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Study Abroad at UofGH

On December 15th, 2021 Global Affairs Canada announced a COVID-19 Global Travel Advisory to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada due to the risk of the Omicron variant. The health and safety of students and instructors continue to be of utmost priority and will be a determining factor at the forefront of our Study Abroad offerings.

Out of an abundance of caution, the opening of applications to Study Abroad 2022 offerings will be delayed until further notice.

We thank you for your ongoing patience as we monitor the situation and make adjustments to our programming. More information to follow on this page as it becomes available.

For more information and the latest updates on UofGH Covid-19 developments, please visit: https://www.guelphhumber.ca/covid-info.
 

 

Video Transcript for Study Abroad video

Where would you like to go? What would you like to see? What would you like to learn?

Explore all Study Abroad opportunities at UofGH, available to all students.

Amsterdam & Brussels: International Organizations and Global Governance

As globalization continues to intensify connections and tensions between peoples and nations, the value of international institutions created during in the aftermath of the World War II era is being increasingly questioned. In this course, students will visit Brussels and The Hague to obtain a first-hand understanding of how bodies such as the European Union, NATO, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice operate and function. Through this study tour, students will gain first-hand knowledge by which to comprehend complex issues ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to Brexit, climate change, and war crimes.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC| Course Director: Jamie Killingsworth, Instructor, Media Studies

Austria: A Cultural Study Tour of Austria

This course takes students on a magical and breathtaking tour along the banks of the famous Danube River, Europe’s second longest river. Our group travels in a safe, leisurely fashion by bicycle from Passau, Germany to Vienna, Austria. Students enjoy the serene and picturesque Upper Austrian countryside, with its verdant landscapes, historical castles, monasteries and fortresses, medieval hamlets, and outdoor markets, in an immersive experience with authentic Austrian rural culture. After completing the cycling portion of our tour, the trip moves to Vienna, with its stunning architecture and famous cuisine and coffee. In Vienna, students learn about some of its most notable residents: Beethoven and Mozart, Sigmund Freud, and the Habsburgs, the royal family that dominated much of central Europe from the 12th to the 20th century. The tour also includes a train trip to Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace and the film location of The Sound of Music. Note: Students only need to know how to ride a bicycle, and do not need to be expert bicyclists to go on the trip.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Paul Sherman, Program Head, Family & Community Social Services

Denmark: Film and Transmedia Production - Designing Content Across Platforms

This course takes students to Denmark where they will find themselves immersed in that country’s vibrant film and television industry. Students spend time in Copenhagen, visiting the offices of Agency V, a unique fashion and lifestyle agency, as well as OMI, a digital advertising company. The trip also takes us to Aarhus, where we will visit M2 Film, Denmark’s leading producer of transmedia promotional campaigns representing brands such as Lego and BMW. The study tour also includes a visit to VIA Film and Transmedia School. After the study tour, students have an opportunity to develop a conceptual pitch for a transmedia campaign designed to promote a local cause or brand.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Adam Miller, Assistant Program Head, Media Studies

Ecuador & Galápagos Islands: Environmental Psychology

In Ecuador, students will learn about what the psychological sciences can tell us about human responses to the climate crisis. Students will engage in activities that bring the climate crisis to life with tours of Quito, as well as San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos archipelago where environmental solutions are being explored by scientists and local communities. Combining lectures from professors in Ecuador and tours by expert guides, students will learn ways in which we can preserve the earth’s resources to sustain all forms of life.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Adam Sandford, Assistant Program Head of Psychology

France: La Bonne Vie – French Economy and Society

North American and European conceptions of the good life ("la bonne vie") and society diverge in significant ways. Europeans tend to put a higher priority on leisure than work and favor a greater role for government in the economy. In this course, we explore those differences by traveling to France and gaining insights about that country's recent history as well as its leading industries. These include the cultural, financial, gaming, tourism, entertainment, and wine industries. The study tour in this course will take students to Paris, Nice, Cannes, Monaco, and Monte Carlo.

*0.5 General Elective Credit or 0.5 Business Restricted Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Charles Janthur, Instructor, Business

France: Tour De France

"Tour De France" is a cycling event that starts in the West of France, loops down to the South before ending in Paris. This trip will start in the Paris and end in the South, which will take students to Paris, Nice, Cannes, Monaco, and Monte Carlo. In this course, students will learn about the selected parts of France's history and recent economic events that helped shape the culture and norms. Through this exploration of culture and economics, students will be able to experience the financial, gaming, tourism, entertainment, and wine industries.

*0.5 General Elective Credit or 0.5 Business Restricted Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Michael Tam, Instructor, Business

Germany & Malta: The Second World War in Germany and Malta

World War II is the defining event of the modern era. This study tour takes students to Germany and Malta to understand the causes and consequences of the global conflict. In Germany, the itinerary includes: Munich, where Hitler’s political activities began; Dachau, site of the first concentration camp; and Nuremberg, where the war crimes trials of Nazi leaders occurred. In Malta, students will visit several World War II sites, including the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta. Beyond the topic of war, students will also have an opportunity to explore dimensions of human existence associated with beauty by touring Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany as well as Malta’s Mediterranean scenery.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Matthew LaGrone, Program Head, Liberal Studies

Italy: Food for Thought – a Study Tour of Italy

Italy is known as a unique place in terms of food variety, culture, tradition and biodiversity. This course will look at the excellence of Italian food and the beauty of the Italian agri-food industry. Our study tour will include a visit to FICO Eataly World, the world’s first food theme park. Here students will have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the Italian food experience from production to consumption. Also explored will be sprawling cities of centuries old globally influential art, architecture, culture, fashion and design. The study tour will include visits to Bologna, Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Sarah Duni, Instructor, Family and Community Social Services

Italy: Italian Renaissance - Lessons for Today’s World

This course introduces students to some of the most significant innovations of the Italian Renaissance, exploring ingenuity and invention in painting, architecture, city-building, philosophy, literature, science, trade and more. Focusing on Rome (and the Vatican), Florence, and Venice, we will explore the social, cultural, economic and political conditions during the Renaissance (14th to 17th century) which allowed these regions to become what we today might describe as innovation clusters. Students will explore the lives and works of Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and more, not only as beautiful objects of the past, but as works that transformed how we see, imagine and work in the world around us.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Nanita Mohan, Instructor, Justice Studies

Italy: The World Through a Child’s Eyes - Children’s Rights, Art, Play and Nature.

In Italy, students will explore the world around the child, through their perspective and experience. The course will focus on the role of art and play in children’s lives, while the art of Florentine the natural beauty of the Italian countryside. Children’s rights will be the key theme of the course, exploring their right to education, play, creativity, nature and more. Depending on availability, we also plan to visit UNICEF and Reggio Emilia.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Nikki Martyn, Program Head, Early Childhood Studies

Japan: Soka Education and the Pursuit of Happiness

Soka education is a humanistic self-empowerment philosophy of living that promotes the idea that individual happiness and global harmony can be attained through actions to create value in one's own life and in the lives of others. Soka, originating in Japan, is founded on Buddhist principles and holds as its core belief that everyone has an inner potential that is both the cause and effect of their own ultimate happiness. This trip introduces students to the practice of Soka philosophy while also exploring the beauty of Japanese culture. Our travels take us to Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kamakura from busy metropolitan cities, to beachside towns, to mountain tops. We visit ancient Buddhist temples, Shinto Shrines, peaceful Japanese Gardens, Hiroshima Peace Park, and iconic shopping districts. We visit Soka Kansai Highschool and Soka University Japan allowing students to have an authentic Soka experience while building meaningful relationships in the process.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Olivia Boukydis, Instructor, Family, Community, and Social Services

Japan: Religion, Culture, and History

This course introduces students to the culture of Japan. Japanese culture is a fascinating mix of ancient customs and practices with an equal commitment to a hyper-modern lifestyle. In particular, we will focus on religious life in Japan, learning about the diverse forms of Buddhism and Shinto that flourish there. We will share our time between Tokyo and Kyoto, visiting temples, shrines, beautiful urban gardens, and museums. Through these visits, students will also explore Japan’s history, art, anime, food culture and customs, bearing witness to the incredible cultural and natural wonders that Japan has to offer.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Danielle LaGrone, Instructor, Electives

Morocco: North African Culture

In Morocco, students learn the history, art, culture, and customs of this North African country. Students will visit Casablanca, Fes, Merzouga, and Marrakech where they will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional home-cooked Moroccan meals, explore high-walled kasbahs, wander the labyrinthine alleys of Morocco’s world heritage sites and take in the breathtaking views of the High Atlas Mountains. The students will also enjoy the natural beauty of the Sahara Desert while riding a camel.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Glenn Barenthin, Instructor, Justice Studies

New Zealand: Fitness, Sport and Health Promotion in Australasia

In New Zealand, students will explore the interplay between sport, fitness, health, and culture in Australasian society. Students will visit Auckland University of Technology, where they will take part in lectures and discussions on the topics of sports science, sport and culture, and nutrition. We will also explore fitness and performance programs for children and the elderly. The tour of New Zealand will consist of an intensive applied academic curriculum and experiential learning that will lead into a research paper to be submitted at the end of the course.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Justin Tushinsky, Instructor, Kinesiology

Portugal & Spain: Moorish Influences and Navigational Exploits

This study abroad tour takes students to the Iberian nations of Portugal and Spain. Students will explore the two key forces that have influenced the present character of those two nations – namely, the presence of the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula from the 8th to 15th centuries and the global seafaring enterprises undertaken by Spain and Portugal beginning in the mid-14th century. Students will gain a first-hand understanding of how these dual forces have left their imprints on Portuguese and Spanish culture, from architecture, dance, and music to food and language. To gain a vivid understanding of this impact, students visit the Andalusia region of Spain, including the cities of Granada, Cordoba, and Seville. In Portugal, students will explore the capital city of Lisbon, the nearby resort town of Sintra, as well as Sagres at the southwestern tip of Europe.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Nitin Deckha, Instructor, Justice Studies

Scotland & England: Haunting Visitors

In England and Scotland, students travel to several ancient yet modern cities in the United Kingdom, famous for their connections to stories about ghosts, legends, and gruesome events. Students will have an opportunity to witness settings of “haunted heritage” up close and first hand. This course explores the connections between local history, narrative, and commercial tourism in regions of Scotland and England known for their rich supernatural ancestry. Through visits to London, Edinburgh, and York, students will experience the touristic performance of the paranormal. Key concepts from various disciplines will come to life, including tourist and consumer studies, folklore, media studies, performance and theatre, and narratology.

*0.5 General Elective Credit
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Greg Kelly, Instructor, Media Studies

Singapore: Nature and Innovation (Ecs-dc Students Only)

In the beautiful city-state of Singapore, students will explore the world of the child. Exploring education and social services, innovation and creativity with a possible visit to the School of X, the country’s home of human-centered design. Students will investigate the role of nature, wildlife, and culture in the life of the child and family through the magnificent ecological surroundings existing and built into Singapore. Additionally, students will examine creativity, play and innovation in children’s lives through engagement in the society and possible expert collaboration. Formerly a fishing village and British colony, our tour to Singapore will bring to life one of the most innovative global places.

*0.5 General Elective Credit (for Degree Completion Students in the Early Childhood Studies Program only)
Projected Dates: TBC | Course Director: Nikki Martyn, Program Head, Early Childhood Studies

Disclaimer: Some or all 2022 Study Abroad courses (including trips) are subject to cancellation due to Covid-19 related travel and regulatory restrictions. The health and safety of students and instructors will be a determining factor for decisions related to any trip cancellations. The university will be monitoring the ongoing Covid-19 situation closely. Students will get a refund on their deposit in the case of cancellations.


Image Gallery

See what our students have seen on their journeys far and wide.

 
Student image

Alexandrea Gordon, Japan

"Today was our second full day at Soka University, and it was just as much fun. It made me feel really cool and special when we would run into students that we'd met the day before and have them come up and say hi to us. It feels awesome knowing that I now have friends on the other side of the world!"
- Alexandrea Gordon, Japan

 
Student image

Danielle Edwards, London/Berlin

 I can't really describe my time during the trip because it was more than I ever imagined it to be. Of course I learned, but it was more than that. It was enlightening and expansive and ultimately gave me a lot of chances to experience and I'd like to think that I'm a bit worldlier. 
- Danielle Edwards, London/Berlin