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Program Locations: Belize City, Monkey Bay, Punta Gorda, and San Ignacio
Program Dates: January 6-20, 2026
Frequency: Program runs every other year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept 12 students. Biology and Public Health and Environmental Health majors / minors / certs are encouraged to apply. But open to all!
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Dr. Todd Wellnitz and Ms. Jael Wolf
Corresponding Course: BIOL 320: Studies in Tropical Environments (3 credits)
Additional Attributes: R2

Abstract: This 2-week, faculty-led hands-on, experiential course is designed to expose students to the ecology, cultural geography, and history of Belize. The course curriculum is composed of active learning experiences that allow students to learn about the country’s biological and cultural legacies and current challenges, with particular focus on aquatic ecosystems and Mayan culture. Experiences include a nighttime visit to the Belize Zoo to see indigenous big cats, tapirs and other animals, a canoe trip down the Sebum River and an exploration of headwaters to sample aquatic organisms to learn about human impacts on tropical river ecosystems from a local scientist. At the conclusion of the program, there will be 2-day (15-hour) service-learning project to benefit the local Belizean community.

Program Locations: San José, San Vito, La Casona Indigenous Territory, Manuel Antonio National Park
Program Dates: January 10, 2026 through January 21, 2026
Frequency: Program runs every year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept up to 12 students. All students are welcome. Students with interests in LAS, Spanish, Public Health, American Indian Studies, Social Justice, Geography, History, Biology, and Environmental Studies / Sustainability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Caitlin Suginaka and Dr. Briana Rockler
Corresponding Course: None (this program is not credit bearing) 
Certificates: and a participation certificate from the  and the
Additional Attributes: R2

Abstract: This faculty-led international Immersion program to Costa Rica, Engaging in Global Health in Costa Rica provides students the opportunity to explore socio-cultural issues, health care systems, health determinants, and health outcomes in Costa Rica, while practicing their Spanish language skills. This program is designed for students from disciplines that have an interest in health in a global context and / or Latin America. Costa Rica provides its citizens with universal health care coverage and offers some of the highest quality health care in Latin America. Students will participate in excursions to unique health and community-based organizations, with further opportunities to enjoy Costa Rica's natural beauty, hospitality, and culture.

Program Locations: Antigua, San Miguel Escobar, San Lucas Toliman  
Program Dates: December 28, 2025 through January 11, 2026 (Tentatively)
Frequency: Program runs every year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept up to 14 students. All students are welcome. Students with interests in LAS, Spanish, American Indian Studies, Social Justice, Geography, History, Biology, and Environmental Studies / Sustainability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Dr. Kati Barahona-López and Dr. Colleen Duffy
Corresponding Course: None (no course credits are earned on this program)
Additional Attributes: R2, 30 hours of service-learning

Abstract: This faculty-led international Immersion program to Guatemala allows students to gain greater understanding of institutions of power on a global scale. The program is administered through our on-site partner, De La Gente--a "fair trade" (direct trade) social and environmental justice oriented coffee cooperative. Students will see and experience, first-hand, how our decisions on which products we purchase here in the U.S. can and do impact the lives others around the world--both positively and negatively. Students will also participate directly with the Ij'atz indigenous community for the service-learning project to help provide much needed labor to enhance their daily lives. 

Program Locations: Veracruz, Mexico
Program Dates: January 5 - 19, 2026 (tentative)
Target Student Population: Program will accept 12 students. Students studying Nursing, Spanish for Health Professions, and Latin American & Latinx Studies will be given priority
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Dr. Elena Casey and Dr. Lisa Schiller
Corresponding Courses: No winterim course is associated with this program. However, all students must have completed one of the following courses prior to the program: 

• NRSG 428.311 (Practicum: Nursing Leadership – Rural Immersion Clinical)
• SPAN 420 (Spanish for Health
  Professions)
• LAS 324 (Latinx Health & Migration to the US)

Additional Attributes: R2, 30 hours of service-learning

Abstract: The dairy industry in western Wisconsin relies on immigrant labor, primarily from the Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. The Veracruz Cultural Immersion proposes to introduce students to the daily lives and culture of immigrant dairy farmers in our region as well as their home communities in the rural, mountainous towns and cities of Veracruz, Mexico. Pre-travel orientation to our region’s immigrant dairy farmingcommunity will comprise students taking one of three pre-requisite courses in LAS, Nursing, or Spanish and visiting Rosenholm Dairy in Cochrane, WI. The goals of this immersion are to facilitate relationship building between our students and our rural, immigrant communities and to provide our future healthcare professionals and community members with the cultural competencies necessary to work with Hispanic and Latinx patients and live as inclusive and globally-minded neighbors in western Wisconsin.

Program Locations: Cape Town, Robben Island, Groot Winterhook Wilderness Area, Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park
Program Dates: 18 Days: January 8-25, 2026 (tentative)
Terms Offered: Winterim 
Target Student Population: Program will accept 12 students. Students studying Social Work will be given priority.
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Ms. Jamie Tester and Ms. Samantha Kobs
Corresponding Courses: Special Topics (IDIS 333: Faculty-Led International Interdisciplinary Immersion Experience): 2 credits on-site (and 1-credit of SW 395 as the prep course during fall semester)
Additional Attributes: I1 and R2; 30 hours of service-learning

Abstract: Social Justice in South Africa is a 18-day (plus travel days) Immersion program that examines how South African culture has been strongly impacted by both individual and collective decisions that have had a profound influence on race relations for over 200 years. Students will explore the historical context of colonization of South Africa, the role of South Africa in the slave trade, the development, expansion and eventual eradication of Apartheid, the development of modern democracy in South Africa, the current political situation, the political and economic future of the region, and the social change models at work.

Program Locations: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket, Thailand
Program Dates: January 3-16, 2026 (Depart US on January 1--tentatively)
Frequency: Program runs every year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept 10 students. Business majors / minors / certs are encouraged to apply. But open to all!
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Dr. Longzhu Dong and Dr. Brent Opall
Corresponding Course: INTB 363: International Business (3 credits)
Additional Attributes: R2, I1

Abstract: This faculty-led international Immersion program to Thailand operates through a strong collaboration with our on-site partner, Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), located in Chiang Rai, Thailand. During this program, students will visit four cities (Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket), tour more than a dozen companies of different sizes and in different industries, and have a wide variety of cultural visits including historic sites and museums. Through the many company tours, students will not only gain first-hand experience on how businesses are done in a different country, but also will attend formal presentations provided by the host companies discussing their challenges and opportunities in today’s global business environment. The lessons learned in Thailand will allow students to learn about and engage with different cultural elements from the various Thai sub-cultures, as well as demonstrate knowledge about the world’s diverse cultures, environments, practices, and values.

Program Locations: Taipei, Taiwan
Program Dates: Winterim 2026; January 8 - January 22, 2026 (dates are tentative)
Frequency: Intermittently
Target Student Population: Program will accept approximately 10-12 students. Open to all students.
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Dr. Matthew Poon and Dr. Chia-Yu Hsu
Corresponding Courses: MUSI 290 (2 credits)
Additional Attributes: R2

Abstract: This two-week faculty-led international Immersion program will introduce students to the arts and cultural scene in Taiwan. The program begins by introducing students to Chinese society, including trips to the National Palace Museum (featuring artifacts taken from mainland China during the Nationalist retreat in the Chinese Civil War) and the 228 Peace Memorial Park (which commemorates a watershed moment in Taiwan’s development into a democracy). The next phase of the program dives into the arts scene, with experiences at the National Taiwan University of Arts, at various performing arts venues across Taipei, and through guest lectures by Taiwanese artists. This program is open to all students as there is no performance component and simply serves as an educational celebration of culture, music, and arts in Taiwan.

Program Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Program Dates: Summer, 2026: DATES: May 19 - June 6, 2026
Frequency: Program runs every year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept up to12 students. All students are welcome. Students with interests in LAS, Spanish, and History are strongly encouraged to apply.
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Dr. Cheryl Jiménez-Frei
Corresponding Course: LAS 390: Latin American Studies Immersion Experience (3 credits)
Additional Attributes: R2

Abstract: This faculty-led international Immersion program introduces students to contemporary Argentina and the many issues facing the country and culture. Experiences on the program will include visits to various museums--including one to better understand the legacy of the "Dirty War," day trips to wineries as Mendoza is the "Napa Valley" of South America, learning about human rights, dancing the tango, engaging in discussions with local university students, participating in a cooking class to gain greater insight into the history and culture of Argentine cuisine, a hike in the Andes, and much, much more.

Program Location: Berlin, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Krakow, Poland
Program Dates: Summer 2026: May 21-June 17, 2026
Frequency: Program runs every year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept 18 students. All students are welcome. The focus for CETS 2026 will be Political Science, History, Sociology and much more
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Professors Damir Kovacevic, Maggie Weber, and Kati Barahona-López
Corresponding Courses: Required Spring Prep Course: IDIS 339 (3 credits: TBD); Summer Travel Seminar in Europe: IDIS 340 (3 credits)
Additional Attributes: R2, I1

Abstract: This interdisciplinary faculty-led international Immersion program explores the history, arts, politics, music, geography, economics, identity, and challenges facing this historically complex and dynamic region. The program takes place in 5 countries, traveling by train from city to city. Students will be exposed to wide variety of customs, cultures, languages, and more by viewing Central Europe from a wide variety of perspectives. Students may stay after the program and continue to travel Europe on their own.

Program Locations: Bordeaux, Saint‐Jean‐Pied‐de‐Port, France; Pamplona, Sarria, Santiago, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal. 
Program Dates: 21 Days: May 21 to June 10, 2025 (dates are tentative)
Frequency: Program runs every year.
Target Student Population: Program will accept 12 students. Open to all students; Spanish majors / minors / certificates are strongly encouraged to participate. (No foreign language requirement)
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Chia-Yu Hsu and Jim Rybicki
Corresponding Courses: IDIS 333: Faculty-Led International Interdisciplinary Immersion Experience (3 credits).
Additional Attributes: R2 and I1

Abstract: This immersion experience on the “French Way” of the Camino de Santiago--a historical walking pilgrimage route from Southwestern France to Santiago, Spain, provides students with the opportunity to not only participate on the 114 kilometer (70+ miles) walk from Sarria, Spain to Santiago, Spain, but to understand, recognize, and critique the systems of power that are deeply embedded—and often overlooked—within the Camino. Through site visits along the “French Way,” actually walking 114 kilometers of the Camino, and interacting with fellow pilgrims, students will not only experience Spanish culture, but also  acquire a more critical lens of the Camino to comprehend the deeply embedded meanings, symbolism, and representations and actions of power, nationalism, racism, sexism, and inequality that have shaped the Camino and its revered positionality within Western culture. 

Program Locations: Scotland: Aberdeen, Dalkeith, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kyleakin, Oban, and the Orkney Islands
Program Dates: Summer 2026; May 22-June 28, 2026
Target Student Population: Program will accept 20 students. Students studying Special Education will be given priority.
Faculty / Staff Leader(s): Professors Karsten Powell, Kirstin Rossi, Jennifer Sisum, and David Peyton
Corresponding Courses: SPED450: Trauma Informed Practices for Educators (3 credits); SPED495: Community and School Experience in Special Education in Scotland (3 credits)
Additional Attributes: R2

Note: Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2025 through September 24, 2025

Abstract: Special Education in Scotland is a 5-week study abroad program offered through the Department of Special Education here at UW-Eau Claire. The program allows undergraduate students to study and experience firsthand the Scottish special education system. The program consists of a two-week observation in a Scottish school, two weeks of classroom involvement, and a five-day experiential learning program through the Scottish Highlands. The summer 2024 faculty leaders are professors Karsten Powell, Barb Meier, Kirsten Rossi, and Jennifer Sisum— all from the Department of Special Education.