the Fall 2026 semester to complete that requirement of the JMHC curriculum.
The courses completed through this program fulfill the university core requirements for Human Cultures: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) and Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM).
Program Requirements: To participate in this program, students must be rising third- or fourth-year students in the John Martinson Honors College, they must be in good standing, and they must have completed 12 or more honors credits by the start of the program.
Estimated Program Fee: $2,995
Not included in estimated cost: airfare and some meals
Callout Dates: September 25 (4.00pm, HCRS 1054) and October 15 (6.00pm, HCRS 1054)
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=1962
Semester and Academic Year Exchange Programs
Madrid, Spain
Program Dates: Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Number of Credits: More information coming soon
Everywhere you turn there is something to see, do, and taste in the bustling multicultural capital city of Madrid. Eat at the world’s oldest restaurant, Sobrino de Botin, enjoy world-famous churros at the Chocolateria San Gines, and sample tapas all over the city. Walk through the meticulously groomed palace gardens, catch a flamenco show, or attend a world-class futbol match. And don’t leave without visiting el Parque del Buen Retiro, el Rastro, and the Golden Triangle of Art museums (the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza). UC3M is located on the southern edge of Madrid and is made up of five campuses, with Purdue students spending most of their time at Leganes (School of Engineering) and Getafe (School of Law and Social Sciences; School of Humanities, Communication, and Library Sciences). Students have the opportunity to take classes in English while living alongside local students to fully immerse themselves in Spanish culture. Direct credit is available from the College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, Daniels School of Business, and College of Science. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to participate in this exchange program.
Expenses Paid to Purdue: Purdue tuition plus $32/month for international insurance
Additional Expenses: Airfare, visa fees, housing, local transportation, meals, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses
Application Deadlines: September 1st for Spring exchanges; March 1st for Fall or Academic Year exchanges
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=910
Leiden, The Netherlands
Program Dates: Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Number of Credits: All courses offered by Leiden University College The Hague (LUC) transfer as HONR credits
Founded in 1575, Leiden University has been a respected, internationally-oriented university for over four centuries. Life in Leiden is greatly influenced by the relatively large number of students, as most of them both live and study in the historic town of Leiden. It is very easy to run into someone you know when you go shopping or when you go out at night. Since Leiden is a small town, all the university buildings are within walking or cycling distance. Students tend to feel at home quickly because of the safe environment and the individual approach. Leiden University College The Hague (LUC) is the institution's interdisciplinary honors college, located a 12-minute train ride from Leiden in The Hague. LUC equips students to address contemporary global challenges like peace and justice, diversity, and sustainability. In addition to honors credits, direct credit from Leiden university is available from the College of Liberal Arts, though students in any Purdue college are eligible to enroll. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required to participate in this exchange program.
Expenses Paid to Purdue: Purdue tuition plus $32/month for international insurance
Additional Expenses: Airfare, visa fees, housing, local transportation, meals, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses
Application Deadlines: September 1st for Spring exchanges; February 1st for Fall or Academic Year exchanges
Learn More and Apply: https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/flyer.cfm?flyer=27