UC Davis Summer Abroad
The Global Learning Hub at UC Davis offers students short, intensive academic programs over the summer that are led by UC Davis faculty, built around UC Davis courses, and complemented with a wealth of excursions and cultural activities. Many programs provide opportunities for students to visit non-English speaking countries while doing their coursework in English. Class sizes are small — 12-32 students — allowing for an intimate learning experience. UC Davis Summer Abroad is open to all University of California students and students from other U.S. institutions.
AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Tanzania—Culture, Wildlife, and Activism (SUSPENDED)
Combining cultural immersion and field lectures on wildlife behavior, conservation, political economy, tourism, human rights, and indigeneity, this course appeals to all majors.
Science and Society in the Middle East (SUSPENDED)
Immerse yourself in a Middle Eastern experience like no other, exploring the amazing cultural diversity and history of Lebanon while studying efforts to address contemporary environmental challenges.
ASIA
Bhutan—GIS in the Land of the Thunder Dragon (SUSPENDED)
Learn how to use geographic information systems (GIS) in the peaceful, culturally rich, and biodiverse country of Bhutan in the Himalayan Mountains, where progress is measured in Gross National Happiness.
Global Fashion in China (SUSPENDED)
Explore fashion design and global textile production while based in the Yangtze Delta Area – the birthplace of silk and the hub of modern fashion and material culture in China.
Design Japan (SUSPENDED)
Japan is a fascinating country with a rich design culture. We will explore Japanese modern life in many wards of Tokyo and consume the history of ramen and old candy packaging while eating Japanese noodles in a replica of old Tokyo town.
Life Sciences in Japan (SUSPENDED)
Study biochemistry while living in Japan. With ample free time, students can visit Osaka or Tokyo, shop, delve into manga, dine in foodie heaven, or relax in an Onsen town.
Thailand—Microbiology Lab in the Kingdom of Smiles (SUSPENDED)
This laboratory program will introduce microbiology to students wishing to explore the enchanting and exotic Kingdom of Thailand. Hands-on activities complement lecture and lab exercises as we explore the microbiology of Thai food, international health issues, and the changing environment.
EUROPE
France—Americans in Paris (SUSPENDED)
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “[A] walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” We will explore the city that mesmerized both Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson, the first Americans in Paris.
France—Introduction to Winemaking (SUSPENDED)
This program introduces students to winemaking and covers grape types, grape production, fermentation science, wine styles, alcohol and health, sensory evaluation, wine history, and an overview of the major wine regions of the world.
Germany—Personality Psychology in Berlin (SUSPENDED)
Study personality psychology in Berlin, one of the most exciting and culturally interesting cities in the world. This program’s major focus will be the interface of personality psychology with the cultural and scholarly history of Germany.
Writers in Greece (SUSPENDED)
Learn about Greece’s vibrant culture while traveling to many beautiful and historical sites. Field trips will take students from Athens to the oracle of Delphi and the monasteries of Mystras to the olive groves of the Peloponnese and the kingdom of the Mycenean.
Iceland—Thermodynamics in the Land of Fire and Ice (SUSPENDED)
Because Iceland’s electrical grid is entirely powered by geothermal and hydroelectric resources, Iceland is a unique setting to learn about renewable power and thermodynamic science.
Ireland—Bio Sci 2A on the Emerald Isle (SUSPENDED)
Take Biological Sciences 2A in beautiful Ireland at University College Cork (UCC). The five-week program includes field trips for exploring the biology and culture of Ireland, local landmarks like the Burren and Cliffs of Moher, and Dublin.
Ireland—Bio Sci 2B in Dublin (SUSPENDED)
Experience Ireland while taking Biological Sciences 2B at the modern University College Dublin (UCD). The course will be taught by UCD faculty using state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, with oversight by UC Davis faculty.
Ireland—Statistics for Biological Sciences (SUSPENDED)
Experience this unique opportunity to take STA 100 in a small group setting and a charming location. Classroom learning will be supplemented by site visits demonstrating the application of statistics in food and agriculture industries such as dairy farming.
Italy—Art, Culture, History in the Eternal City (SUSPENDED)
The classroom, in this hands-on experience, will be Rome, the Eternal City, and nearby archaeological and historical sites where we will study art, culture, and the Roman institutions that have shaped European culture and the world.
Italy—Science of the Mind (SUSPENDED)
Study Cognitive Neuroscience through the internationally known Department of Psychology at the University of Bologna in Italy. The course is taught by faculty from the University of Bologna with oversight by UC Davis faculty.
The Netherlands—NPB 110A: Molecules to Individuals (SUSPENDED)
Get introduced to the Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior curriculum in the Netherlands. We will stay at Wageningen University, a sister university to UC Davis, in the small college town of Wageningen.
Poland—Statistics for Business and Economics (SUSPENDED)
Learn “Statistics for Business and Economics” in Kraków, a lively center for international business that has become a magnet for young professionals from across the world.
Spain—Housing and Urbanism in Barcelona (SUSPENDED)
Barcelona, celebrated for its contemporary architecture, urbanism, and landscape, is a city with strong community identities and a long history of activism. In this class we will explore the city's urban history, housing, and grass-roots activism.
Spain—Three Cultures of Medieval Spain (SUSPENDED)
Multiculturalism is not just a 21st century phenomenon. Explore the cities of Salamanca, Toledo, Madrid, Cordoba, Sevilla, and Granada to learn about the religious and cultural differences of medieval Spain.
UK—Perspectives in Global Management (SUSPENDED)
Europe, with its cross-border economic dynamics, is an especially good setting for studying global management in action. We will examine how firms develop new ideas and distribute products and services to international markets, and how they respond to changing winds of trade.
Oxford—Portal to Fantasy (SUSPENDED)
Ever since Alice fell down the rabbit-hole on the grounds of Christ Church College, Oxford has been at the center of modern fantasy literature. Oxford was home not only to Lewis Carroll, but also to C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Diana Wynne Jones, and Philip Pullman.
UK—Bio Sci 2C in Edinburgh (SUSPENDED)
Study biodiversity and the tree of life at the school where Darwin neglected his medical studies to engage in lively discussions about natural history, a turning point in his path towards the science of evolution.
UK—Scottish Tales (SUSPENDED)
The supernatural figures largely in Scotland’s literature and culture. Study the ghosts and hauntings of Edinburgh, cruise the Loch Ness, visit Glasgow, and trek through the Highlands of Scotland.
EUROPE (MULTI-COUNTRY)
Celtic Connections—Ireland, France, Spain (SUSPENDED)
This program will introduce students to that Celtic strain—in literature, culture, language, music, and politics—that characterizes three different countries: Ireland, France, and Spain.
Design in Europe (SUSPENDED)
Great Britain and the Netherlands are unsurpassed when it comes to innovative and influential art, architecture, and design. Starting in the ancient English city of York, this program will travel to Edinburgh, London, and then to the Dutch cities of Utrecht and Amsterdam.
Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe (SUSPENDED)
In this program we study the plans, systems, and designs for urban sustainability, exploring transit, bike, and pedestrian circulation; renewable energy systems and waste management; economic development and institutional diversity; and urban planning and landscape/open space design.
World Cinema and the European Film Festival (SUSPENDED)
Starting in Milan, then proceeding to the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and finishing on the French Riviera in Cannes, this program examines contemporary cinema by considering the role of film festivals in producing and distributing films globally.
Europe—The Grand Tour (SUSPENDED)
The Grand Tour—a voyage through France and Italy undertaken by young Englishmen, and eventually women, of the 17th and 18th centuries. We will retrace the literary, cultural, and artistic itinerary of the young people who took the Grand Tour centuries ago to learn more about the wide, wild world and their own privileged place within it.
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina—Music, Film and Culture in the Global City (SUSPENDED)
Experience the vibrant “Paris of Latin America” through the abundance of its street fairs, music and film festivals, cultural activities, and amazing cuisine. Our close study of urban culture will allow for a deeper understanding of Argentina’s complex history and its relationship to other Latin American countries and the world.
Revolutionary Cuba (SUSPENDED)
Study the history and contemporary significance of the Cuban Revolution while living and traveling in Cuba. Students will read historical narratives, watch Cuban films, meet with Cuban scholars and students.
Environmental Justice in Indigenous Ecuador (SUSPENDED)
This program examines the historical development and current situation of the rural indigenous communities of the Andes and the Amazon of Ecuador with special attention to issues of environmental and social justice and human rights.
Peru—Into the Andes: History, Environment, Culture (SUSPENDED)
Explore the diverse cultural and natural landscapes of the Peruvian highlands. Based in Cuzco, the program includes trips to Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu, one of the great wonders of the world.