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Study Abroad

Study Abroad

Study Abroad

Signs on a hill overlooking lots of green tree-covered hills
A group of UT Geography and Sustainbility students in Freiburg, Germany

Freiburg, Germany

Students can engage in a sustainability course abroad by taking GEOG 491 – Urban Sustainability. A May Mini-Term course offered in Freiburg, Germany.

Program Information

Description

Spend the May mini-term immersed in one of the world’s “green” cities to learn about urban sustainability. Two to three mornings per week will meet for formal classroom lectures, discussions and in-class activities with the remainder of course time spent exploring examples of urban sustainability in Freiburg and the surrounding communities. We will explore and learn about Freiburg greenways and green spaces, urban forests and waterways, farmers markets, green neighborhoods, and examples of renewable energy sources. We will explore urban sustainability using the city’s integrative transportation system of bike lanes, light rail, and pedestrian walkways. Within the surrounding communities, we will take a day trip to the Kaiserstuhl region and an overnight trip to Heidelberg, Germany.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Define and discuss the concepts and practices of urban sustainability
  2. Explore the skillsets and mindsets needed to promote urban sustainability
  3. Explain and evaluate current challenges to urban sustainability
  4. Apply skills of inquiry, research, and analysis of urban sustainability issues

Funding Considerations

Review the program’s budget to understand the breakdown of program expenses.

  • Consider your Financial Aid options
  • Search and apply for scholarships and grants on our Funding Opportunities page
  • Review your UT financial aid package and speak with One Stop about applying it to your study abroad program costs.

If you wish to use your HOPE Lottery Scholarship for the summer term, you may be eligible to receive a prorated amount of $1,000 but you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

Freiburg Program In Depth
A photo of a macaw
A large mountain in the background with colorful green plants in the foreground

Uvita, Costa Rica

Students can engage in a geospatial focused study abroad by taking GEOG 420 – GIS in the Community. This is an embedded study abroad experience where students will visit Uvita, Costa Rica over spring break..

Program Information

Description

Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship: A Service-Learning Opportunity in Uvita, Costa Rica – This embedded program in Uvita, Costa Rica offers students a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world contexts while making a positive impact on local communities. During the first part of the semester, students will delve into research and hands-on practice with cutting-edge equipment, including GPS devices, laser scanners, thermal cameras, and others. Students will learn about and implement a comprehensive environmental assessment and data collection strategy. During Spring Break, students will travel to Costa Rica to be part of a field campaign, working closely with local community members to address pressing environmental challenges related to population growth, water quality, and coral reef health. Upon returning from Costa Rica, students will apply their collected data and findings to conduct in-depth analyses that will be shared with the community during the program’s conclusion. Through presentations and collaborative discussions, students will disseminate their research findings empowering stakeholders with valuable knowledge to support informed decision-making and sustainable development efforts.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Applied research skills: Students will develop proficiency in conducting environmental research and data collection, observation, and analysis, during the Spring Break field campaign in Uvita, Costa Rica.
  2. Fieldwork experience: Participants will gain hands-on experience in fieldwork methodologies.
  3. Interdisciplinary collaboration: Students will engage in interdisciplinary collaboration by working closely with local community members and peers to address complex environmental challenges from multiple perspectives.
  4. Cultural competence: Through immersion in the local culture and community of Uvita, students will enhance their cultural competence and develop an appreciation from diverse perspectives, traditions, and environmental practices.
  5. Environmental stewardship: Participants will cultivate a sense of environmental stewardship and responsibility by actively contributing to conservation efforts, promoting sustainable practices, and advocating for the protection of natural resources.
  6. Data analysis and interpretation: Students will learn to analyze and interpret environmental data collected during the field campaign, employing critical thinking and problem-solving skills to draw meaningful insights and conclusions.

Funding Considerations

Review the program’s budget to understand the breakdown of program expenses.

  • Consider your Financial Aid options
  • Search and apply for scholarships and grants on our Funding Opportunities page
  • Review your UT financial aid package and speak with One Stop about applying it to your study abroad program costs.

If you wish to use your HOPE Lottery Scholarship for the summer term, you may be eligible to receive a prorated amount of $1,000 but you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

Costa Rica Program In Depth
City landscape showing a large cathedral
Photo from the Holocaust Museum

Normandy Scholars

Students can engage in a study abroad by taking NORM 457. A May Mini-Term course offered in Europe.

Program Information

Description

Discover how World War II still shapes our world today via monuments, museums, and city-scapes in this unique honors course and study abroad trip. During this study abroad experience you will visit Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, and Krakow.

  • A selective interdisciplinary program open to undergraduate students from all majors at the University of Tennessee.
  • The goal is to study the legacies of World War II and other conflicts through the lens of memory studies.
  • The program includes a 3-hour Spring semester seminar class and a May mini-session study-abroad trip to relevant sites in Europe. 
  • This year’s sites include Warsaw and Krakow, Poland; Berlin, Germany; Prague, Czechia

Funding Considerations

Review the program’s budget to understand the breakdown of program expenses.

  • All students receive a scholarship to help cover the cost of the mini-session study tour.
Normandy Scholars Program In Depth
Umbrellas over an alleyway
Overhead photo of a beach

Puerto Rico

Students can engage in a study abroad by taking a course offered in Puerto Rico.

Program Information

Description

Ecological and Social Resilience: Perspectives from Puerto Rico – Experience the dynamic intersection of ecological and social resilience in one of the most vibrant and culturally rich environments of the Caribbean: Puerto Rico. This immersive study abroad program offers a unique opportunity to explore the intricate tapestry of challenges and triumphs faced by Puerto Ricans as they navigate the complexities of their island’s natural environments and society. Throughout the program, students will delve into the diverse ecosystems that define the Island’s natural landscapes, from lush rainforests to arid dry forests, coastal plains and mountain ranges. Beyond ecological exploration, students will engage with the cultural intricacies of Puerto Rican society, encountering the rich diversity of its people and traditions. Interactions with local communities will provide participants with a nuanced understanding of the social dynamics shaping contemporary Puerto Rican identity, including the enduring legacy of colonialism and the quest for self-determination.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Applied research skills: Students will develop proficiency in conducting environmental research and data collection, observation, and analysis, during the Spring Break field campaign in Uvita, Costa Rica.
  2. Fieldwork experience: Participants will gain hands-on experience in fieldwork methodologies.
  3. Interdisciplinary collaboration: Students will engage in interdisciplinary collaboration by working closely with local community members and peers to address complex environmental challenges from multiple perspectives.
  4. Cultural competence: Through immersion in the local culture and community of Uvita, students will enhance their cultural competence and develop an appreciation from diverse perspectives, traditions, and environmental practices.
  5. Environmental stewardship: Participants will cultivate a sense of environmental stewardship and responsibility by actively contributing to conservation efforts, promoting sustainable practices, and advocating for the protection of natural resources.
  6. Data analysis and interpretation: Students will learn to analyze and interpret environmental data collected during the field campaign, employing critical thinking and problem-solving skills to draw meaningful insights and conclusions.

Funding Considerations

Review the program’s budget to understand the breakdown of program expenses.

  • Consider your Financial Aid options
  • Search and apply for scholarships and grants on our Funding Opportunities page
  • Review your UT financial aid package and speak with One Stop about applying it to your study abroad program costs.

If you wish to use your HOPE Lottery Scholarship for the summer term, you may be eligible to receive a prorated amount of $1,000 but you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

Visit Programs Abroad

UT’s Programs Abroad Office is committed to fostering global awareness and academic, personal, and professional growth by offering a broad range of study, intern, research, and service-learning opportunities outside the United States.

Check out their site to learn about opportunities for international travel, advising, and financial aid.

Explore Programs Abroad

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Department of Geography and Sustainability

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Burchfiel Geography Building
1000 Phillip Fulmer Way
Room 304
Knoxville, TN 37996-0925
865-974-2418
utkgeog@utk.edu

 

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Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
865-974-1000

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